The well-used phrase it s a funny old game springs to mind as City fans came to terms with their teams 3-0 defeat at Walsall last Saturday.

The well-used phrase "it's a funny old game" springs to mind as City fans came to terms with their teams 3-0 defeat at Walsall last Saturday.

This was preceded with the 4-0 hammering at Huddersfield the previous weekend.

Manager Paul Tisdale after the Walsall game said: "The players were excellent. Football is bizarre sometimes and we have lost a game 3-0 which we didn't deserve to draw, let alone lose. Their performance was at times excellent, at times outstanding, so I feel quite satisfied with a week's work and the performance we put in and that's sometimes as much as you can ask for"

Funny old game, yes it was, and of course we have to remember that this City team who, after two successive promotions are a work in progress.

For the first 25 minutes of the game at Walsall, a confident Exeter went about their duties with a degree of efficiency. What happened after that is, of course, history and reflected in the league table position, but I think what Paul Tisdale was saying is that if the Grecians had had a more ruthless efficiency, their first quarter territorial advantage could have been turned into goals, and there may have been points to bring home.

Of course, having Richard Duffy sent off with 23 minutes remaining probably killed the hopes that the fight back would succeed, yet the 774 travelling fans still will have enjoyed the efforts made by their players as they fought right through to the end, and they travelled home knowing, as Tisdale did, that the score line, particularly from the first half, was harsh on Exeter, and, overall, I think it was fair to say flattered Walsall. Funny old game!

So it is onward and forward as this weekend it's a welcome return to St James Park for the Grecians when they welcome one of last season's other promoted clubs, Wycombe Wanderers.

Wycombe currently occupy bottom place in the league table, having been overtaken by Southampton last weekend.

Wycombe have yet to win on their travels, and have picked up just two points and have a goal difference of minus 6 - although they have scored eight goals away in just six games.

Of course it's fair to say that there will be a considerable amount of pressure for this game and, of course, for the next successive home game with Brentford.

City have played six at home with just one defeat, so there is plenty of scope for optimism, and, if the players can match the standards of the first 25 minutes at Walsall, and build on that, they will have no problems.

They are a new team in a new league, and still learning, and as we say, in Tis we trust! Come on you Reds.

l We are very keen to hear from those interested in learning more about us, and, hopefully, joining the East Devon Grecians.

Check out our website http://www.eastdevongrecians.com/ or phone (01395) 515552.

Anyone interested in following City on their travels we have a coach leaving Sidmouth for all away games and for more details please contact Di Lee on (01395) 577567.