The Joey Barton managerial train is now rolling…
Following an opening day draw in League Two, Barton’s Fleetwood Town picked up their first win of the season when they defeated Oxford 2-0.
The victory, Barton’s first league success as a manager, was sealed when Irish forward Paddy Madden came off the bench in the closing stages and confidently dispatched a penalty.
Wales international Ched Evans, on loan from Sheffield United, opened the scoring at the Kassam Stadium but it was tough going for ‘The Cod Army’ after that.
Oxford pressed hard for an equaliser and spurned a couple of great chances before Barton made some changes and it paid off with Madden’s late goal.
Having moved to Fleetwood, in January, after three very good seasons with Scunthorpe the goal was Madden’s seventh in 22 appearances and his first league strike of the season.
Spin that S*** 😂 https://t.co/q2Sxwjaji2
— Paddy madden (@Paddymadden) August 12, 2018
Following the game, Barton told Fleetwood’s official website:
“We made changes and that saw Wes [Burns] come on for Bobby Grant, [Paddy] Madden for Ched [Evans] and it is always nice when your substitutes pay off with Wes winning the penalty, and Paddy putting it away.”
Barton added, “It is always nice to see the strikers getting on the score sheet, and Paddy Madden is similar in terms of that as well.
“I thought Ched’s performance was superb and he really put in a shift for the team. It was the cherry on top of the cake for him and all strikers love scoring goals.”
The former Newcastle and QPR midfielder stressed that the most pleasing aspect of his side’s victory was the clean sheet they secured. The three points see Town climb to 10th in the league, which is led by a Barnsley side that have started well.
Up next for Barton and Fleetwood is a Tuesday evening game against Crewe Alexandra in the Carabao [League] Cup.
