Exeter City FC

For all the positives that could be extracted from the performance, they were overridden by the result which has ended the Grecians hopes of an FA Cup run as soon as they began.

“I’m disappointed fundamentally because it’s the first round of the FA Cup and we’ve not been the best candidates for a cup run in the last couple of years,” said Tis.  “It’s something that we’ve put a lot of preparation into this week and we really applied ourselves this week to try and get a result here.

“I’m more disappointed because we played competently and built our performance nicely.  There was a strategy to the way we played and defended and how we increased our offensive play, and I’m pleased with that.  

“Our players match them with comfort on the ball and trust in each other, and we looked strong in defensive situations.  We were building our play when they scored their first goal.”

Indeed, in the first half the Grecians had contained the threats of strike duo Britt Assombalonga and Tyrone Barnett, a strike duo that saw the Posh outlay fees believed to be in excess of £2.5 million.

And after the interval City were beginning to turn the screw right up until the point at which Mark Little fashioned an angle to cross for Assombalonga to stab a shot in right on the goal-line.

The Peterborough record-signing's goal was soon followed by a firm strike by Nathaniel Mendez-Laing, catching City low on numbers at the back as they went in search of an equaliser.

“We had a five minute spell before their goal where we had good pressure,” continued the City manager.  “We made an attacking substitution at half-time and were beginning to play more forward passes and get bodies into attacking areas.

“I leave here unhappy because we came here and played particularly well and looked a good side.  But you have to pack a punch and they packed a punch when they had their moments.  We didn’t quite make it happen for ourselves in the final third and score the goals.”