Macclesfield feeling confident as new boss Campbell witnesses win

Matchwinner Harry Smith hailed a “new” Macclesfield as the Silkmen kicked off Sol Campbell’s reign with only their third win of the season at Exeter.

Former England defender Campbell, appointed earlier in the day on an 18-month contract, watched from the stands as his new charges picked up a much-needed three points.

The only goal of a poor game came when Elliot Durell took a long ball down beautifully and crossed for Smith to turn in from close range nine minutes into the second half.

It followed another 1-0 success against Yeovil at the weekend and was no more than the Silkmen deserved as they defended with real quality and took one of the few chances that came their way.

“It will be massive for our confidence,” said Smith. “We feel like a new squad, we have got virtually everyone back fit now and there is a different feel about us from top to bottom and we want to carry on what we are doing.

“It was nice for me to get a goal, but I wouldn’t have minded who scored the goal as long as we got the three points and start moving up the table. But on a selfish note I am delighted.”

Campbell has time to work with his squad, who have no game this weekend having been knocked out of the FA Cup and face Newcastle Under-21s in the Checkatrade Trophy next Tuesday before returning to league action on December 8.

“It will be nice to have a few days’ rest now,” Smith continued. “It is a nice little break from the league and we want to continue building our confidence.

“Our fans should be applauded, they were great as always and hopefully we have sent them home happy.

“We beat Carlisle earlier in the season and had the euphoria but followed it up with a big defeat at home. So to back up the win on Saturday and to come to a place like this, they are flying high, and get a win and a clean sheet is massive for everyone – for the staff, the new manager, us as players and the fans who made the trip.”

Exeter manager Matt Taylor felt his side came away from the script as a poor performance saw his players booed off at full-time by a disgruntled home crowd.

“It’s disappointing,” Taylor said. “I thought we started the game quite brightly, we were in and around the final third, but the ball didn’t fall for us or we didn’t quite have the quality to break them down.

“The expectation was there from everyone tonight, including the players. We didn’t think it was going to be an easy night but if we played to our capabilities, then we’d break them down – but it didn’t happen.

“As the game went on, we became more and more nervous, lacked a bit of confidence and all of a sudden, our quality began to go. Then they got the goal and had something to hang onto and then we went searching.

“We started doing things that aren’t the players’ role in terms of the structure we gave them and came off script. We didn’t match the standards we set ourselves and we didn’t hurt their goal at all.

“The players were desperate to get back into the game, lost their shape and started playing off a different script, which was totally alien to us.”