Barton has eye on play-off push with Fleetwood

Posted Sunday, February 10, 2019 by PA

Fleetwood boss Joey Barton believes the play-offs are a target after their 1-0 win at Bradford.

Paddy Madden’s 13th goal of the season lifted the Cod Army into ninth and they are only five points away from the top six.

Barton said: “It’s there, isn’t it? We’ve got 14 games to play so that’s lots of points.

“We’ll take it one game at a time but we’ve got Luton at home next, who are top of the pile, so it will be a good test.

“We don’t fear anybody. That’s the culture we’ve got among the lads and we look forward to the challenge and a boisterous game.”

Fleetwood defended well in a scrappy game at Valley Parade to frustrate the home side, who remain second from bottom.

Madden took advantage of poor defending to score the only goal after nine minutes. Bradford failed to deal with a right-wing cross from James Wallace and the striker turned it home at the far post.

On-loan Derby midfielder Jacob Butterfield went close to an equaliser on the hour with a flashing drive just over.

George Miller fired over as Bradford increased the pressure and Fleetwood goalkeeper Alex Cairns saved from Nathaniel Knight-Percival’s header.

Barton was pleased with how well Fleetwood defended in the second half.

He added: “Any good side knocks off those 1-0s away from home. Pitches aren’t the best at this time of year and you have to manage the conditions.

“Bradford are in the lower reaches of the league but their squad doesn’t really befit that.

“They have a huge fanbase and there is an expectation. You look through their side and you’re almost baffled by the position they are in.

“But I thought we were excellent. We showed a real resilience after scoring a great goal to get out of here with what we’d got.”

Bradford manager David Hopkin was disappointed to hear boos from sections of the crowd after his side dropped to second from bottom with their first defeat in four games.

Hopkin said: “It’s frustrating but we have to stick together.

“Things are going to twist and turn between now and May. We can’t keep booing players and myself for one performance when we’ve given a goal away.

“The fans need to get behind the team and hopefully next time we don’t concede.

“We knew Fleetwood get early deliveries in the box and our two centre-halves left it for the man running in at the back post.

“It was the only chance they had in the game and we gifted them a goal. Richard O’Donnell has not had a save to make and we’ve still lost.”