Head Coach Joey Barton spoke to the press following Fleetwood Town’s 4-1 win over Hull City at Highbury on Friday night.
Harvey Saunders continued his recent goalscoring run as he managed to bag a goal either side of a Callum Camps strike from close range. Sam Stubbs opened his tally for the club late in the game securing all three points.
Here’s what Barton had to say…
On the game…
“I just felt something had changed in the build up to the game, I just thought the lads had got themselves together and were ready to deliver a performance.
“Over my tenure here, certainly last year, we’ve been very good against the bigger sides in the division and that’s what gave us the platform to build for a promotion push last season.
“They hadn’t conceded a goal coming in and we challenged the lads to get them on the back foot and we get in front. They peg us back with a goal and, before going in, we could’ve had at least one penalty - if not two - and then their keeper has made a couple of really good saves so really proud of the lads, pleased with the performance and that gives us a platform now to kickstart our campaign.”
On the performance…
“We speak about how we play here and obviously Fleetwood Town kind of football which is on the front foot. I think we’re a team that’s better on the front foot, pressing and getting after you.
“We caused Everton problems second period when we got after them. They contain a lot of household names and international footballers so we know we can cause teams problems and when they do it as a collective and in the unison as they did tonight it’s tough to play against.
“The players deserve every bit of credit that comes there way and it’s nice that the Sky cameras are here and it’s a Friday night so tomorrow and Sunday they can go back and watch it on TV.
“Really pleased for the lads but that’s just the start of our campaign. Two wins out of the last two games, that shows you the young kids are progressing really well, they won 3-0 and then we follow that up with a 4-1 victory against one of the form sides in the division.”
On selecting Harvey Saunders…
“He scored a really good goal to get us back in the tie at Rochdale, obviously he then follows that up with three great finishes, right foot, left foot and header, the kind of perfect hat-trick.
“His goalscoring is fantastic, you’re so pleased for the goals he gets, but he’s an embodiment of everything that is right with football.
“He’s a kid who two and a half years ago was trying to scrap his way through the non-league system.”