Fleetwood Town narrowly fell short in their 1-0 Sky Bet League One loss to Burton Albion on Tuesday evening at Highbury.
A superb first-half performance from skipper, Alex Cairns, was soiled by an undefendable goal from Burton, as the weather helped Thomas O’Connor’s corner.
Fleetwood were very unfortunate to not get anything out of the game after their second-half performance caused quite a few problems for the away side.
The opening 10 minutes of the game saw Fleetwood enjoy spells of possession and there were positive signs early on as Ryan Edmondson got in behind the defence a couple of times but couldn’t quite provide the finishing touches.
Town were defending incredibly well as a unit throughout the first half an hour, refusing to allow Burton in behind, the only chance the visitors mustered was a pullback to Harrison Chapman, but his attempt on goal was superbly blocked by Max Clark.
Callum Camps tried an audacious effort from just outside the 18-yard box, Clark’s cross was headed clear, and Camps took the opportunity for a first-time volley, he connected well but it went over the bar.
Jay Matete enjoyed himself in the first half driving through midfield whenever he received the ball, was the next Fleetwood man to try his luck but his effort was collected by Burton’s goalkeeper, Ben Garratt.
10 minutes before half-time Fleetwood were unfortunate to concede as O’Connor’s corner, heavily assisted by the wind, found its way into the back of the net.
Cairns was putting on a real captain’s display in goal today as he produced countless fantastic saves to keep his side in the game before the break.
Town came out of the blocks immediately in the second half and put their opposition under some real pressure. Camps had an effort deflected just wide and the home side sustained the pressure from the resulting corner and won a free-kick, which Danny Andrew put just over the bar.
Fleetwood maintained their dominant start to the second half, Dan Batty’s teasing crosses were proving a real threat to the Burton backline, as were James Hill’s long throws.
Callum Johnson got on the end of Batty’s cross just before the 90th minute and directed his header goal-bound, but it was saved by Garratt.
Andrew found himself once again stood over a free-kick, but unfortunately he couldn’t replicate his recent efforts in previous games.
Despite Fleetwood’s best efforts and a very impressive second-half display, they just couldn’t find the all-important goal and the game ended with just the one, strange goal separating the two sides.
Town XI: Cairns (GK) (C), Andrew, Camps (J.Garner 76’), Edmondson (Morton 56’), G.Garner, Matete, Hill, Batty, Johnson, Biggins (Lane 56’), Clark
Unused Subs: Crellin (GK), McLaughlin, Pilkington, Johnston
Burton XI: Garratt (GK), Borthwick-Jackson, Oshilaja (C), Akins, O’Connor, Shaughnessy, Blake-Tracy, Taylor, Jebbison (Hemmings 62’), Hamer, Chapman (Lakin 66’)
Unused Subs: Balcombe (GK), Bostwick, Smith, Gilligan, Maddox