Joey Barton has given his reaction to Fleetwood Town’s thrilling 2-1 victory over Sunderland on Tuesday night.
Ashley Nadesan’s injury-time header sealed a dramatic comeback for the Cod Army, after Paddy Madden’s second half strike cancelled out Lee Cattermole’s opener.
Here are Barton’s best quotes after speaking to the media…
On the dramatic ending to the game..
“I can’t speak any more highly of the lads, at half-time we had to get stuck into them as the coaching staff. We were below our level, playing against a good side and if you play against a good side, you can’t be a couple of percent down.
“We made a tactical change at half-time, going to a four at the back to try and get a foot hold in the game. Lee Cattermole is a top-quality player, him and Max Power were dictating the game, so we had to make a subtle tactical adjustment.
“Jack [Sowerby] came on and I thought he was superb. Ross Wallace, for me, had probably the best game he’s had in a shirt for us. Just the desire to win a game of football, first time we have come from behind to win a game and I’m just so proud of the players.”
On the winning goal…
“I think we won the game on our culture, the culture that we are building shines through late on in the game. There are some elite level players that have played top level football in that Sunderland team, they’re a good side and it looks like they’re in the playoffs now.
“For little old Fleetwood to win that game it’s incredible.”
On performances this season…
“We lost the opening game of the season here and we spoke about that at half-time. We said that it’s very important that we don’t come back after summer having lost at our home stadium. I don’t care about the result; you go out and give everything for the fans.
“I think everyone in the stadium will know that every single one of those players have emptied their tanks and I’m delighted to see us get that goal late, because we were strong, we were coming on in the game, even before we scored, we looked fitter, hungrier. That was an absolute testament to the group of players we’ve got in there. I couldn’t be any prouder of the lads.”
On the reaction at full-time…
“That’s what it is about. We are Fleetwood. It’s one way in, one way out. We’ve got to create this siege mentality because no one is going to give us anything. We have got to go out there and earn it every single day, in training and every single match-day when those challenges come around.
“We are at the start of our journey and I’m so delighted for the fans; they turn up on a Tuesday night and they cheer us on and they stick with the team and the players rewarded them with that performance in the second half.
“We were absolutely brilliant at times.”