Dan Green applauds Exeter response after ’emotional’ week

Exeter interim manager Dan Green hailed the character his side showed as they struck deep into added time to salvage a 1-1 draw with Wycombe.

After an emotional few days which saw manager Gary Caldwell depart for Wigan, Green saw Jayden Wareham glance home a superb header after Fred Onyedinma had given Wycombe a first-half lead.

“I said to the players after the game that I take a lot of responsibility for the first half performance as I thought we were a bit nervy and didn’t quite know what to do,” Green said.

“But I said to them I would make changes when we needed to and I am pleased with their effort, the players that started the game and our finishers, who had a real impact on the game.

“I am incredibly grateful for the effort and intent the players showed. We weren’t at our best, but the behaviours and character we showed were fantastic.

“We all know we need to play better than that to achieve what we want to do this season and it is my job to give them that belief.

“I don’t think you should underestimate the emotional output of the past week and you have to give the players a lot of credit for the way they have responded.

“I thought the players did more than enough to earn a point. I am also pleased for Jayden, it is always hard for a number nine when they have gone a few games without a goal, but it was a fantastic header.”

Wycombe boss Michael Duff was frustrated to concede so late and said: “It’s two points thrown away.

“The pitch is really difficult, but we got ourselves 1-0 up and despite having three centre-halves on the pitch, we can’t get done with a cross and leave him totally unmarked in the box.

“I don’t think the referee has helped us because we were trying to make a substitution for 90 seconds and we couldn’t get him on – he knew we were trying to get him on, but he allowed them to play quickly – but he wasn’t the one that crossed it and he didn’t head it in the back of the net and we have to take responsibility for that.

“It’s five points dropped now in two games and if we hadn’t, we’d be joint sixth. We can’t keep throwing points away and I sound like a broken record at the minute. It’s frustrating.

“They were 1-0 down at home, so they were always going to chase the game. But I can’t remember Will (Norris) making a save, it’s not like he kept us in the game. We have to learn to see it out, you can’t let a cross come in the box like that and leave a man unmarked.”