Paul Tisdale delighted as Exeter boost promotion hopes with win over Cheltenham

Posted Tuesday, April 03, 2018 by PA

Exeter manager Paul Tisdale praised his side’s response as they came from behind to beat Cheltenham 2-1 and boost their promotion hopes.

Robins captain Carl Winchester opened the scoring with a fine shot from 20 yards before Robbie Simpson, making his first start in a year, equalised with a volley from Jake Taylor’s cross.

Jordan Storey headed an 81st-minute winner for Exeter to move them up to fourth place in Sky Bet League Two, five points behind Wycombe in third with a game in hand.

“I am really pleased and it was really tough, as many games in League Two are. I thought we played a really good game today,” Tisdale said.

“Character is a word used a lot, but I don’t think it’s about character. It’s about the ability to respond. We always want to do it, but it’s having the capability to do it.

”We came out in the second half and picked up our game and I think we were good value for the win in the end.

“It was great to see Robbie Simpson back out on the pitch for his first start. He was brilliant for us given he has been out for a long, long time.

“It was his first start for us in 12-14 months since he broke his ankle here and the whole club was delighted for him.

“Robbie suited the way I wanted to play and he has shown in training he deserves the chance. I thought it was worth a go. It’s great to have him back and playing so well.”

Cheltenham boss Gary Johnson was happy with what he saw from his side, but wants his players to show more desire.

“It was a game of fine margins,” he said. “We both hit the crossbar, we hit the post. We did all right.

“They are challenging for the play-offs and they showed that desire for their couple of goals and we have got to show that desire when we get set-plays.

“We have had a chat about it, but we are not a million miles away. It is just that final bit of eye-of-the-tiger-type stuff that gets you that next goal.

“We have been scoring goals but today we didn’t really create enough from midfield. There was energy and we tried hard, so 1-1 would have been a fair result but, at the end, we have let it go.

“You have to have players that know how to go beyond the call of duty. Their two headers were from players that were going to head it whatever happens.”