Exeter manager Paul Tisdale says that Tuesday's Johnstone's Paint Trophy win over Plymouth was an important result for the Grecians.

The 2-1 win at Home Park ended a streak of four successive defeats for City, a run that included three league loses.

Tisdale told BBC Spotlight: "Of course the league is important and every league point is important.

"But this was the game we were playing, you can only win your next game and it meant everything to us."

After Ryan Harley's early opener was cancelled out by Chris Clark, Daniel Nardiello's late strike gave City victory in the first Plymouth-Exeter meeting for eight years.

"It's terrifically important for a number of reasons," added Tisdale.

"One, we've lost a few games recently so it was really important for the team that we got back to winning ways.

606: DEBATE No excuses from this corner, Exeter were the much better team and fully deserved their victory. sensiblesaga

"It was a very important game because we were playing our local neighbours - it means something to the people of Exeter and the people of Plymouth, and of course it's a cup competition."

The win takes Exeter, who return to Home Park in League One on 11 December, into the area semi-finals of the Johnstone's Paint Trophy - just two steps away from the Wembley final.

"It wasn't the final," said Tisdale. "We've got another round to come so we have to be very pleased with ourselves.

"We've got another cup game in this competition now so it doesn't end here, we're not going to leave here thinking that we've done it.

"But we have to keep the balance right and we have to come back here in a month's time and play in the league game here so that's going to be interesting."

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