Exeter City targeting 'special' campaign with Grecians capable of more

IT is no secret that this Exeter City squad have high expectations of themselves this season. What they are, exactly, are staying in-house, but all the talk is of having a “special” campaign.

Reflecting on the season so far, manager Gary Caldwell has rated it six out of ten, believing this team, so full of potential, has rarely hit the heights they are capable of. But through to the knock-out stages of the EFL Trophy and the second round of the FA Cup, it is a welcome improvement on this time last year when the Grecians were out of everything with only the league to play for.

“We really believe we can achieve something this year, something really exciting, something that’s never been done before,” Caldwell said ahead of today’s home clash with Charlton Athletic. “The challenge is there, but we have to be honest with ourselves and we have to look at performances on Saturday and parts of the game on Saturday that we have to be much better.

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“I do believe the spirit in this group is incredible. I believe that they are willing, I believe that they want to learn they want to improve and I think you see that with the fourth goal (against Barnet.) When it went in, all seven substitutes went and celebrated a late goal to win a game. The five players that came off are obviously disappointed at coming off and experiencing loads of different emotions, but when you see all seven players go on and celebrate with the team, I think that shows you how good this team spirit is and how far we can go.”

There is no doubt that such a healthy bond and togetherness can get you a long way, but matches aren’t won on team spirit alone.

“We’ve spoke to the players,” Caldwell added. “We can still improve in certain areas of that. I still think we need to be more demanding of each other in a respectful way. I think we can improve in that area, but I’ve no doubt about this group of players in terms of the spirit, in terms of them wanting to do well for themselves - and for the club.

“They’ll keep working, they’ll keep asking questions, they’ll keep trying to improve and if we do that through the season then, as I’ve always said, I think it can be a really special one.”

If the Grecians are to do something special, then they need to beat teams like the Addicks, who arrive in Devon today one place below City in the table, but level on points. “That’s something we spoke about,” Caldwell said. “We have to beat teams in and around us and the bigger games like this is. Obviously, later in the season, it gets even more important. But in those big games we have to take points off teams in and around us if we want to, like we’ve always said, climb higher up the table and make this season special.”

Exeter lost their last two league games – at home to Reading (2-1) and at Huddersfield Town (2-0) - and they welcome a Charlton side regarded as one of the bigger fish in League One based on budget, attendances and their infrastructure, but have so far failed to really ignite under manager Nathan Jones.

“I don’t think the table’s really taken shape yet,” Caldwell said. “Birmingham are up there, which everyone would expect, but I think after that, it’s very tight up to pretty low in the table, to be honest. One or two wins either way can take you up or down and I think that’s what we have to be mindful of.

“We’re 11th but we’re also very close to dropping down or going up so you know these four games this month are going to be big on in terms of where we can go in the league. Do we go up by winning games, or do we drop down by losing? Charlton are probably on a similar boat where they win a few games they’ll be in the top six, they lose a few games they’ll be in a really difficult position.

“They’ve invested a lot in the team, I think they’re a very good team and since Nathan’s come in, he’s made a big impact on the team and they’ve made gradual improvement and I think, this year, they’re fully equipped to at least get the play-offs and potentially even more.”