Exeter City: Manager Gary Caldwell says 'team feels cursed' after another loss

Gary Caldwell says he will not step down as Exeter City manager

Exeter boss Gary Caldwell feels his side is 'cursed' after they failed to win for an 11th straight league match.

City's 1-0 loss at home to fellow strugglers Port Vale keeps the Grecians just outside the relegation places.

Exeter have scored just twice in that run and earned just two points, having topped the table in September.

"I thought the players played with good intent in the first half without really being convincing in and around the box," Caldwell told BBC Radio Devon.

"Second half we got better at that and created some great chances.

"It feels like a bit of a curse at the moment, the ball's just not going in the net for us, and sometimes that happens in football.

"We have to keep going, we have to keep working because I'm sure with this group of players it can turn."

Caldwell says he is narrowing down his targets for the January transfer window as he prioritises a striker after Luton loanee Admiral Muskwe was ruled out with a serious hamstring injury.

The loss came as some sections of the Exeter crowd booed and called for the Scot, who has been in charge since October 2020, to leave his role.

But Caldwell, who got the backing of the club's directors last month, says he will know if it is time to quit, but that time is not now:

"I'm the first one that if I sense any negativity from the players towards how we're trying to play, the fans don't need to sing for me to go. I'll know if I've lost the dressing room or if the club is not going in the right direction - I'll be the first one to go and speak to the board.

"I believe the players are giving everything, I believe they need support, they need help in the coming weeks to get them a goal, they need help in terms of the squad size in January, and we all have to do that as a football club."