Paul hails performance of Bennett
Scot Bennett has been drawing the plaudits recently for his displays at centre-half – a position familiar to him from his days in the Academy where he plied much of his trade before joining the first team.
But City manager Paul Tisdale was abundant with praise for the 22-year-old as he impressed in the final 20 minutes in playing an advanced role, lining up in a front-three with Jamie Reid and John O’Flynn.
In the absence of the injured Sam Parkin, Bennett lined up on the right of the trio with Reid on the other flank and O’Flynn through the middle. And the makeshift forward was involved with regularity in the final third as City aimed to close the gap after going a second goal behind.
Ultimately it was in vain as the Exiles saw out their 2-0 win, but Bennett – who was unlucky to see an effort hacked off the line in the closing stages – was one of City’s standout performers throughout the match.
“If I’d had two of [Scot Bennett], I would have put two of him up front,” said Tis. “Maybe next time Sam Parkin is missing, maybe we will have to look at Scot Bennett up front because he was the standout player again and he was our best striker at the end.
“We put him in those situations every week in training when we need to. I’m hoping that we won’t be chasing two-goal deficits with 15 minutes to go! But he was our most potent attacker at the end.
“He’s tough, he leads play, he reacts extremely quickly to situations – he’s an absolute footballer.
“He can score goals and he can defend goals, and if I had three or four of him they would be playing.”