Grecians boss looks ahead to Devon derby
EXETER CITY manager Paul Tisdale insisted that both sides will be going for the three points ahead of a hugely significant Devon derby against Plymouth Argyle this weekend.The Pilgrims visit St James Park needing the points to sustain their automatic promotion push, but the Grecians are looking to make up the necessary ground in order to reach the top seven and thereby book a place in the Sky Bet League 2 Play-Offs.
"It's a different type of week, the week leading up to a Devon derby," Paul said. "This particular game has an extra significance in terms of what the three points can do for both sides. There are elements of excitement and anxiety about it, but when it gets to 3pm on Saturday, the players will be going out there to do their best. We'll prepare as best we can for it, but it is a derby, and it's certainly not just a game.
"It will be a tough test. There's an old cliche that form makes no difference when you're going into a derby, but of course it helps; it's better to have won six than to have lost six. It'll be a very competitive game, and the fact that both teams need the three points, with games running out, means that this will be an interesting challenge if the game is all-square with twenty or so minutes to go. We both need the three points.
"I've experienced winning and losing - it's a different type of game, but it's something that we'll be highly prepared for.
"Alex Nicholls has returned from his facial injury, wearing his mask, so he's back now. David Noble should be fit and available having sat out the last two games with a rib injury, while there are doubts on Jordan Moore-Taylor and Matt Oakley, who both missed out on Monday.
"There's no points target - seventh place is the target. We need to take it one game at a time, and that's all you can do. We need to catch that team in seventh."