Fleetwood Town head coach Joey Barton spoke after Town’s 1-1 draw away at title favourites Sunderland on Saturday.
Barton’s side extended their unbeaten run on the road thanks to a goal from Paddy Madden. The Irishman scored from Ash Hunter’s corner, but just before the interval, Josh Maja nodded the Black Cats level.
The Cod Army missed a penalty moments after the restart, with Sunderland also having glorious chances late on in the game. A point Town will take, and now look forward to the Checkatrade match this Tuesday evening at Highbury against Leicester City Under 21s.
Check out Joey’s key quotes from his post-match press conference…
On the way the game panned out…
“After that game we are obviously disappointed as I thought we were the better side in the match. I told people it wasn’t David versus Goliath on the pitch and today, I was proven right.
“Anybody who came to the game today will go away knowing we were the better side and after taking the lead, we could have gone further ahead with our chances. Instead we go and concede a sloppy goal from our point of view.
“We expected Sunderland at home to have spells in the game and they did have a moment just before half-time, and then same at the end of the second-half after the 80th minute.
“I thought it was us who looked the more aggressive in terms of our play and us who had the best chances of the game. You are obviously disappointed to then go and miss a penalty. It was a great opportunity for us to go and take the lead.”
Barton on the chances his side created…
“Right at the end we had a great chance to win. It was great play by Ched on the left and Dempsey is through and shoots, and sees it ricochet behind the goalkeeper and spins on the line.
“You do need that bit of luck when you come to places like this and I know if we keep playing the way we have been playing, and show everybody that, we’ve probably dropped two points at Sunderland today, two points against Rochdale and three points at home to AFC Wimbledon.
“I think we are getting that belief in the squad. The lads are disappointed in the dressing room such as the status of our group. I told them the difference between a good team and great team, and what great teams do is go and kill teams off.”
Barton on the 474 Fleetwood fans who made the journey to the Stadium of Light…
“We loved having the fans here today. The players were definitely buoyed on by that at the start of the game and when they looked right up there in the clouds, they could hear them loud and clear, even when outnumbered.
“This is massive for us and if they start believing like they did at home to Bradford City last week, it is really huge for the team. The fans should be proud of themselves, and the team because to a man, they were outstanding.”