Exeter boss Gary Caldwell admitted their last-gasp defeat against Wanderers at St James Park was tough to take.

The Grecians were on course for victory after Demetri Mitchell’s opener but conceded late for the second game in a row.

“We have done so many good things to win the game,” Caldwell told the club channels. “I still think we can be better when we go a goal up and keep doing what got us in that position.

“We were a little bit safe in that moment, but a real sickener for the players. To concede one and draw the game would have been a massive blow, to lose it is a big disappointment.

“But it is what it is. It’s football, we have to learn from it. We can take so many good things from this game and the previous game even though we have got no points from them.

“We have to learn those little lessons that ultimately help you win football matches because we have done, in my opinion, enough to get four points in the last two games and thrown them away.”

The manager was frustrated with the defending in the final stages as Aaron Collins and Aaron Morley turned the contest on its head.

“We can’t lose it in the middle of the pitch,” he added. “Then when it comes back out, we have to defend better – whether that be making contact, winning the duel, clearing the ball.

“We have to defend channel balls, most of the game we didn’t defend them great. It’s a two-v-one and should be a routine defensive action, and we gift them a goal. That was a huge blow and to give them another one is really disappointing.”

Exeter also came within minutes of a point at Wycombe several days prior and Caldwell insists they have to learn from mistakes.

“We have to be better, that is clear. If you don’t win, you can’t just blame it on luck or other things,” he reflected.

“But so much of our game is really good, we are competing against big teams at this level and I think we have been better than them.

“We gave them loads of problems in and out of possession, we are right in both of these games but have we to take points.”