Exeter City's Matt Taylor on stolen flags, Red Legion, top v second and spending £50 on cakes

The highlights form the manager's press conference

League Two’s top two teams go head to head this weekend when Exeter City head tro leaders Swindon Town knowing that victory would take them to the summit of the division.

Manager Matt Taylor celebrated his 38 birthday on Thursday and spoke to the press ahead of what is without doubt one of the matches of the day in the EFL.

This is what he had to say ahead of the big game.

FIRST AGAINST SECOND IN LEAGUE TWO, IT SHOULD BE A CRACKER, MATT

“Hopefully. Sometimes, when a game gets hyped up to a certain level, it doesn’t always live up to the hype, so hopefully it isn’t a drab 0-0!

“We want a game where all the fans are attending and it is a spectacle which shows what good teams the two clubs are. Obviously you want to come out on top of these games, but I want a good performance this weekend.

“We know Swindon pretty well and they will probably know us pretty well. We have admired them from afar in terms of what they have done so far this season, they have some absolutely outstanding attacking players and they are the leading goalscorers along with Crewe in the league, but we are close to them in the league.

“Swindon is a good place to play, as a player, I enjoyed playing there and as a player, you want to play at the bigger stadiums with the big pitches and in front of a lot of people.

AROUND 2,000 EXETER FANS ARE TRAVELLING, IT SHOULD BE SOME ATMOSPHERE.

“Brilliant. Hopefully they will create an atmosphere, the way the two teams play will create an atmosphere and I am sure the home fans will have a say in it as well.

“As I say, as a player, you want to be involved in games like this. I want to be stood there on the touchline proud of what this group of players are doing and hopefully, they do that by putting in a performance and then the result will come down to a bit of quality and luck on the day, but both teams have put themselves into a position to look forward to games like this.

HOW IMPORTANT WILL THEY BE?

“Always important. They are always important, especially away at a difficult place to go.

“Our fans travel brilliantly and it is usually in their hundreds to places like Grimsby and other long travels, but the fact Swindon is not too far for our fans to travel helps and to take nearly 2,000 is brilliant.

“It shows where we are. It shows what we have done so far this season and it shows what Swindon have done as well, it is a game that everyone wants to watch.

“There is a reason why there is extra press here today, because it is first versus second and these are games you want to be involved in.

WHAT ARE YOUR THOUGHTS ON THE RED LEGION DISBANDING AFTER THEIR FLAG WAS STOLEN BY COLCHESTER FANS LAST WEEK?

“I only know what I have read really on social media and in newspapers, but it’s disappointing, their decision to disband.

“I think the flag has been returned, and rightly so, obviously it hurts when you lose something of value to yourselves, but  I don’t see why they’ve disbanded – we need their support.

“They have been priceless in terms of the support they have given us and hopefully they continue, but things happen in football and in life.

“I spoke about when we get beat and remaining level headed – if someone nicks your flag, then remain level headed, make the right decisions and keep supporting your local team.

“We need all the support we can get. We want our home attendances to keep going up, we want our away fans to keep supporting us  and this weekend will be a real example of what it could be like at a big stadium with big support. You want to be involved in those moments.

WOULD YOU SAY SWINDON ARE THE BEST TEAM IN THE LEAGUE?

“It’s hard to say. There are a lot of good teams out there and youy are probably looking at a dozen teams and a dozen managers out there saying they can still get promoted out of this league and hopefully, we are one of them.

“There is a lot to admire in terms of Swindon, and some really good players on show, but they got beat by Colchester on Tuesday – we drew with Colchester last week – and Port Vale beat us on Tuesday, so it shows how tight the league is.

“No team is streets ahead fo another in this league, which is why the points gap is only a small one, going right down to about 15 in the league

“I feel our group have been pretty consistent throughout the season, we were on a fantastic run up until Tuesday night and we need to get our mindset right, get back to having a level head, keep performing well and hopefully the results will come.

HOW HAVE YOU GOT THE PLAYERS BACK ON TRACK AFTER THE DISAPPOINTMENT OF TUESDAY?

“By doing nothing differently. People talk about bigger games against teams in and around you in the league, but we won’t do anything different.

“The lads who travelled and played on Tuesday got back at 3.30am and there were a few tired bodies yesterday and today and we have to look after them because we need high energy come the weekend and we will have to exert a lot more energy this weekend than in most because Swindon have a big pitch and some good players as well.

“We will look after the group and get them mentally and physically right. We were so up for the game on Tuesday and our first half performance was so good and that was the start to the game I was worried about, as opposed to this game because, with all the attention and hype surrounding this game, I don’t need to say anything.

“The players are up for it and know exactly what they need to do, they have done it before this season and in their careers and these are the players look forward to. The hardest part for me and my staff is honing a few little bits, tightening some screws and picking the right team to play on Saturday.

IS THIS YOUR CHANCE TO FINALLY GET AHEAD OF THEM?

“No! There are still 17, 18 league games left and so many points up for grabs.  It’s important that you take points off the teams around you, that always has a big say towards the end of the season.

“I think we are two points behind them with a game in hand. They are ahead of us at the moment and rightly so because they have more points than us, but they are there to be chased down.

“That chasing will probably go down to the final day of the season and there are probably a dozen other teams that will have a say in chasing each other down, but it all boils down to who has the most points, who is the most consistent. And when you win games, not get too carried away and remaining level headed when you lose games. I think we have been pretty consistent throughout the season.

“We will look to do that for the remaining games and certainly this weekend.

IT WOULD BE NICE IF BY 5pm ON SATURDAY, CITY WERE TOP AND SWINDON SECOND, WOULDNT IT?

“It would because it would mean we have won the game. It would mean three points and three points against a fellow promotion candidate, so that’s what it would mean, regardless of the name, or the league stature at the moment.

CITY HAVE A GOOD RECORD AT THE COUNTY GROUND. THE LAST AWAY DEFEAT CAME IN 1985.

“Ok... well, it would be interesting to see how many times we have played them in that time but it’s a ground, as a lower league player, that you look forward to playing in.

“They were in the Premier League  at one stage, it’s a big stadium and a good pitch, good home fans and we obviously have a lot of fans coming to support us this weekend as well.

“You want to play in these games, you want to perform in these games because these are the games that go down in players’ and fans’ memories and if you influence it in the right way, you can be a hero.

DO YOU REMEMBER PLAYING THERE FOR EXETER?

“I do, scoring an own goal in about the 94th minute! It hit me as much as I hit the ball!

“That was in League One and I think they had Billy Paynter and Charlie Austin at the top end of the pitch and that was a serious Swindon team. We were fighting for our lives, trying to stay in League One and it was backs to the wall for the most part of that game.

“It was live on TV and I remember getting some messages through from friends and family to say how disappointed they were we had conceded in the 94th minute, but I have proud memories of what we achieved there last season (City won 2-0 on New Year’s Day).

NOT LONG UNTIL THE TRANSFER WINDOW CLOSES, DO YOU EXPECT ANY MOVEMENT?

“There’s nothing on the horizon. If any players left, it would free up some budget, but I have said that time and time again.

“In order for Brennan Dickensen to come in, we had to let someone leave. Finances are always tight, especially at Exeter, and we know what a difficult window January is because prices are inflated beyond what they should be.

“As much as would have liked to strengthen certain areas, the squad has put themselves into this position. Now it is down to them to keep it going and take it further.

HOW ARE THE SQUAD LOOKING FITNESS-WISE?

“Not too bad. Archie Collins took a couple of whacks on Tuesday, Jonny Maxted took a bit of a bang, but hopefully, it is just bumps and bruises.

“The squad trained today, we had to look after a few, but you can see that they are hungry. As much as I can stand here and say it’s just another game, you can see how excited the players are, but they have to show that excitement and taper it through an area of value come Saturday.

 “They all want to play and my hardest part will be picking the right team. “

FINALLY, HAPPY BIRTHDAY! HOW DOES THE MANAGER CELEBRATE HIS BIRTHDAY AT WORK?

“Haha! No different apart from the fact it cost me £50 to buy a load of cakes for players and staff!

“We’ve done a lot of work today, a lot of preparation. Thursdays are always a long day with the press and double sessions for some players, but i will go home tonight and try and switch off with my girlfriend and maybe go out for some food.

“The older you get and the busier you are, birthdays seem to come and go and no one takes any notice of them! It’s always a big day for family and friends, but when I am working, it doesn’t affect me in any way!