Joey Barton revels in first Fleetwood victory

Posted Sunday, August 12, 2018 by PA

Fleetwood boss Joey Barton hailed his side’s attacking display after registering his first win as a manager with a 2-0 win at Oxford.

Ched Evans fired the Cod Army in front after 34 minutes and Paddy Madden sealed victory by converting a late penalty after fellow substitute Wes Grant was brought down by goalkeeper Scott Shearer.

After a 1-0 home defeat by AFC Wimbledon on the opening day, it was a welcome result for the rookie Fleetwood manager.

Barton said: “This was my first official win as a manager. We’d won seven ‘unofficial’ ones in pre-season but somehow they don’t feel the same.

“We showed a lot of attacking intent. It was a real collective team effort – that and the clean sheet were the most pleasing things.

“It’s always tricky coming to a team that has lost heavily in its last game, we felt Oxford would be like a wounded animal.

“But we got back to what we had been doing well. And the hard work on the training pitch has given us the platform to get this win.

“I should have been a bit more conservative against Wimbledon instead of throwing everything at it, but I’m still learning about this level.

“Every day is a school day for me. I have been trying to give clear, consistent messages to the players, and am trying to be as adaptable as I can.

“The lads executed the game plan tremendously well – and could have won by a bigger margin had Kyle (Dempsey) not slipped in front of goal.”

Oxford boss Karl Robinson feels the gods are against him after goalkeeper Simon Eastwood sustained a badly fractured finger during the warm-up, and had to be replaced by Scott Shearer.

Robinson said: “It was a horrible sight because the bone fractured and came through the skin. It had to be put back in, and he was then taken to hospital.

“It wasn’t nice. Some of the players were vomiting before they went out to play, which is hardly ideal.

“I’m disappointed with the result obviously, but I know there’s a lot more to come from us,” he added.

“Ricky Holmes and Rob Hall are going to get better with games. We know we didn’t perform to the best of our ability and I thought the referee was atrocious – there was a clear foul for their first goal. We missed our chances, they took theirs.

“You can’t legislate for the two bad injuries we have had to Samir Carruthers last week and Simon Eastwood today. Both are going to be out for two months.”