Dara O’Shea says the players have to learn from their mistakes to put the Mansfield Town defeat behind them quickly.
The Grecians lost 4-1 at home to the Stags, with CJ Hamilton grabbing two first-half goals before Tyler Walker netted a double after the break.
Asked what went wrong Dara, said: “I think we had a bad start and it all kicked on from there,” he said. “Defensively I felt that they just got in too easy in behind and we just were not tight enough. We will have to pick up on that and get back on training on Monday and prepare for Saturday."
City started the second half brightly, but that momentum was crushed when City didn’t defend a throw-in properly and Walker curled a shot into the corner from 20 yards. Dara admitted the timing of that goal proved costly.
“That was really the whole game because I think as soon as we got momentum they scored,” he said. “It was tough because the plan was to come out in the second and get the first goal and go on from there, but that third goal really killed us.”
The Republic of Ireland under-21 defender added that the team, who still occupy the final play-off place, have got to bounce back quickly.
“It is just one game and there are still seven games left and it is still there so we just have to look forward,” he said. “We cannot dwell on this now. We need to put it past us, learn and look forward to the next seven games.”