Exeter City manager Matt Taylor has told his attacking players they must 'stand up and be counted' after a difficult start to the League Two season. The Grecians sit 20th in the table with five points from six matches, having scored only four goals, the joint third-fewest in the division.
Taylor made his feelings clear after a 1-0 defeat away to Port Vale on Saturday. George Byers' 70th-minute penalty condemned Exeter to a loss against the league's bottom side. That result extended a concerning run of form, with just one win in their last five league outings.
Taylor's challenge
"I can't question this group's desire," Taylor said. "I can never hold that against them and I never want to hold that against them." He then turned his focus to the final third, adding, "I'm looking for people to really stand up and be counted in an attacking sense." The manager's comments highlight a clear area for improvement as the team has conceded just five goals but struggles to convert chances at the other end.
New faces in attack
The club moved to address their offensive options during the recent transfer window. Experienced forward Danny Rose arrived as a free agent and has already opened his account, scoring in the 2-0 EFL Trophy win over Tottenham Hotspur's under-21 side. Deadline day saw the loan signing of young Millwall striker Ajay Matthews. They join other new attacking recruits Josh Gordon and Sonny Cox in a reshaped forward line. Departures saw Jayden Wareham and Kieran Wilson leave the club towards the end of the window.
Looking ahead
With the international break now underway, Taylor and his staff have time to work on solutions before the next league fixture. Exeter City return to action on Saturday, 9 January, at home to Northampton Town, who are currently 17th. Fans can check the full schedule on the club's fixtures page and see how the table looks in our standings. The manager will be hoping the extra time on the training ground helps his new-look attack start firing consistently in the league.
