Exeter manager Gary Caldwell was pleased with the defensive resilience of his side as they returned to winning ways in League One with a hard-fought 1-0 win over Charlton.
After back-to-back losses in the league, on-loan Brentford defender Tristan Crama – who celebrated his 23rd birthday on Friday – scored the only goal of a tight game with a brilliant glancing header from an Ed Francis corner kick.
“I thought we were excellent in how we set up for the game,” Caldwell said.
“We knew it was going to be a really tough game, they are a team with lots of physicality and are very aggressive with how they go out of possession, they are very man-orientated, but our understanding of that and where we played the game was very good.
“Final third, I still think we can be better in our decision-making and how we drive at the last line and create an extra pass around the box, but I thought we deserved to be in front in the first half given our territory and the amount of opportunities – not so much chances – but opportunities to score.
“Second half, they went even more direct, which is very difficult to stop, but we stood up to it really well, defended really well and scored a brilliant goal from a set piece, which is always nice.
“When you win a game 1-0 and what you work on in the week in terms of prep in and out of possession and set pieces comes off it is very pleasing.”
Addicks boss Nathan Jones was frustrated by a poor first half from his side.
“We were nowhere near, first half,” he said. “We allowed Exeter to do certain things and it wasn’t because – without being disrespectful – they were great, we kept giving the ball away and making bad decisions and that allowed them to get a head of steam up.
“They didn’t really have any chances, but they had set plays and we couldn’t build any momentum. Second half, we were much better.
“We were the better side but they scored from a set play, ironically we defended them well in the first half but we didn’t defend one in the second and then we had three clear-cut chances and we should have got something from the game. That was the tale of the game.
“We had glorious chances and they fell to the people that you want them to fall to. We were much the better side in the second half and I think, if we had got one, we could have gone on to win the game, but it’s all ifs and buts.
“We were dominant in the second half without getting the goal but I am more disappointed with the first half.”
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