Exeter City defender Dean Moxey says they have got to ‘pick things up’ on Monday night when they play at home to Colchester United in the play-off semi-final second leg.
The Grecians lost narrowly, 1-0, at the Jobserve Community Stadium in the first leg of the tie and, while the performance wasn’t bad from a defensive and organisational sense, Deano felt they needed to offer more from a creative point of view.
“We know what we have got to do now,” he said. “We wanted to get at least a draw there and think we were good for it. I think we were possibly the better team up until the final third. We just never tested their goalie on the day. I don’t think we had a shot on target. We will have to change that straight away and get our shooting boots on.”
The game at Colchester was City’s first competitive match in 103 days, following the curtailment of football because of the coronavirus pandemic, and Deano added that the lack of match sharpness played its part in the game.
“We knew going there was going to be tough,” he added. “They found it tough as well. We could see that in both sets of players. It was hard on us, but one goal down is nothing. I am sure on Monday we will pick up. We have got to. We have got to get the goal back and a couple more, hopefully.”
Fans will not be allowed in the stadium for the second leg as the game is being played behind closed doors for safety reasons. City have a good recent home record in the play-off semi-finals beating both Carlisle United and Lincoln City on their own patch to book a spot at Wembley in 2017 and 2018. However, how much will home advantage play its part here?
“It will obviously be strange,” he said. “I think it would have been a lot tougher at their place with all their fans backing them and it would have been the same for them at the Park.
"I said in an interview a few days ago that nobody would want to come and play us with a full house, so it is going to be different for us with no fans there. I know a lot of people have bought the cut-outs which is fantastic for the club and for them to support them like that.
“I am sure we will see some familiar faces in the crowd, but it is not the same without having your own fans there backing you and cheering you on. It will be a totally different experience but we know the job we have got to do and we have got to go out there and do it.”