As Bill Murray famously said in the film of the same name, it’s Groundhog Day – again.

by Sums on City 

I gave the team credit last weekend for the great point at Stevenage, and rightly so, but sadly, normal service has been resumed. Another 90 minutes, and another loss in Exeter City’s season, this time at the hands of Cambridge United yesterday evening, which looking at our current run of fixtures was a game we really needed to get something from.

Despite Will Aimson being back from suspension, he was kept on the bench and Pierce Sweeney kept the captain’s armband after wearing it last Saturday against Stevenage. Cheick Diabate again was in his natural central defensive role, and on paper it looked like a side that could get something. We also named a full complement of 7 subs after only naming six in the last couple of games!

Onto the game itself, and Cambridge put us under the cosh rather quickly. A free kick on the edge of the box led to a melee inside it and after the ball clipped the hand of Alex Hartridge, the referee pointed to the spot. It looked like more of a ball-to-hand incident watching on ifollow, so it was more harsh luck in what has been a hugely frustrating season. However, why we got ourselves into that situation in the first place needs to be looked at, penalty or not.

Cambridge’s in-form striker Gassan Adahme, on loan from Ipswich, coolly dispatched the penalty past Vil Sinisalo to give the hosts the advantage. After that, throughout the rest of the first half chances were few and far between – Dion Rankine’s pace was causing problems down the right but sadly, as is ever the case at the moment, there was no end product.

The injury list lengthened once again during the first half, Ryan Trevitt landing awkwardly with an ankle injury and having to come off with Tom Carroll replacing him. He came out on crutches to watch the second half, and left the stadium in a protective boot. Not what we need right now.

In the second half, City were under the cosh again but just after the hour mark, James Scott and Sonny Cox, fresh from his loan spell at Yeovil Town, were brought on. Cox especially looked lively and it looked like his loan spell had done him the world of good, and for a short period we were attempting to make things happen but as ever to no avail.

With 6 minutes of normal time to play, City were casually passing the ball along the back line and then made an attempt to play it forward, which got intercepted quickly by a Cambridge defender. They then went on the counter attack, and found Elias Kachunga who had the simplest of tap-ins to seal the three points for the U’s, and continue City’s dismal league run.

One thing that really frustrates me at the moment is the lack of urgency when we’re chasing a game, for instance passing the ball aimlessly along the back line, and as I’ve mentioned numerous times on here, the lack of will to win from a big chunk of the squad. Whenever the ball seemed to go forward to one of our attacking players, supporting players were nowhere to be seen, which in my opinion isn’t good enough. For me, that’s got to be down to the manager’s tactics which simply aren’t working.

Four points from nine was what I was hoping for from the Cambridge, Wycombe and Portsmouth games, and there’s now only six of them up for grabs with none on the board. This for me now means a win on Boxing Day is paramount, as I cannot see us getting anything at home to Portsmouth, and if points on Boxing Day are not forthcoming then we’ll definitely be in for a bumpy ride.

Gary Caldwell again mentioned in his post-match interview how hard the players work in training and that we ‘need to be better’. As I said at the start of the article – it’s Groundhog Day – again – and if we need to be better why are we not doing anything about it?

I get the impression from the pre-match interviews that took place on Thursday that the players and staff will be off on Christmas Day. GC mentioned that he will be with his family up north and travelling back for the game on Boxing Day.

In our current situation, although I know the players are human beings first and foremost and need time with their loved ones, I think a short training session at least on Christmas Day needed to take place to ensure the players are in the best condition possible for the visit of Wycombe. I believe that under Matt Taylor’s management, the players always used to come in for a short session on Christmas Day to ensure match fitness. And considering GC has a driving ban at the moment, will he and his designated driver make it back to Exeter in time for kick off?

A near sell-out awaits on Boxing Day for the visit of Wycombe Wanderers, who we dispatched with aplomb 3-0 on the opening day – that of course feels like a lifetime ago now! Considering how full the ground will be, who knows what the atmosphere could be like if a negative result is forthcoming once again?

We also had news this last week that there was an error regarding the recent Trust elections, in that some members did not receive ballot papers due to a data issue, and therefore the election will be run again. Credit where it’s due to the trust for being honest about it and rectifying the situation, however in this day and age and working in the data field myself, you’ve got to wonder how this was missed.

It may mean that other candidates may put themselves forward now too considering the current state of play – I’ve thought about running myself but I think I would find it too overwhelming for me both physically and mentally and therefore it isn’t for me. However, I give kudos to anyone who runs to be a trustee and raises their head above the parapet. If that’s you, then best of luck!

Despite the support from the board, I believe GC is now on borrowed time, although he thinks it’s a minority who are fed up and want him to go, it’s growing as each game passes. Entertaining football, goals and a will to win gets bums on seats, and that’s just isn’t going to happen going forward if the turgid football we’re being subjected to doesn’t improve.

As I’ve said before, there are potential managers around who know our club. Wayne Carlisle, who’s just recently left Rotherham United following a stint as Interim Manager after Matt Taylor’s sacking, is someone who knows our club and I believe would hit the ground running. We’d have to act quick though, as I reckon MT would be keen to take him to the Gas as his assistant.

Anyway, I digress. Have a fantastic Christmas fellow Grecians, try and forget about our current misfortune for a bit enjoying precious time with your loved ones and see you again on Boxing Day. UTC.