Exeter City 'culture' key to unbeaten run

Exeter City are 19th in League One, but are just eight points off the play-off places

Exeter City's five-game unbeaten run is down to the good culture at the club, according to assistant manager Kevin Nicholson.

The Grecians won 1-0 at Newport County in the Vertu Trophy on Tuesday night to ensure a place in the knockout stages.

Exeter have lost just once in eight games since the start of October, including a memorable win over Devon rivals Plymouth Argyle last month.

"They're a good group, they've got a really nice environment, the culture is getting better and better, the way they drive each other, the way they try to drive each other," Nicholson told BBC Radio Devon.

"It's something that's gone out the game a little bit, it's not the kind of 'rah rah' group of 28-year-old prime age players who can scream and shout at each other that you used to get 20 years ago.

"They're now coming through and they've got a good level of football intelligence, a really good level of technical ability.

"But we're trying to teach them those things that win games and see games out and that's unity and that's their behaviours, it's principles, it's attitudes, application.

"They're the bits that, regardless of how well or not you're playing, will win you games of football and that's the bit that we're really doubling down on with them and they're trying really hard to apply it."

Jack Bycroft has made three EFL Trophy appearances this season

The win at Rodney Parade saw reserve goalkeeper Jack Bycroft keep his first clean sheet since joining Exeter in the summer.

The 24-year-old former Swindon Town keeper's three appearances since signing on a free transfer have all come in the EFL Trophy.

He has yet to make a league appearance, with Crystal Palace loanee Joe Whitworth the club's current first choice.

"He was very good," Nicholson said. "Every time he's stepped in I think he's been excellent, and that's what you need.

"He's pushing Joe. Joe I thought had an excellent game at the weekend but Jack's right there and what they've got is a really strong goalkeeping unit with Kev Miller and Frankie Phillips.

"They're kind of pushing each other to get better and better and that's that's good practice at any level of football."