Whisper it quietly but we may be finding our level

What's that? We're unbeaten in six in all competitions? We sit 14th in the table? We're eight point away from relegation? It's taken a good few months, but slowly it looks like Exeter are adjusting to life in League One.

What's more, we're now scoring rather than conceding late goals, which is nice. And we're not chopping and changing that much either. Perhaps Tis has even found his best side.

Take last night against Millwall. Earlier in the season going one nil down and a man down would have seen us fold. Now we have the mental strength to hold out and snatch an equaliser. Millwall are a very decent side, so there's no disgrace in taking a point at home against them.

And that's before we even get to a magnificent late two goals against Stockport, which really is the type of win that will keep us away from the relegation zone. The key man is all of this: Adam Stansfield.

Hands up all those who thought Stanno might not quite be good enough for this level, excellent as he's been previously.

*HaL looks nervously around, coughs, and sheepishly raises hand*

Yes, we'll admit it. Stanno has a great attitude and can harry defences all day long but he's never quite managed it at League One before and, well, there was a suspicion that perhaps he wouldn't quite be able to hack it.

We're wrong. We're so very very wrong. Stanno, please forgive us. We never doubted you at all, and long may your scoring continue. Seriously, those were some coolly taken goals, not to mention is hard work for our third at Stockport. Is he worth a start over Fleetwood. Can we be rash and say yes? We have no shame if it means we're proclaiming the best thing since the bread slicer was invented in a few weeks time.

So, City now sit comfortably in mid-table and our next league win could take us to to 11th. Heady times indeed. What's more, the players look more comfortable now and have belief. If 14th, or even 11th is where we finish, I'll be delighted.

Coming up next are Franchise FC in the cup this weekend, who're in somewhat of a mini-slump themselves, including blowing a three goal lead against Carlisle last night to lose at home.

Snigger. Guffaw. Etc.

When the draw was made for the Second Round at the start of the month, I viewed it as the end of City's cup run. Now I'm not so sure. I've got a funny feeling in my gut that we could win this, and that isn't just my bowels playing up again. Whilst I have no interest in going to Franchise in the league, winning there in the cup would be rather entertaining. Let's go for it, eh.

And one last thing - today the BBC report that That Lot Down The Road are interested in Ryan Harley. Of course they would be. Harley is pure class. Barry McConnell once told my mate that Harley was good enough to play in the Premier League, and if the Whimple Whippet says so then who are we to argue.

Seriously, after an inconsistent season in League Two, the Ginger Ninja has come good and, along with Bertie Cozic, has been one of our best players this season. Plus he can hit a mean free kick, as we've seen twice in as many weeks.

Now, while Harley's good enough to play at a higher level, he can do better than Argyle, who, God willing, will be relegated this season. Harley could hold out for a decent Championship side and fit in well there, plus it means he won't be relegated at the end of the season.

Go on Ryan, you can do better, so take the Greenies offer and tell them to stick it where their pasty leftovers don't shine.

That is all.

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After the pride comes Stockport

Hand up to anybody who successfully predicted we wouldn't get hammered by Colchester and very nearly win the game? Yes, we've spoken about the importance of not getting too carrier away after a good performance that doesn't result in a win, but I think we can justifiably feel proud on this one.

Frankly, geting any kind of result against Colchester is impressive. And Ryan Harley's free-kick! What a stunner.

And now we head away to Stockport. If Colchester's one of those 'bloody hell, where did that come from' results, then Stockport are winnable and the kind of game we should at least be getting a point from if we're looking to pull clear of relegation.

Let's hope we can keep up the momentum. Let's hope Fleetwood's goal gives him the confidence to grab another. Let's even, shock, pick an unchanged side.

Win this and we're starting to pull away from the dreaded drop zone. Lose and it's not the end of the world, although we'll be closer to position 21 again. It's becoming a very interesting and entertaining season.

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FA Cupped

If a 4-0 win can be described as dull, then yesterday's FA Cup tie at Nuneaton could fall under that category. You can only beat what's in front of you, the saying goes, and we did that without ever looking either good or bad. Professional, I believe, is the adjective.

Which is a good thing, by the way. The ghosts of Curzon Ashton have been well and truly exorcised.

By half-time we'd scored four and were cruising. Second half, the foot came off the gas and Nuneaton were nicely contained. They had a couple of decent efforts but the evergreen Andy Marriott was equal to it.

The goals, similarly, weren't particularly exciting. Two goals from Big Matty Taylor from corners, a long range effort from Barry Corr that had a bit of power but should have been easy enough to save. Inexplicably the goalkeeper decided to get it bounce into the goal. And finally, a comedy own goal after their keeper palmed a through ball onto a defender and watched it trickle over the line.

This probably sounds like HaL is not impressed. Far from it. Having seen Charlton flail at Northwich earlier today, and us at that place last season that there's no need to name now, it takes something to put in a professional performance in a potential banana-skin of a tie.

If we're being critical, then the forward line is still a concern. The defence and midfield were excellent but I still can't work out what time make of Barry Corr, who occasionally looks awesome and occasionally looked like he should be at Nuneaton's level. That said, his movement was very good and he just needs a few more starts to get into some kind of rhythm.

Stuart Fleetwood, on the other hand continues to baffle. I'm sure there's a good striker in there somewhere, yet for large periods of the game I forgot he was on the pitch. But it was a great run that led to the comedy own goal and there were flashes of genius. Only flashes, mind.

But then I'm biased and quite possibly mad as I think we should be starting with Richard Logan and Ben Watson. There's a reason I'm not a football manager.

What was great about yesterday, though, was Nuneaton as a club. Their clubhouse was a tidy little bar and the home fans and officials were friendly and chatty. A lovely little club and one I'd be happy to go back to.

Plus, it's always a bonus to see one of your heroes on the terraces, and Dean Moxey, who this blog is named in honour of, had the day off after Derby's Friday game, paid his way, and stood on the terraces with the travelling Grecians. Even though he's no longer at the club, he's a pure City legend.

And what do we get as a reward for our wonderful victory yesterday. Away in the second round to cocking Milton Keynes 'Franchise FC' Dons. Possibly the only team I didn't want in the entire draw.

Arse and double arse. We'll just have to beat them, and beat them well, won't we.

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The buzz is back

Ok, let's not get ahead of ourselves or too excited, but yesterday was exactly what the doctor ordered. A 3-0 win over Brentford was just the tonic after a few disappointing results. It's the kind of game we need to win, we should be winning and we can win, if we're to stay up in League One.

Brentford, it seemed, weren't at the races, and City were clicking nicely. Great to see Bertie get on the scoresheet, as he's been one of our best players this season, and the squad had a much more balanced look and feel to it. A couple of crackers from Noone and Tully as well, a frankly nobody deserves a goal more than Tulls. When he last scored, I was probably still in shorts.

As you can tell, again HaL couldn't make it, but it's the kind of result that warms you up on an autumn afternoon and gives hope. We'll still probably be in the bottom half of the table come the end of the season, but picking up points at home against the likes of Brentford will be vital. Interesting to note that none of the promoted teams are doing overly well either, which goes to show it's a very strong league this year.

Stewart's red card yesterday also makes things interesting, as he's started pretty much every game for us this season (amazing when you consider he's 36). I wondered if Tis might have been tempted to shake things up next week for the Cup tie at Nuneaton, and this kind of forces his hand. Still a rest won't hurt us, and as long as we keep our concentration we should be fine.

Don't bloody mention Curzon Ashton at this point.

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