Cole hoping to help end Exeter City's winless run

Midfielder Reece Cole is hoping to help Exeter City end their nine-game winless run after returning from injury.

The Grecians have not come away with three points since 24 January, having drawn six and lost three of their last nine matches.

In that time Gary Caldwell left his role as manager, with former boss Matt Taylor returning to St James Park last week to take interim charge until the end of the season.

Cole returned to action in Saturday's 2-1 loss at Barnsley after a month out with injury.

"Every game our focus is to win the game, we don't go into the game thinking 'we'll take a point'," he told BBC Radio Devon.

"Ultimately you want to come away with three and if you end up with a point then it's not the worst case.

"It's such a game of fine margins and it's been like that all season for us where it's a goal swing either way.

"We need to find those margins very quickly to turn those draws into wins or turn those losses into draws to help us gain points."

Cole comes back as Exeter face their toughest pair of fixtures this season.

They host league leaders Lincoln City on Tuesday (19:45 GMT) before second-placed Cardiff City come to St James Park on Saturday (15:00 GMT).

Exeter are one of just five teams to beat Lincoln in League Two this season, and the only visiting side to win a league match at the LNER Stadium, after claiming a 1-0 win there back in October.

"You want to test yourself against the best teams, whether that's in the league, in the cup, whatever that may be," added Cole.

"So to play against the top two in the next two games is going to be exciting.

"We've got to stand up to the challenge, we've got to be together, we've got to be a group of men that go out there and fight to get the three points because ultimately we need those three points."