Exeter City Football Club manager Matt Taylor is demanding more of the same intensity as his team prepares to host promotion-chasing Walsall this Saturday. The Grecians head into the match at St James Park after a midweek draw with Barnet, a game where Reece Cole found the net. Taylor said the positivity and energy from that performance must fuel their weekend challenge.
Walsall, sitting third in the table, present a stern test. They arrive unbeaten in their opening games and have a solid defensive record, having not conceded a stoppage-time goal in their last outing at Crewe. Exeter's own form has been a struggle, with just two wins in their last 25 matches stretching back into the previous campaign. Their current league standing reflects this, positioned 15th in League Two with four points from four games, a record of one win, one draw, and two losses. They have scored four goals and conceded four, leaving them with a zero goal difference and five points behind early leaders Bristol Rovers.
Matt Taylor was clear about his expectations following the Barnet match. "The positivity and energy from midweek will go towards the weekend," he stated. He emphasised that he enjoyed watching the team and wants that level of intent repeated against Walsall. Taylor acknowledged the quality of the opposition, noting they have outstanding players at this level. His immediate focus, however, is on managing his squad's workload after a period of high minutes and travel, aiming to re-energise the group for the weekend fixture.
The club was active on transfer deadline day, bringing in four new faces: Jack Taylor, Ajay Matthews, Danny Rose, and Dan Watts. Their arrivals come as Kieran Wilson departed the club. Youngster Luca Woodhouse remained with the squad. These additions address what the manager described as being "a little bit thin on the ground numbers-wise." Taylor believes the squad is stronger for numbers this weekend, though he seeks more balance between experience and youth. He expects the club's supporters to understand the situation as the team continues to develop.
Exeter City will be without at least two players for the visit of Walsall. Winger Vincent Harper is ineligible to face his parent club, while Andrew Oluwabori is unlikely to be fit after picking up an injury during Tuesday's match. Their absences test the squad's depth, but the new signings are in line to bolster the options. Fans can check the latest availability updates on the club's injuries page.
After the challenge of Walsall, Exeter City's attention will turn to an away trip to face Port Vale on September 12th. Port Vale currently sit 24th in the League Two standings, offering another opportunity for points in a busy period. The full schedule for the coming weeks is available on our fixtures page. Taylor is looking forward to a period where everything settles down, allowing his new-look squad to grow and improve as the season progresses.
