Exeter City FC

The mood at St James Park has been thoroughly buoyant in since the start of the season and the Irishman is confident that the team will deliver another enjoyable afternoon when the Minstermen provide the opposition.

“There was no better start than having a local derby in the first game,” said Flynny.  “We had a packed crowd that cheered us on, and it was great to get a winner.  While we were drawing it was a cagey game but I thought we were on top – and it was great for Sam [Parkin] to get off the mark.

“There was a bit of life in the crowd and we have taken it from there really.  We had a decent game against QPR; obviously not the result we were looking for but in the second half we showed we can play against a team like that, and we followed up with a win against Wimbledon.  

“The fans have been great – there has been a bit of excitement at home which we probably lacked last season, and they’ll want more and we definitely want to give them more.”

York visited early last season too, and the Grecians had to come from a goal down to earn a draw – with Flynny tucking away the equaliser as the game finished 1-1.  In the reverse fixture, a thundering own-goal and Jimmy Keohane’s first senior goal helped City to a 2-1 win.

And City’s number-19 knows that York’s lowly position in the table belies their potential and that they will have to work for the points.

“Last season it was fairly cagey and York caught us on the break with a good goal,” he continued.  “We just kept going and we were kicking towards the Big Bank in the second half, and we managed to get an equaliser.  It was a great ball from Matt [Oakley] and I tucked it away.  

“And Jimmy got his first goal for Exeter against York away from home which was obviously a big landmark for him.

“I don’t think York have had a great start, but from what our scouts have been saying, they have been quite unlucky.  So we’ve got to be firing on all cylinders and do what we have been doing in the last two home games and come out and do our stuff.  And hopefully there will be a big crowd there cheering us on.

“They have done a bit of rebuilding in the summer, and it can take a while for new players and a new squad to click together.  Let’s hope they don’t click until after Saturday and that we get a good performance and a good result.”

The Grecians go into the match trying to eradicate the memory of last weekend, when a good first-half performance away at Morecambe bore no fruit, as a second-half brace by Kevin Ellison gave the Shrimps a 2-0 victory.

“It was a disappointing game for us.  We dominated the first half, but it’s all about getting that goal when you’re on top and we didn’t do that.  They suckerpunched us early in the second half which killed the game.

“We had some good chances and Sam [Parkin] and I linked up well.  We were fairly comfortable, but you can never be so comfortable as to take the foot off the pedal in the first five minutes of the second half and we got punished.

“But we have to take some positives.  And for me personally, I got my first 90 minutes of the season which is good and something to build on.  We’re playing good football and we’re looking strong.”