Exeter City FC

Exeter City manager Matt Taylor was pleased that his side managed to take all three points away from home at Carlisle United but is looking for his team to be more ruthless in front of goal to take the game away from the opposition.

The Grecians dominated for large parts at Brunton Park and had a number of chances to pull away from their hosts after Lee Martin gave City the lead. Olufela Olomola then managed to bring United level despite City having the better of the attacking play, but goals from Aaron Martin and Nicky Law ensured the Grecians would return to Devon with the points.

Following the match, Matt said: “It was a good performance; I wouldn’t say great. If it was a great performance then, and no disrespect to Carlisle, we should have killed them off sooner than we did. We had a host of chances, a lot of good ones as well, and their keeper got man of the match. I didn’t feel he made too many out of this world saves, he made a lot with his legs, so we’ve got to be more ruthless in front of goal.

“I’m delighted because I’m stood here and we've scored three goals and we’ve won 3-1 away from home, but I know how important those moments are. We went back in front through a set piece and then we only really put the game to bed in the 90+ minute, so if we’re going to be successful this season then we’ve got to kill teams off when we’re as convincingly on top as we were at times today.

“It should have been more, and that’s really no disrespect to Carlisle, it should have been. They had a 20-minute spell in the second half where they threw everything at us and put us under pressure and we conceded. It’s then an equal playing field, but that’s why I’m so pleased with that set piece in terms of the delivery and Aaron Martin’s header. They laughed at me when I said that was the best goal we’ve scored this season because it looked simple, but it was such a big moment for us because you can’t dominate a game for such long periods and not win it. It felt a little bit like Oldham to a certain extent in the second half, but I think we created more chances today.”

The win means City sit first in the table after seven matches having made an unbeaten start to their campaign, and Matt is pleased with the points return so far but wants his side to continue their performances.

He explained: “People talk about a good start, but you want to start any season well, you want to start on the front foot and pick up points whenever you can. The first game of the season is worth three points and so is the last. There is probably more pressure at different stages throughout the season, but to get points on the board at this stage of the season, I’m really pleased. It’s testament to the players and the staff for the work put in in pre-season.

“We’ve probably carried on some momentum from some good performances in pre-season, the confidence is obviously high, but we’re not streaks ahead of anyone else in this league. We’re a team who is just competing at the moment and we’ve been on the right end of some good performances.”

Matt also praised the performance of Nicky Law at Brunton Park, eluding to a big call to bring him back in following injury in place of Matt Jay, who impressed against Mansfield Town last weekend.

“It was a big decision for me to put him back in today because Matt Jay was man of the match against Mansfield, on the back of Nicky’s injury,” said Matt. “But Nicky Law is a certain level player, especially on that pitch, I just felt his presence would control the game in possession and he did that to a certain extent. Matt Jay was unlucky today; he was excellent against Mansfield and has done really well when called upon this season.

“That’s what I need in terms of strength in depth because Nicky had to come in and perform well. Dean Moxey is having to perform well at the moment because Tom Parkes is scraping at his heels. It goes through the team at the moment, so that’s what I need as a manger, competition for places, and then it’s up to me to select the ones that are ready. He (Matt Jay) came on and gave us a bit of control and quality in terms of that slide ball, and it was the first real bit of composure we had in their box.”