EXETER City manager Paul Tisdale says his side must get back to basics if they are going to clamber out of the Coca-Cola League One relegation zone.

The Grecians have attracted admirers for their style of football this season, yet find themselves fourth from bottom and four points adrift of safety going into tomorrow's match at fellow strugglers Southend United.

Last week Tisdale urged his side to forget the fancy footwork and concentrate on doing the simple stuff well against Oldham Athletic and they would have been rewarded for their change of tactics with a win had Ryan Harley's last-minute penalty not been saved.

As a result the manager wants to see more of the same this weekend at Roots Hall, where he is anticipating a muck and bullets-style encounter.

Tisdale said: "Less fluid football, more structure is what we are probably going to go with for the remainder of the season.

"Last week the players did everything we asked of them and I think at this stage of the season you need to know what your structure is and the basics of your game.

"It's like having a golf swing. When you get under pressure you need a good swing to go back to. We have our basic route to goal, basic passage of play and basic way of defending and we have to practice that over and over again and accept some of the frills and nice passages of play won't occur.

"Southend will be a competitive side. I don't see it as being a pretty game, it is going to be blood and thunder and we are going to have to be on our mettle."

Despite his miss last week, Tisdale says he would have no hesitation in allowing Harley to take another spot-kick.

Veteran Marcus Stewart is another player who could take on responsibility for penalties, while Richard Logan has also been known to try his luck from 12 yards.

"I don't see any reason why Ryan wouldn't take another," Tisdale said.

"We haven't got too many penalty takers, but Marcus Stewart is still willing and able, while Richard Logan is not always on the pitch. Ryan is willing. He is a tough character and will be up for the next one.

"It's just nice to have won two penalties. We haven't done that enough this year, where we play one or two passes and put the ball in the box, where we have big Marcus Haber."

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