Pressley hails the Cod Army grafters
FLEETWOOD Town’s Steven Pressley paid tribute to those who made sure this game went ahead at Highbury as his side moved out of the League One relegation zone, beating Scunthorpe United.
In miserable conditions, the Scotsman admitted he had feared another postponement was on the cards.
But in the end goals from Ashley Hunter and Bobby Grant proved enough for the Cod Army, the Iron replying with a Paddy Madden penalty.
Pressley said: “A big thank to you to the ground staff. When we arrived here there was a big doubt about the game.
“It took a lot of effort and without that effort we wouldn’t have been standing here with three points, out of the relegation zone.”
On his side’s performance Pressley added: “It was a performance of two halves, first half we were excellent. The penalty changes the game.
“It gave them a little bit of belief and for us, when you’re in the bottom four, a few nerves set in.
“But we showed an abundance of mentality and desire in the latter part of the game.”
The 3,098 onlookers’ resilience to brave the wet and windy conditions on the Fylde Coast was rewarded just 16 minutes in as Hunter skilfully lobbed Luke Daniels to give Fleetwood the lead.
That advantage was doubled 13 minutes later as Grant headed in a left- wing cross for his ninth of the season, leaving the Iron wishing the game had fallen foul of the weather.
The two-goal deficit was not their only concern as captain Stephen Dawson had to be withdrawn after 21 minutes due to injury, being replaced by Jack King.
Though Town deserved their lead, things could have been different had Madden converted from four yards inside the opening ten minutes.
The second period was a tame affair until Stephen Jordan was penalised for pulling Tom Hopper’s shirt in the area with 20 minutes to play.
From the resulting spotkick, Madden finally got the better of Maxwell, setting up a nervy finale in the process. The defeat ended Scunthorpe’s four-game winning run, but jointboss Andy Dawson admitted Fleetwood perhaps deserved the points.
He said: “They are a very good football team, let’s not underestimate them because of the league position they’re in.
“They showed that in the first half. They pressed quickly and were patient in possession, they got crosses in and in behind us – full credit to them.
“Sometimes you can’t hide the fact they’re a good team and they’re in the wrong position but we got in at two down and asked for more.”