Exeter City manager Paul Tisdale praised the work Steve Evans is doing at Mansfield Town and says is expects the Stags to be battling for promotion come the end of the season.
City travel to the One Call Stadium on Saturday fourth in the League Two table, eight points and nine places above their rivals in the table. However, Mansfield Town were a side Tis picked out as one of the candidates at the start of the campaign and he has not changed his view on that.
“They have got some good players,” he said. “Their results so far at home have been strong and they have got a manager who drives his team and maximizes their potential and has done with every team he has had.
“I think I made the point when I was asked before the season started which two or three clubs would I expect to be pushing towards the top end of the table and I said I thought they would be one of them.
“Maybe they are not there at the moment, but I’d be surprised if they are not come the end of the season. They have got a manager who knows what he is doing and who will get the very best out of his team.”
City go into the game on the back of a couple of disappointing results. They lost 4-1 at home to Luton Town on October 17 and followed that up with a 1-0 loss to Port Vale last Saturday. It is also just two goals scored in the last four games for City, so is that a concern for the manager?
"No, it happens,” he said. “The ball doesn’t go in the net sometimes and sometimes it does. We are doing the right things and practicing the right things. We haven’t really changed a lot since the days, a month or so ago, when things were going in. It will go in the net sooner rather than later, I’m sure.”
Tis welcomes back Craig Woodman and Lee Holmes into the side for Saturday’s trip to Mansfield for the match.
Are you thinking of travelling to our game against Mansfield Town on Saturday? Why not read our travel guide here.