Exeter boss unfazed by Bristol loss

EXETER City did everything but score in their 1-0 Westcountry derby defeat at Bristol Rovers, but Grecians boss Paul Tisdale was enthused by what he saw from his rapidly improving side.

Darryl Duffy scored the only goal of the game ten minutes before half-time, but the defeat was harsh on Exeter, who dominated from virtually the first minute to the last. However, converting all their possession and chances into goals was all that stopped City from getting a deserved result at the Memorial Ground.

"I am delighted and really proud of the team. I think it would be hard to argue that we weren't the better team on the night. We played really well and I go away a very happy man," Tisdale said.

"It's very hard for me to go away unhappy. You can't be dictated to by results too much – I know that seems a strange thing to say – but if you come away too downhearted then it is a waste of a very good performance.

"The players are disappointed and are very hurt that we didn't get at least a draw. The players are improving very quickly and I think we are going to be a good side. But we need to pick up points as we go and I think we will do."

The defeat came off the back of Saturday's 4-3 FA Cup defeat to Milton Keynes Dons, where Exeter had led 3-1 with 20 minutes remaining, which was also tough on City after another good performance. Tisdale added: "To come away from the last two games with two losses is extremely harsh. But that is football. I can't blame my players and I can't pick fault. We will get our just desserts and if we play like we did today, we will be OK."

Tisdale made tactical and personnel changes to the side on Tuesday and it was Scott Golbourne, who played as a left wing-back in a new-look 3-5-2 formation, who really caught the eye along with Alex Russell and Ryan Harley who dictated the entire game from midfield.

"We had a few tired minds and Rovers were fresher than us having not played at the weekend," Tisdale said. "The changes were to get a new focus on the pitch and I think it worked. We had 11 really bright players. I just fancied a bit of a change.

"They were very narrow on us and we had a lot of space in those wing-back positions. Ultimately we lost the game and we didn't score a goal, but we created a lot of half chances and one or two decent chances. The theme of the game was to be bright and we were very bright and controlled the game."

Meanwhile, Paul Jones' return from a knee injury has been put back after the Grecians' reserve team clash at Southampton was called off yesterday due to a waterlogged pitch.