Wanderers are set for another big crowd against Exeter and Chris Forino insists it can make a big difference on the pitch.

More than 21,000 tickets have been sold as the Whites host the Grecians in their first Community Day of the season.

Forino, who joined on a free transfer from Wycombe over the summer, watched from the bench against Wrexham a couple of weeks ago and was blown away by the support.

“I think it is important,” he said. “The stadium against Wrexham, you could feel it. The energy was there, obviously the result wasn’t to match but the fans were amazing.

“I was only here for that one league game so far but the energy and passion they showed, it needs to be matched on the pitch.”

The towering defender got another start under his belt against Shrewsbury in midweek and gave a good account of himself.

“(The support) was amazing,” he smiled. “I said during the warm-up, it is a game where people have travelled two-and-a-half-hours after work and it is very easy for people to maybe not pay it the respect it deserves.

“But people have paid hard-earned money and spent time getting there so they deserved a performance, and I think they got that.”

The 24-year-old added: “I feel like one of my strengths is dragging the best out of people and getting them to give an extra five or 10 per cent they didn’t know they had inside them.

“It was new to me, there was a lot of the ball. I came off the pitch feeling like I acquitted myself in a decent manner.

“With the draw against Wrexham and then the defeat at Charlton, it was important to get back to winning ways. Winning breeds winning.”

Forino has had to be patient since arriving at Wanderers, missing most of pre-season after picking up an injury.

The centre-back had been playing University football for Loughborough before joining Wycombe in 2021.

He admits it was challenging at first to adjust to the demands at Wanderers but believes he has made good progress in recent weeks.

“There was a distinct difference from the Mansfield game to how I felt on Tuesday night,” the summer signing explained. “Minutes are important.

“Obviously, I played 45 minutes for the B Team as well. You know as a player when you are fighting fit and at full tilt, and I definitely felt that on Tuesday night.

“I struggled at Wycombe with loads of niggles and injuries but at the same time, I had literally come from University football twice a week to full-time football so my body wasn’t robust.

“It is the same here a little bit, not as big of a jump from semi-pro football, but the demands here are different.

“I struggled in Portugal, I have worked hard to get to where I am now. Now it is about staying at it and keeping on top of it.”

Exeter have had a mixed start in League One, beating Rotherham on the opening day followed by defeats against Northampton and Peterborough.

“They always travel strong, they are tough team to play against,” said Forino. “They make it difficult for you and carry their own threats as well.”