Cheltenham Town face a tough test this weekend in Sky Bet League Two as they take on promotion-chasing Exeter City at St James’ Park.
The Grecians sit in eighth place just outside the play-offs and will be looking to avenge the 5-3 loss they suffered at the hands of Cheltenham in December last year, which was also played in front of 1,000 spectators.
Alongside Cheltenham, Exeter were also one of the four teams that took part in the rescheduled play-off campaign, but were heavily beaten by Northampton Town at Wembley.
However, guided by former Cheltenham defender Matt Taylor, the club have recovered extremely well and are firmly in the League Two promotion race.
Here is everything you need to know about Exeter ahead of the weekend:
The Danger man – Matt Jay
📸 Matt Jay celebrates after giving @OfficialECFC the lead!#EFL | #SkyBetLeagueTwo pic.twitter.com/xRULa6IMAx
— Sky Bet League Two (@SkyBetLeagueTwo) March 9, 2021
With Exeter as the League Two top scorers, clear of Cambridge United by seven goals, it would be stupid not to talk about one of the dynamic attacking players Exeter have in their ranks.
Last season it was Randell Williams who inspired the Grecians going forward, but this campaign has seen the true emergence of Matt Jay.
Following on from his fantastic free-kick on Tuesday night against Scunthorpe, City’s top scorer took his tally for the season to 15 goals only behind Jamille Matt of Forest Green, James Vaughan of Tranmere and Paul Mullin of Cambridge.
As the designated Exeter penalty taker, four of his goals have come from 12 yards, but 11 goals from open play, along with five assists for an attacking midfield player is an impressive return.
Taylor, who hasn’t left Jay out of any league game since early November, had high praise for his player and puts it down to his work during lockdown.
Taylor said: “During the first part of lockdown we gave all [our players] individual programmes and then you would see who came back fit and Matt did that programme we gave him and them more.
“He came back being able to cover a lot of ground in a lot less time, his stride pattern was different and he looked a slightly different athlete.
“He deserves all the success he’s getting this season – the hardest thing to do in life is push yourself when no one else is pushing you, but Matt did that in the lockdown period and he’s come back a different animal.”
The 25-year-old, who came through the famed Exeter academy, will definitely be the player to watch out for when Cheltenham travel down to the South West of England on Saturday.
📸 They all count! That’s goal 1️⃣5️⃣ for @mattjay__
— Exeter City FC (@OfficialECFC) March 6, 2021
What a season he’s having 🔥#ECFC #OneGrecianGoal pic.twitter.com/pbzbhgpemF
And Jay, who was on the scoresheet in the reverse fixture, will be hoping he can contribute again but this time round as part of a positive result for the Grecians.
The manager – Matt Taylor
Exeter’s boss Matt Taylor is someone who Cheltenham are certainly familiar with as he was the club captain of the Robins in the 2015/16 season.
The 39-year-old was appointed as manager of Exeter, where he spent four years of his playing career, in 2018 and has since guided the club to two top half finishes, narrowly missing out on promotion to League One in the last campaign.
Following the Covid-19 pandemic, Taylor admitted the club would be facing a rebuild over the 2020/21 campaign, and the focus would be on promoting academy players.
This has resulted in Josh Key, 21, Joel Randall, 21, and Alex Hartridge, 22, all being given a platform to show their quality.
Ahead of the clash, Taylor admitted he is very aware of the excellent players that Cheltenham have in their ranks, in particular his familiarity with one of their battling midfielders Liam Sercombe who he played alongside at Exeter.
“It’s a shame the fans aren’t there because hopefully they’d have given him a good reception, he deserves that in terms of a local lad who did really well.
“He’s a fantastic player and I played in his debut, I think it was Altrincham away and then he actually got knocked out in his second or third game as a 17-year-old kid.”
Cheltenham and Taylor have plenty of things in common but the Exeter manager will be hoping he can get one over on his old employers.
Their form – W,W,D,L,W
Exeter come into this important six-pointer in a decent run of form, winning their last two games while also not conceding in their last three games.
This past Tuesday night the Grecians put in a dominating performance against Scunthorpe United with goals coming from Jay and Jack Sparkes, both of whom came through the academy.
3 points and first league goal, a good nights work🤩 pic.twitter.com/7R46zSWoqF
— Jack Sparkes (@Jacksparkes22) March 10, 2021
In their last weekend fixture, City put four past Leyton Orient which included a hat-trick from Jay and a first goal for Joel Randall since his return from a leg injury.
Prior to that it was a goalless draw, in which City dominated, against a resolute Walsall.
Both of City’s first choice centre-backs were actually missing for the last three games, but Hartridge has massively stepped up to the plate and Taylor feels his development has been helped by his imperious partnership with veteran defender Rory McArdle.
“I’ve been really pleased [with Hartridge], he’s not been perfect throughout the season but he’s improved as the season has gone on and the last few games he’s been really consistent.
“I’ve got to be honest I think that has come from a partnership with Rory McArdle in terms of the youth and experience and Alex basing his game on his legs and physicality and Rory helping him and talking him through it.
“That was the reason we recruited Rory at the start of the season because we’ve got a lot of good young centre halves coming to the forefront,” said Taylor.
After conceding five in their last outing against Cheltenham, the Exeter defenders will be motivated to not allow that defensive capitulation to happen again and off the back of keeping out their last three opponents, they will have the confidence to keep out the league’s table-toppers.
