Matt Taylor's Exeter City remain unbeaten in League Two after the opening ten games, here we take a look at how he's done it.

The last remaining team in League Two to not yet suffer a defeat this season, Exeter City are scaling some dizzy heights as they claim the top spot. Manager Matt Taylor has received heaps of praise for his side’s showings so far this season, having turned down an approach from Lincoln City earlier in the month to stay with the club.

Taylor’s team will try to make it eleven unbeaten at the weekend when they host Grimsby Town on Saturday. Only one point separates them from Crewe, with Cheltenham and Swindon closely following. Exeter look like the real deal under Taylor this season, and here are two reasons why.

Goal threats

For a side that’s still unbeaten and leading League Two, Exeter haven’t scored a tonne of goals. 15 from the opening ten isn’t bad, but what’s special about their tally this season is that it’s coming from players all over the pitch.

Exeter have goalscorers all over the pitch. The side have recorded seven different scorers this season, with Nicky Law and Lee Martin sharing top-scorer with four apiece. 

Both Law and Martin will be looking to boost that number significantly over the course of the season, but what’s a blessing for Taylor is that, if one of his forwards becomes injured, he has another one, and then players behind him who can score goals too.

Squad depth plays a big part in the success of any football team, which is especially true of teams in the Football League. Maintaining a balanced squad and making efficient use of squad rotation will prove vital to Exeter’s success this season.

Grinding it out

Perhaps most telling if you’re an Exeter fan is that your team is still winning when they’re not at the top of their game. Of six victories claimed in the opening ten games, Exeter have won four of them with a 1-0 scoreline. Taylor’s Exeter are showing a great ability to eke out wins when the going gets tough, which anyone will tell you is the sign of a top team. 

Exeter have six clean sheets for the season. Goalkeeper Lewis Ward has kept four of those this season, and the 22-year-old looks to be winning the battle for a regular spot between the sticks for Exeter.

Missing out on a play-off spot by one point last season hurt Taylor in his first full one in charge of the club he played 160 games for. But this year round they look to have ironed out certain issues and installed some solidity to their performances, making themselves probable contenders for promotion to League One.