Tis: 'We have consistently performed away from home and I would expect us to do the same'
Exeter City manager Paul Tisdale is expecting a good game at the Keepmoat Stadium on Saturday as the Grecians take on table toppers Doncaster Rovers.
Doncaster have the best home record in League Two having won 14 of their 22 matches at their own stadium. However, the Grecians have the second best away record in the division having set a club record of 12 wins on the road this campaign.
“We should both be feeling quite confident and I think, probably, we are,” said Tis. “I can only talk for Exeter but we have consistently performed away from home and I would expect us to do the same again this weekend.”
City go into the match fifth in the League Two table with two games of the season left. They know a victory against Doncaster Rovers will all but guarantee them a place in the play-offs this season, but Tis is urging his plays not to get too caught up in where they sit in the table.
“We are trying not to look at it,” he said. “We are trying to concentrate on winning two games. That is the truth. I actually didn’t look at the table after the game on Saturday. We know where we are and we have to gain a certain amount of points and the best way to do that is to win both games. That is what we have to try to do. It is in our own hands. We have got two bites of the cherry and we have to go and win the games.”
Doncaster, who can also claim the league title on Saturday, will pose a threat though. Tis has been impressed by how Darren Ferguson’s side have performed this campaign.
“They are very fluid,” he said. “The table doesn’t lie at this point in the season. They score goals and they are a fluid team. I think there are plenty of teams who have particular strengths and Doncaster have a fair few. They have got goals and they have been very consistent throughout the year.”
Speaking about Doncaster striker John Marquis – who top’s the League Two scoring charts this season with 26 goals – Tis added: “I think any team that is at the top end of the league will have some significantly positive about their stats.
“We are not surprised. John Marquis played well for Northampton against us before in a successful team. They (Doncaster) have got some talent in there.
“I think we are well aware of what they can do but we have got to concentrate on our game and we have won a dozen games away from home this season. So let’s think about that.”
There is also positive news on the injury front:
“Robbie Simpson is obviously long-term absent, but Craig Woodman is back in training,” said Tis. “It is one being physically fit, but we have to check on the strength of his arm. Everyone is out there training though – apart from Robbie – so it is a good, full squad that I have got to choose from.”