First Team Coach Barry Nicholson spoke to the press after Fleetwood Town's 4-1 win over Leicester City Under-21s at Highbury on Tuesday.
Town managed to get off to a winning start in the Papa John’s Trophy on Tuesday night as a perfect hat-trick from Callum Morton, topped off by a fourth goal added by Ryan Edmondson, saw the side comfortable gain their first three points of the campaign in the competition.
Here’s what Barry had to say:
On the result…
“We’re delighted in there. The coaching staff have just been speaking about it. Before the game we said to the players ‘it’s all about attitude and discipline’ and I think we got that. We scored some goals as well, we were really disappointed to not get the clean sheet, that’s probably the only black mark of the night. Overall, we’re really pleased with the performance.
“There were a lot of players on the pitch that needed minutes, and a lot of players on the pitch that wanted to try and catch the managers eye to try and get back in the team, and a couple of younger ones sitting on the bench that we’ve managed to get on as well. Cian Hayes as well, delighted for him.
“There are all sorts of aspects of the performance that we’re pleased about, attitude was the biggest think. I think we showed that from within the first five minutes. We took control of the game and kicked on from there.”
On competition for places…
“He (Callum Morton) works very hard. We brought him here as a number nine to score goals, so for him to score a perfect hattrick tonight is great for him, but he also works really hard for the team. He’s taken a little bit of time to get up to speed with how we play, but he’s shown tonight what he’s capable of and he’s put himself in a good spot to be in the team for the next game.
“I’m sure they (Morton and Ged Garner) will have seen him (Joe Garner) come in and will have to up their game to try and stay in the team. Joe brings great experience, he’s scored goals at this level and I’m sure he’ll do well for us.
“We’re a team who likes to switch the play and get balls into the box and Joe is certainly an attacker of the ball when it goes in there, but the younger strikers will pick up little bits from Joe. That’s why he’s here.”