Ryan Crowther has hailed his team-mates after they dug deep to pick up a ‘massive three points’ against Torquay United.
By Tom Bestwick
Ryan Crowther has hailed his team-mates after they dug deep to pick up a ‘massive three points’ against Torquay United.
Jon Parkin’s first half header was the only goal of the game as Fleetwood recorded a 1-0 win at Plainmoor, but Town had to show grit and determination in the second half to keep out the home team to record another victory that keeps Alexander’s team outside the play-offs on goal difference.
“It’s a massive three points for us.” Crowther said. “The result is the main thing, we had to dig in, and it was a tough game on a pretty heavy pitch. It was a good three points for us.”
Jon Parkin has scored three goals in three games since he has returned from a hamstring injury that he sustained against Rotherham United in November. The big striker, though, was substituted late in the first half with fears of reoccurrence of the same injury, and Crowther admits Parkin will be a big loss to the team if he is out.
“It was a great goal by Parky (Jon Parkin) first of all, the bad news is it looks like he may have tweaked his hamstring again. He is a massive player for us. He is good at what he does, he’s big, he’s strong and he holds it up. He took his goal very well with his header, and he’s going to be a big loss to us if he is out.”
Transfer deadline day signing, Jean-Michel Fontaine, was the man who replaced Parkin, and Crowther has been impressed with what the French forward has shown since joining the club.
“Michel (Jean-Michel Fontaine) has come in. He has been training with us for the last couple of weeks, and he has done well in training and got his chance. I thought he did very well, I think he is finding it a little bit difficult with the language barrier, but I think he will get there, he looks like a decent player.”
After taking the lead, Fleetwood had to call on their resources to hold on to the result, as the Cod Army weathered large spells of pressure, particularly in the second half, from the home side. Town, though, stayed resolute, and held on to take all three points.
“We had to dig in throughout the team from the front, through to the midfield and defence. I thought the defence, and Scotty (Scott Davies) was magnificent, and the two centre midfielders Jay (Jamie McGuire) and Kenna (Paul McKenna) were quality. They had me and Junior tucked in alongside them, and it forced them out wide, and they found it difficult to break us down. I thought it was a good performance defensively first and foremost, and then we created some chances on the break and we did quite well going forward as well.”
The 24-year-old was shortly substituted before the full time whistle in a tactical move by Graham Alexander, in what was his first full start of the season, and after picking up three points at Torquay, the winger hopes he has done enough to be in the starting line up when Fleetwood travel to Oxford on Tuesday night.
“I don’t mind. If the gaffer thinks he can change it in what way he can to make it better and help the team get three points, that’s the main thing. I played 85 minutes and I was a bit shattered to be honest. It is just good to be playing, and as long as I am playing I am happy. The main thing was the three points, and however we got it, that’s the main thing.
“Hopefully I have done enough in this game to warrant a start in the next game. We will be looking for the three points again, more of the same, and just keep pushing on and just keep getting the results.”
