Gaffer reflects on draw with neighbours Morecambe
Graham Alexander believes it was a missed opportunity for Fleetwood Town after they were forced to settle for a 2-2 draw in a fiery Lancashire derby with Morecambe on Saturday afternoon.
Town made the perfect start as they took the lead through Antoni Sarcevic’s perfectly placed free kick after just ten minutes, but Morecambe fought back through their captain Mark Hughes, who converted a back post header midway through the first half.
The visitors turned the game on its head in the second half after Nathan Pond was the unfortunate beneficiary of James Devitt’s dangerous cross as he glanced a header past Chris Maxwell, but Iain Hume scored a late equaliser as Fleetwood threw everything at their local rivals.
Speaking to the club’s official website, he said: “It was a game that was played at a slow tempo. We got the early goal and I thought that might have quickened it up and force Morecambe to come out of their shape.
“We have given a poor goal away from the corner and the lad had a free header. Morecambe have then sat back in their shape and they made it hard for us.
“Second half, we was a bit quicker and got the ball forward quicker without making the break through.
“We have given another poor goal away because there wasn’t much intent from them and we have given them two goals I feel.
“The players responded to that and deserved the equaliser, but it was a game we should have won today.
“We talk and work all the time and I thought there was a real sloppiness about us today for one reason or another.
“You could see it in the players, but their will to get something out of the game and get back into it at 2-1 down was great.
“There was a couple of opportunities where we could have nicked something, but there was no real clear cut chances and no quality in their final third.”
Fleetwood loanee, Iain Hume, bagged his first goal since joining the Cod Army on loan from Preston North End last month and Alexander was understandably delighted for the striker – claiming ‘he deserved’ his goal for his efforts over the last four games.
“He has deserved that over the last four games. It was a scruffy goal, but he will take it, he’s a striker and I thought it was a goal we deserved.
“There was some good bits of play today, but it is overridden by the shadow of those two goals and we can’t get away from that.
“On Monday, we will feel a bit more positive about some of the things we did, but we’re at the point in the season where we need wins and that’s why it is a disappointing day.”
In a stereotypical feisty derby, Morecambe set-up to frustrate Fleetwood and with four games left remaining, Town’s boss says that Town will fight to the end.
‘It’s probably the first time for a few weeks that that’s happened, but that’s there choice. They come here for a result, they got a point, but it’s the manner in which they have got the point, which we are disappointed with.
‘The players are a bit down in there, but there’s still a lot to play for and we will continue to fight for it.”