David Wheeler says team ethic behind good defensive record
David Wheeler says the Exeter City players have a great team ethic and that is one of the main reasons behind the side’s great defensive record of late.
The Grecians have only conceded two goals in the last 10 games and gone on an unbeaten run which has seen them go from the bottom of the table to seventh place in 70 days.
They face Wycombe Wanderers next at St James Park – a side who themselves are unbeaten in the league since October. The match, at St James Park, kicks-off on Tuesday at 7.45pm and Wheeler says, despite City’s excellent form, the players are not getting ahead of themselves and just trying to concentrate on what they do best.
“The whole team defensively has been incredible lately,” said Wheeler. “Everyone is backing each other up, everyone is over each other’s shoulder and talking and being the next man to the ball. So, there is a really strong team ethic and that has led to a really good defensive record and we are really, really pleased with that.”
“It is great to be in the play-off places,” added Wheeler. “Our ambition is to go as high as we can go. I think in recent seasons we have had a good enough squad to go higher but we just haven’t quite done it and there is still a long way to go. So we are not going to get ahead of ourselves. We just want to keep going, keep picking up the wins and being solid defensively.”
Wheeler scored his fifth goal in as many matches on Saturday as City beat Portsmouth 1-0 at Fratton Park. The striker, who is only two goals away from breaking the club record for scoring in consecutive matches, says he owes a lot to his teammate Reuben Reid for his goal at the weekend.
“I remember last season (at Fratton Park) I was playing in the position he was on Saturday and it was horrible,” said Wheeler. “It is such a hard job because you are playing in a sea of grass with nobody anywhere near you. He did really well and brought everyone else into the game and his run created my goal.”
Tickets for City’s game against Wycombe Wanderers can be purchased on the gate. For more information about prices visit exetercityfc.co.uk/tickets