Manager's thoughts after 2-1 win over Crewe at Highbury
Manager Graham Alexander emphasised the Cod Army’s need to keep their feet on the ground after an impressive opening day win over Crewe Alexandra at Highbury.Jamie Proctor was the hero in the Club’s first match of the new season scoring a fantastic effort for 25-yards putting Fleetwood 2-0 up adding to strike partner David Ball’s opener before Brad Inman pulled out back late on from the penalty spot.
Speaking about the victory post-match Alexander said: “I am really pleased to come into the first game at a new level, to win the first game was a real positive. I thought we deserved it, we played really well but we had to make sure we contained Crewe.
He added: “They can pass the ball very well and open you up and on a couple of occasions they did that but overall we did enough to win the game which was really pleasing to do so.”
Despite winning, and looking comfortable during large spells of the match Alexander stressed the squad’s need to stay focused: “I thought we carved some real good chances, disappointed not to take them all but we did enough to win the game, more than enough to win the game but it is just the start and we have to make sure we keep our feet on the ground because there will be a lot of tests this season.”
Talking about the 3,774 fans that were in attendance today the 42-year-old expressed his desire to keep attracting fans to Highbury: “When we heard the number of the crowd, you could tell it was a big because by the lack of spaces which is great, that’s what we want to see, what the players want to see.
“When they get behind us like that it is a fantastic atmosphere to play in and it only brings the best out of the players I feel, hopefully it’ll be like that week in week out.”
Speaking about the impressive performance put in by debutant Proctor the boss mentioned how he hopes Proctor can get even better: “Jamie came on a half-time, had a point to prove, was probably a little bit disappointed he wasn’t in the starting line-up that’s how you go and make your mark.
He added: “We know potentially what he’s got but he’s got to really have the right mentality to approach every game in that sort of manner every week and if he does he’s a hard guy to play against and he’s a good player to play with.”
Next up for the Cod Army is a trip to Rotherham in the League Cup on Tuesday, a game Alexander is relishing: “They’ve got a fantastic squad and it’s a great place to go and play we remember the atmosphere from the season before.
“Obviously we played them last year in the JPT, another result like that would be more than welcome but we’ll have to work extremely hard and play very well to do that, but we’ll go there positive and looking to do something.”