Graham Alexander says he was really impressed after witnessing the Fleetwood Town reserves triumph in a friendly match against Oldham Athletic 6-2 on Wednesday.
by Tom BestwickGraham Alexander says he was really impressed after witnessing the Fleetwood Town reserves triumph in a friendly match against Oldham Athletic 6-2 on Wednesday.
Jamie Allen was on hand to score a hat-trick at Chapel Road, and Alexander says some of those involved are pushing themselves into the first team picture.
Alexander said: “I’m really pleased, I thought the lads acquitted themselves really well, the attitude was spot on, and we scored some very good goals, especially in the first half. It was a very worthwhile work out; I could see some players who haven’t featured in the first team in the last two games.
“I don’t know how much it influences it (First team selection), but it is one of those where if you need options and you need to make decisions that you know the background of the lads that can come in, and you know what they can offer you.
“That’s really the main thing when you need to change it, if you do have to add to it, or to help the lads actually in the first team; you know what you have got sitting on the bench or in the squad.
“As with this Saturday we are still not certain on the starting line-up and there are some of the lads out there that pushed themselves, and showed us they want to be involved.”
Alexander though was reserved as to who the stand out players were in the victory, but he was full of praise for the young players coming through the Fleetwood academy.
“I like to speak to the lads as a team, but any individuals I’ll speak to one on one, but I can’t really pick out certain individuals. There was some young players obviously playing in the team, and obviously they did very well, and it is great to see we have those players coming through.”
18-year-old Jamie Allen scored three, and Alex Titchiner got one as Town ran riot against Oldham, and Alexander praised the two front men, amongst others, for their performances in the victory.
“It was ok; jokes aside he did very well, he scored a hat trick and looked sharp, so did Alex Titchiner as well as some of the other lads. I really don’t want to pick out individuals, but obviously if you score a hat-trick you are going to get highlighted. All three were really good finishes, clinical finishes and it was good to see.”
