Joey Barton praises Fleetwood character after win over Bradford
Posted Sunday, September 02, 2018 by PA
Fleetwood boss Joey Barton was proud of the way his 10 men handled adversity to clinch his first win on home soil.
Ched Evans and Ashley Hunter scored either side of Eoin Doyle’s penalty for Bradford, with Wes Burns sent off before the break.
Burns saw red for a dangerous challenge on Adam Chicksen shortly before half-time, but Barton refused to be drawn into criticism of referee Andy Haines after his first win at the Highbury Stadium.
He said: “I have not seen it back but I have seen a couple of bizarre things.
“I’ve seen a player booked for dissent, a goal kick turned into a free-kick in the middle of the pitch – which I have never seen in 26 years of football.
“There were a lot of weird and wonderful things that happened this afternoon.
“Thankfully the most weird and wonderful was that we had three points and won a game of football.
“I thought we started the game fantastically well, I thought we could cause problems.
“It happened like that, a couple of things go against you and you have to respond to the adversity.
“It was testament to the lads.”
Evans had a goal chalked off in the second minute for handball but converted Hunter’s ball 10 minutes later to open the scoring.
Jason Holt was ruled to have fouled George Miller in the 23rd minute and Doyle smashed home the subsequent penalty.
Despite their numerical disadvantage, Hunter restored their lead three minutes after half-time.
And Bradford boss Michael Collins was annoyed that his players did not make the man advantage pay.
He said: “Once you step over that white line there needs to be ownership, there needs to be a better understanding of what is required.
“You have to pass that over to the players.
“I felt that Fleetwood had the better execution and better decision making in key times.
“That was the difference in the game, I felt we were steady first half.
“I did not feel under threat I felt once we got to grips with them we stifled them a bit and forced them into longer balls.
“But when we won the ball we were poor and everything we asked of the players about showing that confidence and belief it was not there.”
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