Fleetwood Town head coach Joey Barton spoke after he saw his side progress into the Third Round of the Emirates FA Cup after a 2-1 victory away at Guiseley on Monday night.
Barton saw his side take the lead through Paddy Madden – who has now scored 100 goals in English football – after a great move down the left flank, and then saw Wes Burns double Town’s lead after a bad clearance from Joe Green hit Burns’ boot, which saw the ball fly into off the crossbar, and straight into the back of the net.
The home side made it difficult for the Cod Army and got one back moments later through Alex Purver. He saw the ball come back to him nicely to hit his shot first time from 20 yards out, and it looped over the back four and Alex Cairns.
Chances fell for both sides in the second half, but it was the clinical finishing of Town that sees them welcome AFC Wimbledon to Highbury in the next round.
Here are the best quotes from Barton’s post match interview…
On the game…
“We knew it would be a tough game and these ties are certainly different if you play on your own pitch. The surface here at Guiseley isn’t the worst I have seen, but it isn’t what we are use to at the training ground, or at Highbury.
“You have to do a professional job and make sure you progress. We are into the next round to play Wimbledon and I thought the players were outstanding, especially later on in the game when we were managing the cup tie.
“It’s a good draw for us in the next round and I think you get the same prize money whoever you play so this gives us a chance to go beyond the Third Round and maybe get one of those big sides.”
On getting the first goal against the National League North side…
“It was such a pleasing goal to see, especially when they lads have worked hard on the training ground. We have been talking about going down one side and then not having the overlap and switching the play, and when the ball came back across, the defender scuffed his lines and Paddy does what he does best.
“I am actually surprised he took a second touch because normally he scores them when his first touch. He has taken that first touch inside the box to get the ball under control and compose himself to give us the lead.
“He [Paddy] scored the opening goal against Alfreton in the first round and it’s so good to have someone in your side who gets the goal, and I think he is very unlucky to not get a second.
“He is on double figures now and is a great asset for us, not just for his goals, but with the way he sets the tone for the team and how hard he works off the ball. I am delighted for him.”
On winning on the road for the first time in four games…
“We now go to Luton Town who have one of the best home forms in the division so we are going to go down there with a game plan and look to pick up all three points.
“Today was about getting ourselves into the third round and they did well to get back into the match with a well taken goal, but we looked like we were on the ascendancy after getting the second, and they made it a great cup tie.
“It was a honest cup tie and that is a credit to Marcus and Russ (The two Guiseley managers) as his side competed for everything and made Alex Cairns pull off some great saves in the first half, and from the sideline, I really enjoyed it.”