Hazell wary of pass masters

REUBEN HAZELL . . . the Athletic captain says Exeter City’s style of play is far removed to that of Dagenham’s direct approach to football.

Latics v Exeter preview

TWO in-form sides meet at Boundary Park tonight when Exeter City roll into town (7.45pm kick-off).

Paul Tisdale’s men could feel the effects of a second long journey inside four days, but the fact the Grecians have won their last three matches — including a notable 1-0 triumph at Huddersfield Town on Saturday — should keep minds fully focused on the task in hand.

The recent run has arrived immediately after a sequence of four successive defeats. In three of those the Devon side failed to score.

After losing 2-0 to Bury in the first round of the FA Cup, Tisdale called on his side to “rise to the challenge” and regain the form which took the team into the play-off positions earlier in the season.

And they have done just that in the past three weeks.

Athletic also boast three wins in a row, all in npower League One, and captain Reuben Hazell believes that tonight’s contest will be a very different spectacle to that on display at Dagenham.

“Exeter try to pass the ball and are doing well,” said Hazell.

“It will be a hard game, as every one is in this league.

“They won’t be as direct as Dagenham and will try to pass it about.

“We are at home and are confident. We want to keep our unbeaten home record, so it will be a tough game for them as well.

“We have been calling for this kind of run and I have been saying for weeks that consistency is the key.

“Two clean sheets in the last two games is satisfying. It is something we pride ourselves on as defenders. So it has been a good couple of weeks.”

Hazell drew comparisons between 17-year-old right-back Carl Winchester and his more senior rival for the right-back slot Kieran Lee, praising the youngster’s efforts in helping to shut out Dagenham’s strike force.

“Carl was outstanding and he reminds me of Kieran,” Hazell added. “He is very quiet and very good on the ball as well as being a good defender and didn’t look out of place at all.

“As I said to him, that is his Christmas break back to Northern Ireland straight out of the window as I think he will be in the squad now come that time.”

Athletic are likely to start with only two players — Paul Black and Dale Stephens — who took part in last year’s corresponding fixture, with then-boss Dave Penney watching his side win 2-0 thanks to goals from Deane Smalley and Paul Heffernan.

Former Athletic loan man Scott Golbourne is set to play in defence for Exeter, with Daniel Nardiello — who had his loan period at Boundary Park last season cut short by injury — unable as yet to claim a regular starting place.

One player Athletic will certainly have to watch is 10-goal Ryan Harley, who pulls most of City’s strings in his advanced midfield position.

And veteran goal-getter Jamie Cureton (35) will be aiming to add to his seven goals so far this season.