Exeter City FC

Exeter City Academy graduate Archie Collins says he is delighted to have started the first three games of the season as he understands that competition for places is very strong in the squad.

Archie, who will be hoping to feature against Swindon Town a home this Saturday, burst onto the scene at the start of last season and scored a wonder goal against the Robins at the County Ground in January. That was part of a breakthrough season that saw him appear 33 times for the Grecians and, having started the first three games of this campaign, he is thrilled with the way things are going for him personally.

“I am pleased with how things are going,” he said. “I just want to play as many games as possible and the group of players that we have here there is a lot of competition for places and to be in the side, three games out of three now, I am happy. I am absolutely delighted really.”

City have won both their league games so far this season, but did lose their last game, which was a Carabao Cup tie with Coventry City. However, Archie adds that the players know they have got to move on from that loss quickly.

“It won’t affect things massively,” he said. “Whether you win or lose in football you move onto the next game very quickly and, I think, in that game we have learnt our lesson. We have learnt about it in the past couple of days and then we move on because we have got a big important game coming on Saturday.”

Archie is also expecting a good atmosphere at the Park at the weekend and says that could be the push the players need.

“The fans are brilliant home and away and the noise they create is just unbelievable really,” he said. “Sometimes you can’t even here the players talking on the pitch and it is only when it goes out for stoppages in play that you realise the noise that is coming from them. The feeling you get from that just lifts you and gives you another five or 10 per cent and that is what we need.”