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Interviews

INTERVIEW: Jimmy previews Exeter

Reds aiming for first home victory of the season

25 August 2022

Following an unbeaten league start, Jimmy Bell is hoping that the Reds can secure a first home victory of the campaign when they welcome Exeter City to East Lancashire on Saturday.

Stanley have scored 96th-minute equalisers against both Charlton and Burton at the Wham Stadium so far this season, as well as earning four points from games away at Shrewsbury and MK Dons.

Matt Taylor's side come into the match on the back of two losses, with The Grecians having suffered a 1-0 league defeat to Cheltenham and a penalty shootout exit from the Carabao Cup at Gillingham.

Here are the highlights from Jimmy's pre-match interview:

Jimmy on Harry Pell...

"He hasn't had a lot of gametime and he didn't see himself as possibly getting in in the next three or four weeks. With the season ticking away and also the length of his contract, he just thought it was time to possibly go and move a little bit closer to home and go back to a club that he knows well and an area that he knows well.

"I just think it was the right time for him. I would've liked him to stay until at least January and strengthened us, but he just wanted to play football and we couldn't really guarantee that at this moment. This opportunity came up for him to get a little bit closer to home and I think he's missed home a little bit.

"Although he came in and it felt like a whirlwind because he's an infectious character, and he's fantastic around the dressing room. It's a shame really but I will miss him, on and off the pitch, but I think it's a good move for both in the end." 

Jimmy on the transfer window...

"We do need a couple more players in our opinion. We are looking to strengthen and hoping to bring possibly one or two in before the window shuts. I think we will bring definitely one, if not two, in."

Jimmy on the unbeaten league start...

"I think we are a couple of signings away from the Play-Offs, we finished in the top half last season and we've love to improve on that. We have lost some big, key players but we are striving to get up that league and finish as high as we can.

"Where we finish who knows, there's a lot of twists and turns and injuries and suspensions and there's a lot that goes on, and we've had to deal with over the last couple of years but we will strive. As everyone knows, all our fans know, the staff here give absolutely everything to the players, to transmit that onto the pitch, to hopefully get us up as high as we can in the league."

Jimmy on Exeter...

"I've watched a bit of them since Saturday, I've watched a few of the games and I've watched highlights, and how they play and how they like to play. They're a good footballing team, they like to get forward, they score goals and I think we've got to make it difficult for them.

"It's going to be a nice day, superb pitch, we've got to be in their face and we'll have a gameplan. I don't think they'll change, they usually play with three at the back with wing-backs, I don't think they'll change but that's totally up to Matt and what he wants to do.

"We'll be ready for whatever he puts on the pitch and hopefully we'll stop goals going in that way and I know that we've got goals in this team and we'll be a threat against any team this season, especially at home."

The full pre-match interview with Jimmy Bell is available to watch on the club's official YouTube channel, CLICK HERE to find out more!


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