I am disappointed with the result but happy with the performance.
It was a game of fine margins. We started the first half much the better side, with RHM and Ferrier causing their defence all sorts of problems with their pace, but we then conceded a sloppy free kick on the edge of our box with a familiar outcome. We perhaps got a bit bogged down in the remainder of the half, and MM was right to switch to 442. However, having made the tactical change we again dominated the opening fifteen to twenty minutes of the second half, but did not make the most of several reasonable chances and great deliveries into the box from Morris, CBT and CBJ (our failure to attack balls into the eighteen yard box is a major issue). Having failed to capitalise when we were on top, Madden predictably nicked a second goal against the run of play; a really prolific goalscorer was ultimately the difference between the teams.
Fleetwood played some good stuff through midfield at times, and looked more likely to open the opposing defence up through a passing move, but Ferrier, RHM and CBT were a constant menace with their pace and workrate. It is a real positive that, as in the recent Wycombe games, we have gone toe to toe with one of the best sides in the division and there was no obvious gulf between the teams. I think we have improved massively in the last couple of months and should have enough to stay up, particularly as Southend and MK show no sign of improvement.
Individually, I thought the three attacking players I have mentioned all had good games, and there were also good performances from Borthwick Jackson, Morris and Potter. The centre halves did OK as well, and their keeper was busier than ours this afternoon.