Youth will get its chance as Barton looks for response

JOEY Barton believes his Fleetwood Town side’s chances of making the play-offs looks an “impossibility” after slipping up at Walsall at the weekend.

Town are currently a point and a place behind the Sky Blues, whom they face at the Ricoh Arena tonight, and six points off sixth-placed Doncaster Rovers.

But the Cod Army boss says hopes of a late promotion push is a long shot and that he’ll now use the remaining games of the season wisely, not least to blood a number of up and coming teenagers.

Barton threw on two of his highlyrated under-18s at the Banks’s Stadium after seeing his side go 2-0 down midway through the second half.

And the Town manager is now determined to give more chances to youngsters like Barry Baggley, 17 and Ryan Rydel, 18, who went on as substitutes to make their debuts against the Saddlers, believing they fared better than some of his senior professionals.

“I thought they helped us get a bit more energy and poise in the game which is incredible to say a 17-year-old and 18-year-old came on and put some of the senior players to shame,” he said.

“We have some good young kids who are hungry and desperate to have careers. I will blood them.

“We will not waste anything this season. If we cannot get promoted – which now looks an impossibility – then we will use the time wisely.

“That will be to find players that are City’s Luke Thomas is tackled by Fleetwood Town’s Conor McAleny in their November meeting at Highbury Stadium capable of getting young kids on when we are winning a us out of game 2-0 and we are in the ascendancy this division.” so they can showcase a little bit He added: “I more. But I felt it was the right time to have got high put them in because they deserve an hopes and opportunity. ambitions for “We tested them and I think they young Ryan Rydel both did well.” and Barry Baggley. Town travel to the Ricoh Arena “We have a couple looking to complete a league double more behind that. over Mark Robins ‘s men, whom they “We will put the young kids in and beat comprehensively 3-0 at home in they will show the energy, hunger, November, courtesy of second-half desire and determination to be a goals from Dean Marney, Wes Burns footballer. and Ched Evans. To add to the Sky “I was disappointed in some of the Blues’ woes, Conor Chaplin blasted a seniors because you want to put the late spot-kick over the bar.

We have some good young kids who are hungry and desperate to have careers. I will blood them. Joey Barton