STEVE Tully insists it is about time Exeter City found a cure for their Football League travel sickness.

The Grecians have gone more than nine months without a victory away from home in League One.

City recorded just two wins on the road last season — against Carlisle and Stockport — and were soundly beaten 3-0 at Leyton Orient in their first away game this season.

Despite that, they proved they can perform on their travels after securing a 3-1 win at Yeovil Town in the first round of the Johnstone's Paint Trophy last week.

But having failed to muster a win in their last 16 league away games, stand-in skipper Tully says things have got to change.

"We are getting a bit annoyed about it to be honest," Tully said. "We are a great home team but then we seem to be quite an easy team to play against away.

"We want to put that to bed and show people that we can play away from home and grind out results. Everyone is desperate to put in a performance on the road and the sooner we do that the better.

"I just think it is one of those things. At home we start with a really high tempo and when we go away from home we are kind of expecting the home team to do the same. But we need to go out and impose ourselves in the first 25 minutes of games rather than letting the opposition dictate the pace."

Tully has been given the green light to play on Saturday despite being forced to have 12 stitches following a clash of heads with Charlton substitute Akpo Sodje last weekend. The defender, who is due to have the stitches removed after the game, is hoping he doesn't jeopardise his place in the side by irritating the wound in training this week.

"I got a whack but it is not too bad," he said. "The doctor said he could see the bone very clearly after I had done it so it was a bit of a nasty one.

"The ball was there to be won and I wasn't going to duck out of it. It is one of those things that happens in football and you just have to get on with it.

"The doctor says I could take the stitches out on Friday or leave it until Monday. I am going to leave them in and hopefully the gash will not reopen before Saturday.

"I am relieved that it won't keep me out because I am enjoying my role in the team at the moment. I have got a great understanding with Duffs (Richard Duffy) and I feel like my performances are getting better and better."

With Matt Taylor and David Noble struggling with injuries, Tully has skippered the Grecians against Yeovil and Charlton — and is understandably delighted with his record.

Tully said: "At the moment we are on a winning run — that's two victories in a row now.

"I don't know if that is down to my captaincy or not but it all good and I am really enjoying it.

"I have been at the club for nearly four years and to be able to captain the club you love is unbelievable.

"I haven't changed the way I do anything before the game or the way I talk to the lads on the pitch. I am just being me. I don't need the armband for me to be a captain, I think I have showed that during the time I have been here.

"It has been an honour but obviously as soon as we get Matt (Taylor) or Nobes (David Noble) back I will pass it back."