Gary Caldwell vows to fight on after Exeter suffer home loss to Post Vale

Posted Sunday, December 10, 2023 by PA

Exeter manager Gary Caldwell vowed he would fight on despite seeing his side’s winless League One run extend to 11 games with a 1-0 home defeat to Port Vale.

Oliver Arblaster netted the only goal of the game after 29 minutes, while the hosts lost captain Will Aimson to a red card for a second booking at the death.

Exeter have scored only twice in that time and it is evident where their problem lies and, at full-time, a vocal but growing minority made their feelings clear with chants of ‘Caldwell out’.

“It was another frustrating game and it feels like Deja-vu,” he said. “I thought the players gave everything and we were the better team in the game, but we just can’t put it in the back of the net.

“We have to keep going and stick together. Everyone is entitled to their opinion but I think it’s a vocal minority.

“The supporters since I’ve been here have been absolutely incredible and a lot of the supporters that stayed at the end are supporting me, the staff and the players.

“We can change the manager, but a new manager is not going to put the ball in the back of the net. I understand the frustration, but we have an opportunity to improve things in January.

“If I sense any negativity from the players on what we are trying to do, then I won’t need the fans to sing for me to go, I’ll know if I have lost the dressing room, or if the club aren’t going in the right direction and I’ll be the first one to go and speak to the board.”

Port Vale scored the only goal of the game on the half-hour mark when Ben Garrity flicked on a near-post corner and Arblaster finished from close range to end an 11-match winless run for the Valiants.

Manager Andy Crosby said: “We knew the importance of this game, given the positions we are both in and the run both teams have been on.

“It wasn’t a vintage performance, we were under pressure for most of the second half and we couldn’t quite get that last pass away but we defended our box with courage, bravery and leadership.

“The conditions played a part. It was windy and blustery and for the fans to travel down here today was great.

“I would like to say a massive thank you and it is about time we rewarded them with three points. It hasn’t been for the want of trying. We are all giving absolutely everything and sometimes small moments win games.

“Sometimes you come out of the right side of them and sometimes you don’t. I am just proud we have been rewarded as a group for sticking to what we believe in.

“Most of the second half we were under the cosh and we defended well. I am not sure how many saves our keeper has had to made but we defended our box well.”