Wheeler: "It gives us a massive lift"
Winger buoyed by derby-day victory and solo goal
Grecians winger David Wheeler was pleased that City got the three points that their performance merited against neighbours Torquay on Sunday.
Exeter had to dig deep to carve out a 3-1 win, and the Brighton-born man was pleased to see a display translate into a result.
"We deserved a lot more out of the Cheltenham game than what we got – the boys played in a similar way, with high intensity and pressing the ball all around the pitch," he explained.
"I think against Torquay it was just a case of it being our day. We took our chances well – Tommy's first goal was a brilliant finish.
"It gives us a massive lift going into the next few games. We know where we want to be – we want to be much further up the table than we are. We had a bad run of form recently, so hopefully this is the start of us getting back to where we were at the start of the season."
Wheeler missed a couple of minutes of the action when physio Andy Proctor was called into action. Typically fearless in the air, the midfielder came out worse for wear from a clash of heads – basically the only aerial challenge he lost all afternoon – and needed three stitches after the match.
"It's happened before to me quite a few times, so I'm used to it," he continued. "It was just a clash of heads – the defender won the header quite cleanly in the end, but these things happen.
"I was trying to challenge a centre-back for the ball, so maybe it was a bit bold!"
And he was pleased to have found the net on the second occasion since joining the club in the summer, and at the time establishing a 2-0 lead and putting a little daylight between the two clubs in the context of the fixture.
Wheeler's goal came from a hitherto unfamiliar position – taking a berth on the left flank – and he is hopeful of finding the net a few more times in the coming weeks. The winger also reserved praise for the impact of the travelling contingent – no less than 1,255 City fans – that played their part.
"It was the manager's decision to swap me and Alan Gow over and to have me on the wrong foot, as it were, cutting in on my right," said David. "Obviously it worked – it was one of those things when the ball broke free for me and I just attacked the goal.
"I'm really pleased to get the second goal, and I'd like to get a few more in the next few games.
"And our fans are brilliant, especially away – they pull us through. We owe a lot to them."