Caldwell unhappy with 'tentative' Exeter City

Gary Caldwell's side are mid-table in League One after seven games

Exeter City manager Gary Caldwell says he was surprised by the way his side played in their 1-0 loss at Rotherham United.

The defeat was City's fourth in seven League One fixtures this season and continued their pattern of following up a win with a loss in every game this season.

Caldwell said he felt his side would have a great chance of victory going into the game.

"We trained probably as well as we've trained all year, " he explained to BBC Radio Devon.

"But three o'clock on a Saturday is when you're judged.

"You can't be a good training player and be brave in training and turn up on a Saturday and not want to do the things you've done all week, we have to take that into the game on Saturday."

Caldwell - whose side are 13th in League One - said too many of his side appeared to struggle when in possession.

"You have to turn up on a Saturday ready to play, ready to commit to a game plan and we had too many players that didn't really want the ball," he said.

"We didn't pass the ball well enough, the technical actions were nowhere near the level these players can get to.

"But we have done it in games, we've been excellent in games as well, so we know the players can get to that level, but we have to do something during the week to get them ready for these games.

"We came to a stadium that was dead and we added loads of fuel by the way we played.

"We have to play with more personality because last week we were outstanding, and for some reason we turn up today a bit tentative and we have to find a solution to that."