EXETER City manager John Cornforth refused to blame the financial crisis which has engulfed the club for the poor performance that led to another home defeat.

Cornforth confirmed that the players were finally paid last Friday – a week late – thanks to a loan from the Professional Footballers' Association. He described the last tumultuous week at the club as "horrendous."

However, Cornforth has always been an honest man and he was not looking for excuses for Saturday's 2-0 defeat to Cheltenham Town.

"I wasn't paid either, but it didn't affect my preparations for the game and it shouldn't have affected the players," he said.

"We prepared in the same way as usual, but it has been a very difficult week. It has been a horrendous week.

"The players found out that they hadn't been paid and it has been a terrible week. The lads have got the money in the bank now and they have to start earning it."

Cornforth said he was at a loss to explain why Exeter look a vastly better side away from home than they do at St James's Park.

Second-half goals from Mark Yates and Tony Naylor were enough to give Cheltenham a comfortable victory – their sixth in a row against Exeter.

At times, City looked more concerned about their financial worries than with their performance on the pitch.

Steve Book saved well from Steve Flack in only the second minute as the Cheltenham defence was caught square, but it was to prove Exeter's best chance of the game.

As a dire first half wore on, Cheltenham increasingly began to dominate and Yates went close with a shot from the edge of the box that flew past the post.

Russell Milton's cross then picked out Julian Alsop as the Exeter defence stood and watched, but the striker headed wide.

The deadlock was finally broken in the 64th minute. Milton's corner was drilled into the box and Yates steamed in and headed powerfully into the top corner.

Williams came close to stretching the lead shortly afterwards when he danced his way into the box and forced a fine save from Stuart Fraser.

Christian Roberts struck an ambitious 35-yard drive narrowly wide for Exeter and forced Book to make a rare save with another long-range effort, but Exeter faded and never looked capable of grabbing an equaliser. The result was sealed by Tony Naylor from close range with almost the last kick.

It was a bad end to a very bad week.