Exeter City FC

Matt Taylor could have a number of players back from injury for Saturday’s match with Notts County.

The Exeter City manager confirmed that a few key players were due for a return this weekend having participated in a reserve game away at Luton Town and training. 

“Troy Brown got through an hour at Luton, Aaron Martin also played in that game,” said Matt. “Pierce Sweeney has come back within the squad in terms of bit of time in training on Wednesday and today (Thursday) and Lee Martin has done a little bit this week as well. 

“Whether it is too soon to throw them all in this weekend is another question, but I mindful that there are not too many games left and I need my best players on that pitch. It is good that we are getting stronger in terms of the squad and it is about getting these players as close to match fitness as possible.” 

City go into Saturday’s game on the back of a morale-boosting 3-0 win over Colchester United. Notts County currently sit bottom of the Sky Bet League Two table, but Matt has been impressed by their recent upturn in form and their record at Meadow Lane this season.  

“They have got a good set of players and the manager has, obviously, got them organized and given them some structure and belief and they are in a good vein of form at home at the moment,” he said. 

“I think it is only one of the top 10 teams who have beaten them home this season and that shows how difficult it is going to be this weekend. We have got a bit of confidence on the back of last weekend but we went into that game on the back of two poor results and we go to Notts County hoping for another positive result and outcome but we know how difficult it will be. 

“We expect it to be a tough test but all our concentration has to be on ourselves we know that if we put in a performance that we are capable of then we are a stern test for any opposition. We go to good stadium and hopefully a good pitch, followed by good backing, which we usually have away from home, and it is a game we can look forward to.” 

Matt added that it was about his side doing the basics well to build a good platform for victory.  

“We know we have got a good group of players,” he said. “We know we need to get them out on the pitch and fully motivated and thinking the right things at important times in the game.  

“It will come down to the basics of League Two, which I thought we did really well last weekend. I was pleased with that Colchester display. We talked about the conditions but it was about being in the right place at the right time and thinking the right things. 

“A bit of quality on top of that will always help, but I have got to structure my team to compete first and foremost and hopefully play off the back of that.”