Joey Barton relieved to still be able to select Ched Evans for Fleetwood
Posted Sunday, February 03, 2019 by PA
Ched Evans nearly left Fleetwood on transfer deadline day but boss Joey Barton was delighted to see the striker put it behind him and sink Charlton.
Evans’ 68th-minute strike felled Sky Bet League One play-off chasing Charlton as Town won 1-0 at Highbury.
But it could have been a different story had Championship side Bolton pulled off a late loan swoop on deadline day.
A 24-hour recall clause in Evans’ season-long loan from Sheffield United was not activated before deadline day, so it would have taken the Blades, Fleetwood and Evans’ agreement to end the loan – but Town could not get a replacement.
And Barton was delighted to see the 30-year-old remain with his side.
“Ched was outstanding in the second period,” Barton said.
“He picks up the man-of-the-match award and he scores the winning goal.
“The great thing for us is that we have Ched for the end of the season.
“I think he is going to score lots of goals for us as he has proven on Saturday.
“We just want to put it behind us.
“Having Ched Evans in our team makes us a better team and having him in our dressing room makes it a better dressing room. He would have been a big loss.
“I must thank the chairman and Steve Curwood for excellent work and excellent stewardship of the club.
“Without those two we could have been left short.”
His opposite number Lee Bowyer was left disappointed as the Addicks missed a chance to move up to fourth with 15 games to play.
“We just were not there today,” said Bowyer.
“I cannot put my finger on it. It is so frustrating. It is three points dropped.
“Before we know it there will be single figures left of games and we cannot afford to be dropping points like that.
“We dust ourselves off and make sure it does not happen again.
“I’m disappointed and you don’t see me like this often.
“I’m not going to go mad, I did not go mad, because I know it hurts them as much as it hurts me. It just disappoints me.”
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