Exeter City manager Matt Taylor says the character to bounce back from Saturday’s 3-0 defeat to Lincoln City is very much in the group of players he has got.
He says the team knows they didn’t perform to the standards they need to, but has backed them to show a positive response next time out.
“Yes, I am looking for a reaction but the character is within the group,” said Matt. “They know that wasn’t good enough today. They know Lincoln really messed us around from start to finish.
“However, they are good enough players to deal with it. I might have to take some of the responsibility in terms of changing the shape and changing the personnel so we become more effective.
“I have just said to them 'I might have to take some attacking players out of the team to be more defensive if we can’t handle a long ball that is going to come week in, week out in League Two'.
“That is some of the changes I might have to make, but I am still backing my group of players. I am pleased with the group I have got. They didn’t show that today but it is very much onto the next.”
City lost 3-0 at home to Lincoln City as John Akinde crossed for Lee Frecklington to score before adding a second goal in first-half stoppage time. It was that goal that disappointed Matt Taylor the most out of the three.
“All credit to Lincoln, they are a good team,” he said. “They pressed us high up the pitch, they messed us around and dominated us physically, which is a disappointing factor.
“We just had no real control, certainly in our backline, and it just fed through the rest of the team.
“It was a poor goal to concede and then that softness just edged into our game.
“It was a goal kick from them and then we didn’t win the first ball and it is bouncing around. You have got to go all the way through and take everything or impact the game in terms of getting on the ball and our players did neither in that situation and he has run through unopposed.
“It is bitterly disappointing the manner of that second goal because it kills you. Then I have got to make changes to try and affect the game, which I don’t want to do too early and then you get caught on a bit of a breakaway.
"However, I have just reminded them that the season I got promoted with Exeter City to League One we got beat 6-1 at home by Chesterfield. So there is a long way to go. We are only six games in. It is a disappointing afternoon, but that is in the manner of defeat really.”