Exeter City manager Paul Tisdale said his players would be concentrating on nothing other than getting the three points when they face Coventry City on Saturday.
It was not so long ago that the Sky Blues were an established Premier League side and they still play inside the Ricoh Arena, which is 32,000 capacity stadium. However, none of that is anything that comes into Tis’ thinking when preparing for the game.
“I think we have to look at it as ‘we are in League Two and we are playing against a League Two team’,” said Tis. “It is 95 or 96 minutes and 11 players to start against another 11 players.
“We can look at the past – where we have been and where they have been – but ultimately we are in the same league and we both want the three points.
“When you talk about stadiums and everything else that is maybe for the supporters to look at and have a particular. We can’t get too interested and romantic about playing against any notions of playing in a big stadium or against teams with an interesting part. We just have to think about it as ‘it’s three points at stake and we want them’.”
City have had a good start to the season, winning seven and drawing one of their first eight matches. However, Coventry have also had a decent start collecting 13 points from their games so far this season. Tis says it is too early in the season for Exeter to get too pleased with themselves though.
“There are still 38 games to go and that has far more weight than the eight we have just played,” he said. “It is a good start. I am really pleased but we were in the bottom two last November time and got to the play-off final.
"That shows you that it is a long season ahead. So you can’t really take too much from these early games other than we would have rather had a great start than a poor start.”
“That is the past and we need to look forward to the next games and concentrate on those and do our best to make sure we continue that type of form,” he added.
“One thing you do learn is that you can never take anything for granted. When you think you have cracked it, this sport can really tip you up and it is an old adage but you have got to earn the right and if every game you have got to be competitive and you have got to give yourself the opportunity to play good football and to score goals. Everything starts from teamwork and commitment and being ready for the competitive nature of the game.”
Tis has no fresh injury concerns and says naming an unchanged line-up for the fifth game running could be an option for him this Saturday.
Traveling to Coventry on Saturday? Here is our travel guide