Fleetwood Town

Jamille Matt says he and the rest of the squad are itching for the visit of Chesterfield this Saturday in what will be a battle between the top two in Sky Bet League 2.

Fleetwood go into the game on the back of a run of six wins out seven in all competitions and are just a single point behind current leaders Chesterfield and know a win over the Spireites will propel them to the top of the league.

Chesterfield have lost their last two league games including the dramatic 4-3 defeat away at Morecambe last weekend, in which they were leading 3-0 at half time, but Paul Cook’s side got back to winning ways against rivals Mansfield Town in midweek.

After defeat to Exeter City two weeks ago, Fleetwood have bounced back to win their last two games at Bristol Rovers, where Matt scored two goals in the 3-1 win to take his goals tally for the season to six, and the 4-0 win over Crewe Alexandra.

Reflecting on the past two games, Matt told www.fleetwoodtownfc.com: “It (Bristol Rovers) was one of those games where it was a tough game. 

“Even though they hadn’t had the best of results, it was always going to be a tough game away, but we managed to ground it out in the end and get the win.

“During the game, it’s a bit tiring playing that lone man position, but I always felt that I could get a goal, and even after the first, I thought I could keep going for the second.

“After that, Parky came on with a great finish for the third and we got the points in the bag and I was happy with that.

“We made a few changes on Tuesday and it shows the strength of the team. The lads came in and kept that performance levels up and it was a great win in the end and keeping a clean sheet makes it even more pleasing.

“It was a very professional performance. I thought we looked sharp going forward and we could have even scored a few more.

 

“They had a few chances, but we defended well, put our bodies on the line and come out with a clean sheet.

“Parky and Bally got on the score sheet and Blairey is even coming off the bench and scoring a few goals. It’s always good to get goals. Pondy as well, I would have never believed a centre half had that kind of finish. 

“After the game the first thing he (Pond) came up and said to me was ‘that’s what you should be doing Jamma’ so I told him to concentrate on defending and I shall concentrating on scoring. I would be pleased with his finish myself.

“The more scorers the better though, it brings the confidence through the all the lads and through all the players that are scoring so long may it continue.”

Meanwhile, Matt insists Fleetwood are prepared and ready for the challenge Chesterfield pose and he wants Town to put a ‘marker down’ when the Spireites visit Highbury, and with it, carry on their fine run of form. 

“The players prefer having a midweek game because it makes the week go quicker. We look forward to games, it is our bread and butter, and we’re looking forward to this game more than anything at the minute.

 

“It’s Chesterfield and it’s the top two and we just want to carry on that run that we have been doing. It’s early days still but we want to put a marker down and show how good we are.

“Any team that goes in 3-0 up at half time and suffers a defeat will be very disappointed with that result so I think they will be looking to bounce back. 

“They won in midweek as well and I think they will be looking to come to Highbury and turn us over, but we will be ready for them, we will be prepared and we will try and beat them ourselves.”

After watching from the bench on Tuesday night as Fleetwood knocked out last season’s Johnstone’s Paint Trophy winners, Crewe, Matt is hoping he has shown enough during the week to be in the starting line-up, but knows he is facing stiff competition.

David Ball and Jon Parkin, who has returned to fitness following an injury, both scored in the win and are all vying for a place in the forward’s role.

"I was watching the game from the bench on Tuesday night and I was very pleased for the boys. 

“It pushes me as well, if I have got the starting shirt on Saturday, it pushes me to carry on playing and scoring goals to try and keep that position. 

“You never know what will happen on Saturday. I might not even be playing on Saturday because of how well the lads did on Tuesday. 

“We’re all pushing each other in training and we’re all pushing to get that starting shirt.”

Fleetwood’s record signing also reserved praise for the Fleetwood fans and they can the team’s twelfth man and help them to victory this weekend. 

“I think we will need the fans this season. I think we will need them every game, especially at home games, to keep doing that and get behind the lads, give us a lift and take us over the line in a few games. I was pleased to see the fans getting behind us.

“I think if they get behind and support us from minute one to 90th then we will definitely be on our way to victory.”