Skipper's thoughts as Town head into final six league games
Mark Roberts says the Fleetwood Town squad were left disappointed that they could not find the elusive winner as Rochdale held the Cod Army to a goalless draw at Highbury Stadium on Saturday.
On a glorious spring afternoon on the Fylde Coast, both sides showed their promotion credentials in a tight encounter that was built on resilient defences, as both teams were restricted to limited opportunities.
After the game, the 30-year-old captain echoed the thoughts of Graham Alexander as he felt Fleetwood did everything but the ball in the back of the net as a draw denied Town the chance to close the gap on the automatic promotion places to three points.
Speaking to Cod Army Player after the game, Roberts said: “Tight is one word to describe it, it was cagey and both teams didn’t want to lose the game.
“We were desperate to win it and with them being a few points ahead of us, they will look at that draw as a good result and we were left disappointed.
“We just couldn’t force the ball over the line. We tried everything we could and the gaffer has brought on Parky (Jon Parkin), Jamma (Jamille Matt) and Gaz (Gareth Evans) late on to try and make something
happen and try and force that victory.
“It’s two points dropped because I felt we did enough to win the game.
“Rochdale have been on a good run of form, they have struck form at the right time and they have got to the top of the league and deservedly so.
“We are on a good run of form ourselves, we have lost one in seven and that was a big disappointment when we lost that game.
“The lads have responded really well this week and four points at home is a good reflection of the way we played. We would have loved to have had six points but we will go again next week.”
With six games left of the season, Fleetwood remain fourth in the Sky Bet League 2 table – five points off the automatic promotion places – and Roberts says Fleetwood need to make the fact that their season is still in their own hands count.
“We have six games and 18 points to play for and we will try and get as many as we can to see where that takes us,” Roberts added.
“There is a gap between us and the teams above us at the moment, but we won’t worry ourselves about their results and how well they are doing.
“We want to concentrate on ourselves and try and accumulate as many points as possible.
“I think, in many ways, it’s great that those remaining games are the ones we are looking forward to.
“Our fate is in our own hands and each game will be a six-pointer, we have got plenty of games at home and our fans will get behind us and cheer us on the best they can.
“We will try and get as many points as possible between now and the end of the season.”
Town are next in action this weekend against Play-Off chasers Oxford United. For full ticket information for the game pleaseclick here