Midfielder makes first return to Gigg Lane since his summer departure
Former Bury midfielder Steven Schumacher believes that a point was a fair result at Gigg Lane on Tuesday night, which meant that the Cod Army remained in fifth position in the Sky Bet League Two standings.
Antoni Sarcevic put Town ahead at the back post five minutes before the interval, but Daniel Nardiello equalized immediately after the break as he flicked Danny Mayor’s cross over Chris Maxwell.
Striker Jamille Matt restored Fleetwood’s advantage just before the hour mark to score his seventh league goal of the campaign, however, Nardiello netted his second of the game to rescue a point for the Shakers.
The 29 year-old spoke to the club’s official website after the clash: “We played well in the first half and knew Bury had a game plan of passing it out from the back, so we caught them out a few times and looked dangerous when we had possession.
“We were happy to go in with the lead at the break, but we felt it could have been a couple more. In the second half they stopped rolling it out to their centre halves and went a bit more direct, so it became a bit more of an open game. They pressured us, and a point is probably a fair result in the end.”
The midfielder had a hand in both of the Cod Army’s goals, and was pleased to see Sarcevic back on the scoresheet: “He’s got himself into some good positions lately and hasn’t managed to finish those chances, but tonight he got himself in at the back post and fortunately this one has gone, so I’m glad for him.”
Having taken the lead twice at Gigg Lane, Schumacher was left disappointed, and felt some soft goals denied Town of all three points: “We’re more disappointed with the goal we conceded after half time as it was important for us to come out after the break and see the first ten minutes out, so we were gutted about that. We then got ourselves back in front, but maybe a little bit of inexperience and immaturity from Charlie has cost us.”
Graham Alexander’s men still find themselves very much in the promotion hunt, and with only a handful of games remaining, Schumacher insists that everything is to play for: “There’s ten games to go now and a lot of points on offer. Unfortunately for us, all the teams around us slipped up, and we weren’t able to capitalize fully on that, but it’s going to go right down to the wire and everybody is in with a chance.”
Schumacher also reserved special praise for his former employers, and thanked them for their support: “I enjoyed my time at Bury. The fans were great and they appreciate good football, so I was glad to get a good reception from them.”