Managers clash as Cod Army triumph
SUPPORTERS who were inside the Highbury Stadium on Saturday may not need to scan down to Uwe Rosler’s post-match quotes to find out that he won’t be going on a dinner-date with Bristol Rovers manager Darrell Clarke any time soon.
The two weren’t the best of friends when their sides met at the Memorial Ground earlier this season and in the reverse fixture Rosler claimed bragging rights as Ashley Hunter, Cian Bolger and David Ball goals cancelled out one in reply from Rovers’ Billy Bodin.
But a disappointed Clarke didn’t hold back his thoughts on his German opposite number after another heated touchline spat when Nathan Pond went down injured.
He said: “I’ve been in the game a long time. Fleetwood’s a great club with a great owner but the conduct of the manager, I’ve never seen anything like it in my life.
“I know how to win and lose football matches. I know how to behave myself. I’m not a sore loser either. Credit to the Fleetwood players but his conduct was a shame.
“You certainly don’t see my bench react like that. We’re professional and disciplined. When he’s doing hand signals and swearing at my players – it’s the name of the game really but I’m sure he’s glad he’s won.”
Fleetwood took the lead in the opening 15 minutes as Hunter found the bottom corner from just inside the box.
The hosts were soon two goals to the good as George Glendon’s corner went over everyone but Bolger who volleyed home.
Tom Lockyer then escaped red for an offthe-ball incident with Ball.
Bodin fired home with an injury to Pond in the build-up leading to emotions running high on both benches, and Rosler unhappy with Rovers not kicking the ball out an then not giving it back when his side did.
The obscene gestures finally came to an end and Ball’s expertly taken goal sealed the win. Rosler said: “Everybody could see Nathan Pond struggle with a knee injury. We put the ball out, they didn’t give the ball back to us with sportsmanship.
“You know how it is – I think emotions cook over. For me, we move on. He makes a big thing out of that but I always say ‘if you’re in a glass house, you should not throw stones’. They can say what they want after the game, I’m not doing that. They can cry and whine about it. I won’t invite him to dinner tonight, he won’t invite me.”