Rise and fall of the Exeter empire

EXETER City is a club still reeling on the ropes.
Their success story of recent years culminated in a joint-highest league finish of eighth in npower League One in 2010/11 — a single point shy of a play-off position.

Paul Tisdale's men played attractive, attacking football, scored plenty of goals and came up with a host of second-half comebacks.

Only four teams in the division gained more points when losing at half-time. And the daddy of all recoveries from the Grecians undoubtedly came on that strange Boundary Park night in November of last year when, after finding themselves three goals down at half-time, the visitors scooped a draw thanks to a trio of goals inside the final 13 minutes.

So what has happened since to leave Exeter so punchdrunk?

On the surface, the fall from grace appears to be down to the loss of key players.

During the off season, Exeter were shorn of two-time player of the year and centre-back Matthew Taylor, mainstay of successive promotions from non-league, who joined Charlton on a free transfer; 20-goal striker Jamie Cureton, who moved to Leyton Orient, also on a free; and on-loan midfield inspiration Ryan Harley, previously a Swansea player who is now at Brighton.

Even the good players remaining are getting themselves lost to the Grecians.

Former Athletic loan striker Daniel Nardiello was sent off in a recent loss at Charlton, incurring a three-match ban for a red card picked up as a result of confronting an assistant referee over a disallowed goal.

"Perfect, just what we need," was Tisdale's exasperated reaction to the 28-year-old former Manchester United striker's errant actions.

Nardiello caused panic in the Athletic back line late on in the Boundary Park draw last term, scoring the equaliser after seconds earlier winning a penalty which was missed by Harley.

He will hope to do so again at home to Athletic on Saturday in order to beef up an ailing Exeter forward line which has come up with a mere eight goals in all competitions.

And while travel-happy Athletic have scored on every away trip this season, not one single Grecians player has found the net in their last five fixtures.

Tisdale recently decided not to extend the loan of QPR forward Rowan Vine, with former Barnet striker John O'Flynn back training and making a cameo appearance as a substitute in last week's 3-0 defeat at Sheffield Wednesday.