Fleetwood Town

The draw ended a run of three straight defeats as new boss Graham Alexander picked up his first point since taking over in the dugout last Thursday. Rob Atkinson captained the side in his first appearance since being called back from his loan spell at Accrington Stanley, and Atkinson says Town have a platform to build on going in to their game with table toppers Gillingham. Atkinson said: “It gives you something to build on; as long as you keep tight at the back it gives you the opportunity to maybe nick something towards the end of the game. We had a couple of chances and it was a good performance. “It’s always good to end a run of defeats, and to keep a clean sheet is also nice as a defender. “They’re on a good unbeaten run, they came here with a lot of confidence and I thought we stood up to them well. They are quite a direct side and threw alot of balls in to the box, but I thought we combated that well, and I thought we had a couple of chances to maybe nick it. Southend are a good side and they will be there or there abouts come the end of the season.” The 25-year-old says he was “honoured” to be named captain for the first time in his Fleetwood career in the absence of the injured Steve McNulty, who has a had a recurrence of a calf problem. “I found out at five to two, Chris Lucketti come to me and said the gaffer wanted a word with me, so I went in to his office and he said he wanted me to wear the armband today. I had a smile from ear to ear. I was absolutely thrilled and honoured to wear the armband. “I was concentrating on performing well, and making sure I did the right things. I think there were a lot of positives on the game as a team and we defended well as a unit.” Atkinson was also full of praise of the home support, and says they are a vital part of the team. “They come out in their numbers again, they always cheer us on and back us and that is always good, we always need them especially at home games, it is vital they keep coming and supporting us and it gives us an extra kick. It’s important to the team that they keep coming out in their numbers.” This week will be the first full week that the team will have with new manager Graham Alexander, and Atkinson says he is thrilled to be back at Fleetwood, and says the early signs show Alexander will be a good appointment for the club. “I’m really happy to be back, it was a good time at Accrington to get the match fitness and the games, but most importantly I am a Fleetwood player, and I want to be a Fleetwood player, I am thrilled to be back and apart of the team. “We have only had the one training session and it was a very good training session. It was very bright and sharp, and if that is anything to go by then it is going to be a very good appointment. I’m really happy he has come in, hopefully we can play well for him and get that promotion we re all craving for.”