Fleetwood Town head coach Joey Barton spoke to the media after his sides 0-0 draw with Blackpool on Saturday 7 March at Highbury.
The visitors were the better side in the first period, with the wind very much playing in their favour, whilst Fleetwood had the better of the second period, including a header from Paddy Madden which went agonisingly wide after a superb cross from Lewie Coyle.
Here is what Barton had to say:
On the game…
“It was a typical kind of derby match really with both sides cancelled each other out. If anything, in the first period, they were probably slightly ahead of us in terms of intensity, although we had more possession. We didn’t really hurt them or cause them any severe problems.
“We adjusted at half-time, and I thought that getting the bit of wind that was out there behind us, we were the better side. A draw was probably a fair result on reflection, if you can’t win them then certainly don’t lose them.
“It is another clean sheet to go for the team which is a positive, and maybe on another day, Paddy Madden’s header hits the back of the net.
“It keeps the run going and now it is one defeat in 17 matches. We are unbeaten in 11 and it keeps that points tally moving forward."
On adapting to the situation in hand…
“Whether it was a combination of a pitch that looks like it’s in need of severe help, because it was absolutely battered by storms A,B,C,D,E,F and whatever we are on now, Jorge last time I heard. To be fair to the groundsman, Nicky and his team have done a phenomenal job in keeping the games on it and making it playable.
“It’s a bit flat and it’s a bit slow because they have had to drain it so much, and they are doing an admirable job. Unfortunately for us, a slow, soft pitch doesn’t benefit the type of football that we want to play.
“Blackpool defended well as a team today, I think we were the same at our end. There was two very organised and disciplined defences today, who cancelled out each other’s attack.
“We probably shaded the balance of chances in the second-half, but also we have got to play better. We have got to improve in the final third. We need a little bit more of box action, we want to create more in front of our fans."
On the Thoughts going into Portsmouth…
“In the last ten fixtures, we have got ten cup finals starting at the most difficult place to go in our league which is Portsmouth.
“They are unbeaten at home and we are next to them in the league, so if we can go down there and do what we have been doing on our travels, being hard to beat, it should be a good game.
“For us it is all about the next game. Three points are on offer, and as a group we are not getting too far ahead of ourselves. If you do that, then you probably get your comeuppance in this game.
“We have got to recover superbly now. We were not at our best today but we will be back stronger when we are back in front of our fans.”