Exeter City need to quickly stamp out 'complacent and lazy’ habit

Exeter City midfielder Reece Cole said that the Grecians need to stamp out their ‘complacent and lazy’ habit of giving away sloppy goals. City for the second week running scored an early goal to the lead in League One, but ultimately suffered a 2-1 defeat.

Just as they did at Northampton Town last Saturday, the Grecians went ahead in the fourth minute at St James Park against Peterborough United when Cole broke the deadlock. But the lead lasted just three minutes when Malik Mothersille slid home a cool finish into the far corner.

Posh went ahead on the stroke of half-time when Emmanuel Fernandez was allowed to stride forward and his swerving 30 yard effort beat Joe Whitworth. The goalkeeper in the second half conceded – and then saved – an Archie Collins penalty, but Gary Caldwell's side slipped to a second successive loss.

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“It was really disappointing to go 1-0 up and then we gave away two really sloppy goals in my opinion,” Cole said. “It is something we need to get better at as it has happened too many times already.

“We are disappointed to lose having gone 1-0 up just like last week. We have to go and make it two and three – we feel comfortable and then we are not switched on, we are sloppy, making mistakes as a collective, so it is very disappointing.

“We get complacent and lazy and give away sloppy goals which could have been stopped at source. We are not sure why, something we can’t put our finger on, but we need to stop and not allow the chances. We are starting games well, but we cannot keep making these mistakes

“We have to maintain it when on top and go for the kill. Something we need to get better at and learn from. We did create chances but just moments we have to capitalise on and we didn’t take the chances.

“I am happy to open my account but disappointed with the result. We are starting games well, going up, but have to go and kill the game off and show everyone in the league how good we are and really go for the kill.”

Cole opened the scoring in the just the fourth minute with a powerful strike from the edge of the box. But three minutes later, the Grecians failed to clear their lines, Abraham Odoh slid the ball to Mothersille, and he skipped into the area and rolled a calm finish into the far corner of the net to make it 1-1.

Just before half-time, Posh took the lead. Fernandez skipped out of defence and unleashed a swerving effort from 30 yards with beat Whitworth's dive. Collins saw a chance to seal it saved when Whitworth kept out his penalty, but Posh did enough for the win and City were beaten – and face another tough test when they travel to Bolton Wanderers next Saturday.

“It is another big game,” Cole added. “It is something we are relishing and raring to go to put it right as we feel the performances we are putting in aren’t being warranted with the results.”