Joey Barton hails Fleetwood’s strength in depth after Carabao Cup win at Crewe

Posted Wednesday, August 15, 2018 by PA

Joey Barton was delighted to see the depth in his squad as his much-changed Fleetwood side progressed via a penalty shoot-out in their Carabao Cup clash at Crewe.

Alex Cairns saved Perry Ng’s kick before Cod Army substitute Ashley Hunter sent Crewe’s Dave Richards the wrong way to clinch a 4-3 shoot-out win after the first-round tie had finished 1-1.

Barton gave his fringe players the chance to shine with eight changes at Gresty Road, including a second start to the club’s first ever academy graduate Nathan Sheron.

But the youngster was replaced to head off an unwanted red card and replacement Jason Holt made a quick impact, netting his first goal since joining on loan from Rangers to cancel out Ryan Wintle’s first-half opener for the League Two side.

Barton said: “Places are up for grabs and we’ve got real competition. Harrison Biggins was outstanding for a young lad. Jason is a tremendous player, but we would have left Nathan on other than he had picked up a yellow card.

“The crowd were baying for blood, so I put on the wee man (Holt) and he showed what a player he is.

“The lads have got the job done and we were more than worthy winners. Credit to Crewe as they got their noses in front, but we challenged the players and we were absolutely scintillating in the second half.

“It was a really good team performance and we were a bit disappointed that we didn’t win it in 90.”

Cairns was the hero for League One Fleetwood in the shoot-out. James Jones had hit the frame of the goal for Crewe before Harrison Biggins’ kick was saved by Richards.

But Cairns flung himself across to keep out the home side’s fifth kick taken by Ng and Hunter made no mistake to win it for Barton’s men.

Crewe boss Dave Artell felt penalties was about the right outcome for a game neither side dominated.

“It was nip and tuck and I don’t think either side deserved to win it,” Artell said.

“Their keeper pulled off a worldie from Perry’s kick, but you can’t worry about a penalty shoot-out. That’s football it has a habit of kicking you when you feel you deserve something.”

Despite the defeat, Artell felt a couple of his players had taken their chance to shine.

He added: “Callum Ainley has needed a bit of TLC and didn’t deserve to be in the side before, but if he keeps playing like that he will be alright for me. And Ryan Wintle was the best player on the pitch.”