AWARE that all is not well, acting captain Cole Skuse sought to assure worried supporters that Bristol City will "hit the ground running" when the new npower Championship season kicks-off next week.

The Robins have won only once in six pre-season outings and need to find significant improvement before the serious business starts against newly-promoted Millwall at Ashton Gate on Saturday week.

Leading the side in the absence of skipper Louis Carey, Skuse admitted City were "off the pace" in last week's friendly fixtures against Torquay United and Aldershot Town.

Although Steve Coppell's side showed more encouraging signs against Exeter at St James Park last night, they again proved fallible in defence and profligate in attack.

Former City player Ryan Harley scored twice before half-time and, although John Akinde pulled a goal back on the hour, Daniel Nardiello restored the Grecians' two-goal advantage to consign City to a fourth defeat in pre-season.

Skuse promised: "We will be firing on all cylinders by the time the first Championship game comes around.

"I can assure the fans we will be ready and they will see a much better performance when we play Millwall.

"We were shocking against Aldershot on Saturday and not much better against Torquay last week. No disrespect to the lower-league teams we have been playing, but we should not have lost those games and the fans were entitled to ask what was going on.

"We were laboured and there was no rhythm and no desire. We failed to put our game-plan into action and did not take the manager's instructions onto the pitch with us.

"Hopefully, we have got those poor performances out of our system. The result may have been disappointing, but this was a bit better and, if we can improve again at Yeovil on Wednesday and get a result against Blackpool at home on Saturday, we will be able to look forward to the season with some confidence."

Injuries and defections continue to deprive the manager of several key players and Skuse insisted new signings are needed sooner rather than later. He said: "Our squad looks a bit thin. With so many games, it has been hard on the lads and we would welcome some new signings.

"I know the manager wants that and I know the fans want the same."

Seeking a striker, a right-back and a goalkeeper among others, Coppell's dealings are assuming greater urgency with every passing day.

Bristolian Harley opened the scoring from the penalty spot after Nardiello crashed to earth under a challenge from Jamal Campbell-Ryce in the 34th minute and then doubled Exeter's lead a minute before the break. David Clarkson and Akinde combined to reduce the arrears on 60 minutes, Clarkson threading a deft through ball into the path of Akinde, whose shot from 12 yards was true.

But any fightback was nipped in the bud when Nardiello scored with a sure-footed drive which flew beyond Henderson and inside the far post.

Exeter (3-5-2): P Jones; Tully, Edwards, B Jones; Golbourne; Thomson, Noble (Sercombe 64), Dunne, Harley; Nardiello (Cureton 64), Logan (Stewart 23, O'Flynn 64).

City (4-4-2): Henderson; Skuse (Edwards 46), Nyatanga (T Williams 46), Fontaine, McAllister; Campbell-Ryce (Adomah 46), Elliott (Cisse 46), Johnson, G Williams; Clarkson (Jackson 64), Akinde (Taylor 64).