Manager on 4-0 victory over Skelmersdale United
Graham Alexander believes Fleetwood Town’s pre-season friendly with Skelmersdale United was a ‘valuable workout’ for the team ahead of Sunday’s next big step against Inverness Caledonian Thistle.
The Cod Army recorded a 4-0 victory over the non-league outfit at Selby Place courtesy of a brace from Jamille Matt and further goals from Jamie Allen and youngster Tyler Forbes.
It also proved to be a special occasion for Matty Hughes, who joined Fleetwood from Skelmersdale back in January, as he captained the team for the first time back on his old stomping ground.
Speaking to the Club’s official website, Alexander said: “I thought the lads got some good minutes under their belt, they worked hard, scored a couple of good goals and we managed to introduce a couple of the younger lads in the second half to get a bit of experience playing with first team players.
“It was a valuable workout for us. Skelmersdale worked very hard to make it hard from us, but it was a good performance and it’s the next step towards Sunday, which will be a step up again.
“We spoke about it before the game. That’s why we are here because he was here before and we thought it would be good for him to come back and lead the team out.
“Talking to people here before the game, he is still a popular lad, especially with the manager who really likes him.”
Town’s manager was particularly pleased with how his attackers played on Thursday evening as they maintained their fine pre-season form in front of goal.
All of Fleetwood’s strikers have scored in the build up to the Club’s life in Sky Bet League One and Alexander is encouraged by the lethal touch his forwards are showing in front of goal.
“I am getting into Jamie daily about being in positions to score goals,” Alexander added.
“He has got talent but he has to get that instinct and that hard edge as a striker to get in areas where he is going to be effective and score goals.
“He can hold the ball up, he can use both feet and he is mobile and quick, but you have to have the thing in your head that makes you score goals.
“He has done well in pre-season so far, but he is going to have to work extremely hard to push the strikers that are in front of him at the moment.
"He (Jamille Matt) lead the line really well. They worked well together with Gareth Evans just in the hole behind them.
“It’s good for strikers to get on the score sheet early in pre-season because that’s all of them scoring now. It’s important for them.”
Fleetwood team: S. Davies, Hogan, Cresswell, Jordan (T. Davies 45), Murdoch, Schumacher (Forbes 45), Morris (Cartwright 45), M.Hughes, Morris, Matt (Proctor 67), Allen, Evans (Haughton (67)