Manager Matt Taylor has praised the City fans ahead of the trip to Newport County AFC tomorrow as the club has sold more than 600 tickets in advance for the trip to South Wales.
The Grecians, on the back of a good run of form that has seen them lose just once in their last six matches, travel to Rodney Parade knowing a victory could lift them back into the play-off places.
A total of 683 City fans travelled to the last away match against Swindon Town on New Year’s Day and the club look set to beat that total with, at the time of writing, 613 tickets being sold in advance.
“We always travel in good numbers and that is testament to our fans,” said Matt. “When we are away from home they don’t stop signing and they get behind the boys.
“We have got to give them something to hold on to in terms of their support and it won’t be easy in terms of what we know is coming on Saturday at 3pm, but all together we are a force to be reckoned with ourselves. We go there in a good place mentally, physically we are not too bad and we are looking forward to the game.”
Matt, having watched Newport County’s FA Cup victory over Leicester City, is well aware of the threat Mike Flynn’s side will pose.
“I was at that game (against Leicester City) and I was at the game the round before against Wrexham and I think they have only lost two games at home all season,” said Matt. “They are a serious force to be reckoned with in terms of the way they play at home. They really got into Leicester. They didn’t beat them up but they earned the right to run over the top of them.
“It was a fantastic performance and I am expecting much of the same against ourselves. We have got to match their physicality and their running ability and their direct play at time but also back ourselves when it is on to play.
“We have got to play our own game as well. I think everyone can cast their mind back to last season when we played there on New Year’s Day, in difficult conditions, and we just never got a foothold in that game.
“I think we hardly had a shot on target until Jayden (Stockley) scored in the 60thminute of the game. So we know what to expect. It will be a serious test for us but one we have encountered in the past and one we have hopefully learned from in terms of those past experiences and one we are looking forward to.”