Manager wants players to focus on the job in hand
Steven Pressley has insisted his Town side are still very much in a relegation dogfight as they prepare to welcome Barnsley to Highbury this weekend.The Scotsman has urged his players to focus on the job in hand with only ten Sky Bet League One fixtures remaining this season.
The Cod Army slipped to a narrow defeat at home to Walsall on Tuesday evening, but have an opportunity to respond at home to the Tykes on Saturday.
Fleetwood were victorious in the league at Oakwell earlier on in the campaign, and will be looking to do the double over their Yorkshire counterparts.
Ahead of the game, Pressley said: “I thought our performance was very strong on Tuesday but we can’t take our eyes off the ball because we’re still very much in a dogfight.
“Sometimes when performances have been strong and you’ve had positive results along the way, there can be a degree of complacency around the club.
“We cannot afford to have any complacency here as we’re still very much in a dogfight but are in a position where our destiny is very much in our own hands.
“Every game, every point and every moment between now and the end of the season will be vital in order for us to survive.
“Our senior players are more aware of the situation than our younger players because they’ve probably never experienced something like this.
“It’s the here and now that matters, and for the lads that have never experienced this before they have to learn quickly because every moment is vital in our survival.
“There are a number of players who are out of contract at the end of the season, but everybody has to put their own agenda to one side.
“The only focus now for the players whether they’re in the team or out of the team has to be this club and that we stay in the league.”
Pressley has been impressed by the Tykes’ run as of late, and admitted they are one of the form sides in the league.
“Barnsley’s form has been excellent and over the past three month period they’ve been without doubt the form team in the league.
“Our games with them season have all been very tight; we won the league game at Oakwell and then drew 1-1 twice over two games in the JPT.
“There’s been very little between the teams in the games so far, and I would imagine this weekend’s game will be another tight affair.
“There’s a lot riding on the game for both sides because they’re going for the Play-Offs and we’re trying to stay in the league, so it’s vital we come out on top.”