"We are hoping, for our own benefit, that we get the three points"

Tis and players to take no motivation from attempting to spoil Accrington's party

12 April 2018

Exeter City manager Paul Tisdale says he and his players will take no motivation from potentially spoiling a promotion party when they travel to the WHAM Stadium on Saturday.

Accrington Stanley can get promoted to League One if they beat the Grecians on Saturday and, having denied Doncaster Rovers the league title in a similar match at this stage last season, City could become the killjoys once more. So is that something Tis and his players will enjoy?

“Not at all and I am not just saying that to be sporting,” said Tis. “It is not a consideration for us. We have got our own three points and at this stage of the season, with where we are placed in the table, it is of the upmost importance. Their three points are no more important than our three points. I wish will John (Coleman) all the success but just not this Saturday.”

Stanley manager John Coleman and Tis are good friends off the pitch having met numerous times over the past 10 years and the Grecians boss has been impressed with Accrington’s recent form. They have won 15 out of the last 17 matches to go from play-off hopefuls to title favourites in the space of three months, but that is not a surprise to Tis.

“They have certainly found a rhythm to their performance that has been unstoppable,” said Tis. “However, that will be our aim for Saturday – to stop them to get our win.

“That is only for our benefit though, we have nothing against Accrington being successful other than for this weekend.

“They have done remarkably well under John Coleman. It is no flash in the pan. They did it two years ago and somehow managed not to finish third.

“I think they got 85 points that year. However, they have certainly found a rhythm and well done to John but this particular week we are hoping – for our own benefit – that we get the three points.”

A victory for the Grecians could see them move into the automatic promotion places if Wycombe lose away at Yeovil. However, while targeting third spot, Tis is reluctant to talk about automatic promotion with his side still needing other results to go their way between now and May 5 to achieve it.

“We are edging closer but we are still fourth,” said Tis. “There are three teams ahead of us and if they all win their games we won’t make it. We can only play the games that we have got coming up, look to gain all the points and if Wycombe and Luton gain all their points we won’t be in the automatic spots.

“We have not been in there for a while, we are not there now and until we are it is not really relevant. We aiming for it but it is the hands of Wycombe and Luton.”

Speaking about injuries, Tis added: “We have got nobody returning. We have got one or two who are still nursing bruises and bits and pieces from last week’s game against Cambridge United.

"So we are no stronger than we were last week and we may be a little bit weaker. It is amazing because five or six weeks ago we had the whole squad fit and now we have got six or seven players, who would be arguably featuring in the first XI, not fit. So it will be a rather challenging period for us.”

Match Reports

Accrington Stanley 1 City 1

Jayden Stockley on target as City hold league leaders to a point7

14 April 2018

Exeter City came away from League Two leaders Accrington Stanley with a credible point.

The Grecians showed great defensive resolve and good play going forward to hold a Stanley side – who have won 15 out of their last 17 matches – to a 1-1 draw in front of a packed crowd at the Wham Stadium who had turned out to cheer their side onto promotion to League One.

City manager Paul Tisdale made two changes from the side that beat Cambridge United last time out, with Matt Jay and Kane Wilson coming in for the injured Craig Woodman and Robbie Simpson.

Stanley, looking for a victory that would guarantee their promotion to League One, started the match well forcing a succession of early corners and threatening the City goal when Scott Brown 25-yard shot was blocked by Hiram Boateng.

Stockley also had to be in the right place to boot a Sean McConville shot off the line after 15 minutes before City nudged themselves in front.

It was the impressive Matt Jay who turned sharply in the box and hit a stinging shot towards the near post that Aaron Chapman could only parry and Stockley was in the right place to fire the rebound into the roof of the net after 21 minutes.

City could have doubled their lead four minutes later when Jay hit a dipping volley that Chapman had to tip over his crossbar.

However, Stanley, after a nervy 10-minute spell, began to grow into the match once more and were deservedly level when Kayden Jackson hit a swerving shot from the edge of the area that flew past Christy Pym.

The hosts started the second half brightly as well with Kane Wilson putting in a great last-ditch tackle to deny Kayden Jackson and Jordan Clark firing narrowly over.

However, as they half went on City began to get a foothold and Stockley went close to his second of the match bringing a great one-handed save from Chapman. Then City, arguably, had the best effort of the second half when Hiram Boateng fired an effort towards the bottom corner that Chapman saved superbly.

Stanley started to pile on the pressure in the closing stages, but City were still lively on the counter with substitute Kyle Edwards looking dangerous. It was the West Brom loanee who did well to win a free-kick in the closing stages of the match, but Stockley’s effort ended up over the bar and the visitors had to settle for a share of the spoils.

Accrington Stanley: Chapman, Dunne, Hughes, Donacien (Richards-Everton, 68), Clark, Brown, Jackson, McConville, Johnson, Conneely, Kee. Subs not used: Maxted, Nolan, Zanzala, Williams, Sousa, Rodgers.

City: Pym, Sweeney, James, Tillson, Stockley, Jay (Edwards, 74), Moxey (Croll, 71), Wilson, Taylor, Storey, Boateng. Subs not used: Jones, Archibald-Henville, Brunt, Seabourne, Loft.

Attendance: 3,135 (291, away)

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Ticket News

Away Tickets: Accrington Stanley pay on the day

3 April 2018

Exeter City's trip to the Wham Stadium to face Accrington Stanley on Saturday, April 14 is pay on the day for supporters.

Match day prices are as follows:

Adults: £20.00
Concessions: £15.00*
Under-18s: £15.00
Under-12s: £5.00**

*for all concessionary tickets, valid ID must be shown at the ticket office (Concessions are 65 and over/Students)

** ALL under-12s must be accompanied by an adult.

Disabled Supporters:

Disabled supporters will be admitted at normal ticket prices.

Where assistance is required in the form of a PA (Personal Assistant), the PA is admitted free or charge. Proof of disability is required in order to qualify for the complementary PA ticket.

To qualify a supporter must receive medium or higher level of DLA (Disability Living Allowance), and must produce evidence of this, together with photographic ID at the ticket office, or when requested to do so.

A total of 20 wheelchair bays are available for spectators in the Jack Barrett stand.

On match days these are equally split between home and away fans that require a wheelchair bay.

As the wheelchair accommodation is located in the Jack Barrett Stand which is for home supporters, all supporters home and away must contact the club in advance to book a place.

Grecian Travel:

Grecian Travel is available for the trip to the Wham Stadium and departs at Unit 1 at 7:30am, costing £32 per person, click here to find out more.

Exeter City FC

Standings

"We are hoping, for our own benefit, that we get the three points"

Accrington Stanley 1 City 1

SJP: Somewhere Just Perfect!

Away Tickets: Accrington Stanley pay on the day