Paul Tisdale calls on Exeter to use Wembley heartache as fuel against Coventry

Posted Sunday, May 27, 2018 by PA

Paul Tisdale hopes Exeter can use the bitter memories of last year’s play-off pain to fire themselves into League One.

The Grecians face Coventry in the Sky Bet League Two play-off final on Monday, 12 months after suffering a Wembley defeat to Blackpool at the same stage.

Manager Tisdale has also experienced victory and defeat in the National League play-off final during his 12 years in charge of the Devon club.

Asked what his team could take from last season’s disappointment, he told the club’s website: “The experience of it. The experience of the build-up, the logistics, the preparations and the experience of how it felt at the end when we lost.

“Don’t forget we have been there before. We have been there before at Exeter in the Conference days twice, winning and losing, so I think I have got the full spectrum of emotions.

“So we will take as much of that as we can in our management room and in our preparations but ultimately the key is when the players play they are not thinking about any of those things, they are just thinking about controlling the ball, heading the ball, tackling their opponent and beating their opposite number in the next four or five seconds.

“That is what it will boil down to.

“It is a lot of preparation, a lot of thinking, a lot of strategy but then getting to a point with the players of ‘just play’ and asking them to play their best.”

Opponents Coventry, who will be backed by an army of almost 35,000 fans, are hoping to bounce back to the third tier at the first time of asking following last year’s relegation.

Mark Robins’ Sky Blues finished the league campaign in sixth position, five points and two places below Exeter.

Boss Robins, a former team-mate of Tisdale’s at Greek club Panionios, has urged his players to relish the occasion of playing at the national stadium, in spite of the pressure.

“It does all come down to this, it is as simple as that, but it is exciting isn’t it?” Robins told Coventry’s website.

“The supporters are coming out in big numbers again to support us and we want to respond.

“It is a very special occasion when you get to play at Wembley during your career and they should not take it for granted.

“During my first season in football, I got to the FA Cup final and I played at Wembley and I thought that was the norm, but it doesn’t happen all the time.

“For some of these players, this is their first taste of first-team football and they have ended up in a final at Wembley, so whilst we know it is a huge game the expectation level of playing for Coventry are there as they have all season.”

Neither club has any fresh selection concerns for the final.

Exeter winger Lee Holmes remains sidelined with an ankle injury, while the Sky Blues will once again be without injured midfielders Jodi Jones and Tony Andreu (both ACL) and Peter Vincenti (ankle).