Paul Tisdale: Injuries cost Exeter City promotion play-offs spot

Exeter City boss Paul Tisdale says injuries to key players at the end of the season contributed to his side missing out on the play-offs.

The likes of John O'Flynn, Liam Sercombe, Kevin Amankwaah and Pat Baldwin all missed the game.

"You'll have your injury crisis, the difference here is there's no back-up to replace them," said Tisdale.

Alan Gow had two spells out during the season because of injuries, while Steve Tully has played recently by having pain-killing injections after suffering a broken toe.

Tisdale has been forced to press a number of youngsters into service and while he was quick to praise their efforts, their lack of experience did not help in the play-offs push.

"As much as I'm very pleased with the likes of Jake Gosling, Jamie Reid, Jordan Moore-Taylor and Aaron Dawson coming into the side and playing, if you are going to be a serious promotion team you can't be guessing on young players," he told BBC Radio Devon.

"We've done really well with what we've had at our disposal. It's great for them to have the opportunity and we'll benefit from it, but we have no back-up.

"Losing Matt Oakley in the Gillingham game was one straw too many for us and it probably sums up the last couple of months."