Fleetwood Town head coach Joey Barton spoke to the media on Friday morning ahead of this weekend’s trip to Shrewsbury Town.
Barton’s side currently sit fourth in the Sky Bet League One table, and will be looking to build on last Saturday’s dramatic 2-1 victory over Rochdale at Highbury.
Below are the key points from Barton’s press conference at Poolfoot Farm.
On the squad…
“They’re looking really good. We had the Leasing.com Trophy during the week where we were able to rotate which left the first team squad resting up.
“The lads who are starting on Saturday have had a full week so they’re looking good.”
On facing Shrewsbury…
“We’re expecting either a 5-3-2 or 3-5-2 formation, depending on how much pressure we can get on them. They’re a good side and difficult to break down, as Rotherham found out last weekend, which was a good point on the road for them.
“It’s a different emphasis for them this weekend as they are at home, and I’m not too sure the Shrewsbury fans will be pleased if they play five at the back and block the game up.
“They’re a good side with good physicality throughout the team and with Norburn and Goss in midfield, as well as Lang and Cummings up front, they have plenty of threats and can be lively, so we have to be right on it.
“We know that we have some really good players in good veins of form and at this moment in time we don’t fear anyone."
On building on the great form at home…
“If you look at our last two home games against Oxford and Rochdale, Oxford have gone on and beat West Ham 4-0, and Rochdale took Manchester United to penalties on Wednesday, with virtually the same team.
“We think we’re a proper team and we’ve got great chemistry building here. There’s probably eight or ten teams in League One who probably at this stage are thinking on a similar line.
“The first nine games are obsolete if we don’t turn up and perform at Shrewsbury on Saturday. Our mindset is that it’s one game at a time, and one challenge at a time.
“It’s a nice position to be in as a coach to know that if we play to, or close to, our potential, then it’s very difficult for the opposition to implement their game plan. It’s a tough game that we’re focused on, and one that we want to give our best in.”