Boss looks ahead to JPT Area Final against Chesterfield
Graham Alexander believes everyone connected with Fleetwood Town will come together as one for a special night at Highbury as they prepare to lock horns with Chesterfield for the first-leg of their Johnstone’s Paint Trophy clash.
Sky Bet League 2 leaders, Chesterfield, travel to the Fylde Coast tomorrow on the back of three successive wins and the Spireites will be looking to navigate their way to a second trip to Wembley in three years.
Fleetwood have knocked out four League 1 teams en route to tomorrow’s area final first-leg and speaking to the club’s official website, Alexander is predicting another epic encounter at Highbury Stadium.
Alexander said: “It’s a competition we have really enjoyed this season and we have equipped ourselves really well against some tough opposition from the league above.
“We don’t think it will be any easier against Chesterfield, they’re a very good team and they are currently top of our division so we know the challenge ahead, but it is something we are looking forward to.
“It will be a tough game with two good teams and we are currently riding high in League 2 and both of us have done in this competition.
“Whatever the result is, though, it will only be half-time in the tie because obviously there is two-legs so we have to take that into account.
“Playing at Highbury under the lights, I think it will be a good game for everyone.”
Tomorrow’s game will be Fleetwood’s fourth in the space of ten days and Alexander is conscious that he is going to have to utilise his squad, but insists that it is important that his side come out of the first-leg with a result.
“It’s still a game that we will look to win, without a doubt. I think towards the end of the game, we have to chase a result of any sort because there is another 90-minutes to play in the second leg.
“That’s something we will encounter towards half-time and in the second half of the game tomorrow.
“We will still approach the game in the same way that we do. We will be looking to be hard to beat, we don’t want to give many chances away and obviously try and create chances ourselves.”
As well as beating four League 1 sides, Fleetwood boast a good record against the top sides in League 2 and Alexander hopes that he and his players can do Fleetwood justice on what he called ‘a big night for everybody’ connected with the Cod Army.
“We’ve done really well in, what we would call, the big games this season – against League 1 opposition and those clubs that around us at the top end of the table.
“We have to be aware of Chesterfield’s threats as well, they have got some very good players and play a very good way, but we are more than a match for anyone on our day.”
“Whenever there is a big game for the team, it’s a big game for everybody, the supporters, the staff, the board members; it’s the whole club that enjoys these sorts of occasions.
“We’re all one group trying to get the same things so hopefully we will do everybody justice tomorrow.”
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