Exeter 'shoot themselves in the foot' in Mansfield loss

Gary Caldwell has been in charge at Exeter City since October 2022

Exeter City manager Gary Caldwell says his side were "not good enough for the whole game" in their 2-1 loss to Mansfield Town.

The Grecians conceded a late Will Evans goal as they lost for the third time in four games in all competitions this season.

The defeat came a week after an impressive 4-1 win over Blackpool at St James Park, a result which was followed up by a disappointing 2-0 Carabao Cup loss at Cheltenham Town.

"Our passing was too slow, our movements were not dynamic enough to threaten the last line," Caldwell told BBC Radio Devon.

"We didn't find the free man, we didn't penetrate the last line, and then we got a bit bored with having the ball and controlling the game, so we gave them opportunities and they took one from the set piece.

"I thought when we changed the shape we looked a threat, we started to get the ball forward and really looked a threat.

"At 1-1, I think everyone in the stadium thought there's only one team going to win the game, and we managed to shoot ourselves in the foot and lose it."

Having made 10 changes for the game at Cheltenham, Caldwell reverted to the side that did so well against Blackpool seven days earlier.

But he said he was 'sick of hearing' about last week's win over the Seasiders before the game.

"I think what we have to realise, it can't always be as perfect as Blackpool," he added.

"Blackpool, from start to finish, was a game where we dominated, we were always in control there was no changes within the game.

"Teams aren't going to let us play all the time the way we want to play, we have to earn the right and too many people are 'last week'.

"It's gone. We have thrown two games away - I can't accept it as the manager and we can't accept it as a group of players.

"We have to do something about that and every game is the most important game of our lives and at the moment we're passing too many opportunities up."