Former Town loanee Callum Connolly and Ged Garner were on target as Fleetwood deservedly defeated the Blues 2-0 at the Highbury Stadium. Connolly nodded the opener in the ninth minute and Garner added the second with a low shot on 57 with Town, who are down to seventh, never looking like they would get anything from the game.

Cole Skuse made his first start of the season in place of Flynn Downes in an otherwise unchanged Town line-up.

Skuse, a sub at the weekend having been out since pre-season with a knee injury which required surgery, took up his usual central midfield role alongside Andre Dozzell, Downes having suffered a hamstring injury in the 1-0 home win against Plymouth on Saturday.

Kayden Jackson again started with James Norwood, who has been suffering with back spasms and was in court this morning, absent from the 18, while Josh Harrop returned to the bench.

Former Blues loanee Connolly skippered Fleetwood, while on-loan Blues defender Janoi Donacien was ineligible against his parent club and 11-goal top scorer Callum Camps missed out due to a hamstring injury.

The Blues got off to a bright start and in the fourth minute an Alan Judge ball played into the path of Jackson breaking towards the penalty area was just cut out by a Fleetwood boot.

However, it was the Cod Army who would take the lead from the game’s first chance. A long throw was sent in from the right by James Hill and ex-Town loan man Connolly was unchallenged as he was allowed to nod backwards and across Tomas Holy and into the corner of the net.

Fleetwood, buoyed by their goal, went close again in the 16th minute when Garner shot not too far wide of Holy’s right post from just outside the box.

Town were struggling to keep hold of the ball, giving it away cheaply all too often, and on 18 Holy was forced to rush off his line to clear ahead of Kyle Vassell as the home side continued to push for a second.

Hard-working Fleetwood continued to look the better side but on 32 Gwion Edwards got round the outside of his man on the right and sent in a low ball to the near post which Jackson turned into the side-netting.

A minute later, Danny Andrew took a quick free-kick from deep and Hill almost found himself in on goal but the ball beat him and ran behind.

Well-drilled Fleetwood continued to look the more threatening side and in the 43rd minute they went close again. Vassell did well on the right and Garner took a touch before flicking a low effort from the near post towards goal which somehow stuck between Holy’s feet. It was a lucky escape for the Blues.

During one minute of added on time the game was delayed after Edwards challenged Jordan Rossiter somewhat recklessly midway inside the Fleetwood half. The home players briefly called for a red card but referee Gavin Ward showed only a yellow.

The Welshman was the more badly hurt of the two and was off the field hobbling as the half was brought to an end.

A very poor 45 minutes from the Blues against a well-organised Fleetwood side who could and should have been more than a goal in front.

Aside from a positive opening couple of minutes, Town had toiled having struggled to keep possession and with Edwards’s cross for Jackson their only chance of the half. Manager Paul Cook had cut a frustrated figure on the touchline.

Town changes of personnel to give the display a lift would have been little surprise but in the end there was only the enforced switch of the injured Edwards for Harrop.

The Cod Army started the second half positively and threatened for the first time on 47 when Dan Batty sent over a free-kick from the left and Vassell looped it on to the roof of the net.

Three minutes later, Vassell shot over from just inside the area after a Fleetwood break after a Town attack had broken down.

Dozzell almost scored an own goal of the season contender in the 55th minute when he miscued Holy’s punch from a corner in completely the wrong direction and only just wide of the post.

Fleetwood only had to wait another two minutes for their second goal, however. Vassell fed Garner towards the edge of the area and the 22-year-old hit a low drive just inside the post.

The home side were well worth doubling their lead with the Blues having shown no signs of improvement since the break.

On 61 there was another scare for Town when Holy gifted the ball to Will Burns inside the area as he and James Wilson exchanged passes but fortunately for the Blues the Fleetwood man took it out of play.

The Cod Army had their tails well and truly up and three minutes later Burns was sent away one-on-one with Holy on the right of the box but the Blues keeper was out quickly to block. Moments later, the big Czech was in action again, saving above his head from Vassell.

Blues boss Cook made a triple change in the 67th minute with Stephen Ward, Jack Lankester and Aaron Drinan replacing Kenlock, Parrott and Judge with Harrop moving into the number 10 role.

On 67 an Andrew shot was diverted away from goal by Toto Nsiala, then three minutes later Vassell shot over.

Sub Ward managed Town’s first effort on target in the 71st minute, the Irishman exchanging passes with Judge and bringing the ball in from the left before hitting a shot which under-worked home keeper Alex Cairns palmed into the air and over. From the corner, Nsiala rose highest but nodded against a defender.

Holy was given little trouble by Batty’s shot from the edge of the box in the 75th minute but with Fleetwood continuing to look the better team and the more likely scorers of the game’s third goal.

In the 81st minute, Skuse was replaced by Bishop, Fleetwood having swapped Rossiter for Harrison Biggins a couple of minutes earlier and Batty having been booked for kicking the ball away.

On 82 Biggins hit a shot into Holy’s arms from distance, before the home side replaced Sam Finley with Josh Morris.

Judge shot not too far wide from distance in the 89th minute, then as the game moved into five additional minutes, Fleetwood’s second goalscorer Garner made way for Harvey Saunders.

Moments before the whistle, Dozzell forced Cairns into a save with a strike from distance and Nsiala’s header from the resultant corner was saved but a goal would have flattered Town.

A lacklustre evening virtually from start to finish from the Blues, who never looked like they would get anything out of the match. They were poor in possession until the latter stages when the game was already lost, created little and allowed the home side enough chances to have won very comfortably.

The home side always looked in control, deserved their win and really ought to have scored more than twice.

After the positivity following his first win against Plymouth on Saturday, another display which will give new boss Cook plenty to ponder.

The Blues, now a place and two points behind sixth-placed Charlton but with two games in hand on the Addicks, are next in action at Portsmouth on Saturday with another away game following seven days later at Wigan.

Fleetwood: Cairns, Andrew, Connolly (c), Burns, Rossiter (Biggins 79), Vassell, Finley (J Morris 85), Batty, Garner (Saunders 90), Holgate, Hill. Unused: Coleman, Duffy, Rydel, S Morris.

Town: Holy, Chambers (c), Nsiala, Wilson, Kenlock (Ward 67), Dozzell, Skuse (Bishop 81), Edwards (Harrop 46), Parrott (Lankester 67), Judge, Jackson (Drinan 67). Unused: Cornell, Bennetts. Referee: Gavin Ward (Surrey).

Photo: Pagepix

chepstowblue added 21:55 - Mar 16 Superb from the 93rd minute onwards. Up until that point I feared that Cook had lost the dressing room. Week after week there's a reality check and its staggering that such an awful team are still in with a chance....due almost solely to the fact that everybody else in this god forsaken league is equally as appalling!
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cat added 21:55 - Mar 16 Welcome to the ‘cosy' club P.C. Mass wholesale changes required. Hope he's man enough to shake it up and put a few noses out of joint. An away defeat ain't the worst thing ever but we need to win at home to keep our slender hopes alive.
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slimjim added 21:56 - Mar 16 Just as well Lambert has gone he would have been slated on here tonight for playing 1 up top and having both Chambers and Skuse in the team !! Early days but 4 points in 4 games is not the bounce we were looking for and where are the goals coming from?
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delias_cheesy_flaps added 21:57 - Mar 16 If you take out the loanees and the deadwood Cook will be looking for 20+ players before next season...
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GatesPerm added 21:57 - Mar 16 We shouldn't underestimate the scale of the challenge which faces Cook. He has inherited a bloated and overweight squad which in the top half of the pitch, Norwood apart is full of inconsistent lightweight players. It would be a miracle if he can get promotion this season with this squad.
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Bert added 21:57 - Mar 16 Totally and utterly outplayed, outfought and outwitted. Not one player showed any intent. An utter disgrace. Still, at least I showed my commitment to my club (unlike the players) and paid to watch the game. I see BA81 is pleased about tonight and silent of course when we win. Cook has plenty to think about.
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Dear_oh_Dear added 21:57 - Mar 16 Wow thats possibly the worst display all season. 1 attempt on goal by Ward....No passing game. Outplayed for 90 minutes by Fleetwood Town. Back-square-back-square-aimless hoof....
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DaGremloid added 21:58 - Mar 16 Blue Army, put a sock in it FFS. It's not Marcus Evans out on the pitch. Whatever he may or may not have done, those players representing Town are showing no pride in the shirt at all. That's not Evans' fault. As Timmy H says, there's no commitment from the players, not even for a new manager. That says far more them than it does the owner.
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Thebot added 21:59 - Mar 16 If lambert played 2 holding mid field players in a must win game the comments would be through the roof. MM played hoof ball and got hounded out. Exactly what happened tonight! Some negative comments about Jackson but who would want to be a striker in that shower of s*%#t. Parrot is rubbish and the gap between midfield and striker is so vast! Holy takes half an hour to kick a ball like Chambers and his throw ins. So slow to react to anything fleetwood done not proactive on the front foot. I'm not paying to watch another game even if we get in the play offs so boring and utter garbage. Should have kept with Gilly in charge he knows the squad.

3

oioihardy added 21:59 - Mar 16 That was awful .... truly awful
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GatesofDelirium added 22:00 - Mar 16 Outplayed by Fleetwood side that worked harder than we did and were first to nearly every second ball. Terrible opening goal to concede - free header from 7 yards. Unable to control the ball so forced to play their type of football. One team could play against or with the gale and it wasn't us. Only started to create chances in the last 20 minutes but, Dozzell's shot excepted, never looked like scoring. Will have to play much better to get anything out of Portsmouth.

6

DifferentGravy added 22:00 - Mar 16 Dreadful. When substitute Ward is our best player on the night.....says it all The effort and fight by most of the team was non existent. The tactics laughable. Jackson can only play up front and with a partner......but his work ethic was pathetic,, as was Edwards. Drinan did more in 5 minutes. If the opposition are closing you down and making you play long ball......CHANGE THE FORMATION. Get more players up top and around the ball. The opposition will then have to rethink their own tactics, back off and give Ipswich time to pass the ball, then you can revert tactics and formation.......chroist it really isnt difficult. 25 minutes to get into their box........71 minutes to have a shot on target. Pathetic

7

Skip73 added 22:00 - Mar 16 All that talk of top 2 still within reach and they produce that! Its the same every time!
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runningout added 22:01 - Mar 16 We make it hard for ourselves. We should be thumping passes to one another!!! Way Too slow from us. We don't deserve promotion playing the way we are. Seems other teams don't want promotion as well
4

chopra777 added 22:02 - Mar 16 Pathetic performance, gutless and do not deserve a place in the play offs.. Back to the training ground and learn to play football. The aim of the game is to score goals or at least try. Fleetwood wanted to win. No one really had played well tonight. Please PC find some magic.
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BeattiesBackPocket added 22:02 - Mar 16 The only thing more embarrassing than where we are clearly going are the people who think this club is improving or that the team we have is good!?? As I've said before 4 players maybe who can play higher up?? The structure is terrible as lambert rightly said, no structure, poor scouting network, best players sold off cheaply or for nothing and poor players made up of league one and two players bought in, a youth set up that is good however more due to klug and any decent kid is sold off way before they get near the under 23's, so so many players out of contract in the summer and if we can't sneak up it will require a major overhaul which will probably take yet another two or three seasons to get anywhere maybe even another relegation and no investment. If you really think this squad is good enough you need help!

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Dear_oh_Dear added 22:03 - Mar 16 Their No.7- fast, dangerous, good crosser- head and shoulders above anyone in our front line
4

runaround added 22:03 - Mar 16 Paul Cook will learn a lot from that tonight. Mostly that a number of players at the club lack desire, mental toughness & a clear head. The large number of out of contract players will make it easier to make the changes in the playing staff but the changes needed to the structure and running of the club will be more difficult with the owner waiting until hell freezes over before changing anything

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Bluearmy_81 added 22:04 - Mar 16 DaGrem, sorry if you don't understand how Evans has had the effect he has on ITFC over the last decade you don't understand football
2

62WasBest added 22:04 - Mar 16 This bunch of players makes me think that Cook will have his work cut out to make even a half decent team out of them. The only good thing is he'll get a clearer picture of where the dross is. Mind you, that may be the whole side!
5

bootneckspud added 22:06 - Mar 16 How the hell is holy keeping his place in goal...doesn't come for anything...kicking is shocking...and looks like Bambi on ice with the ball at his feet 😩😩
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BeattiesBackPocket added 22:06 - Mar 16 Dagremloid But it is evans fault he's sold off our best players cheaply or for nothing past 14 years and replaced them with league one and two players, 6 managers can't be wrong? There's no structure at the club like lambert said and that IS evans fault and why we will end up in league two
9

heathen66 added 22:07 - Mar 16 Was not convinced before the game with the return of the Crabster (joining baby Crabster), Edwards and Judge out of position and Jackson alone up top...and so it proved. Why do we have to make everything so difficult !!! Need to go to basics, a genuine 4-4-2 and play the players in the right positions We have had 4 defenders, a GK, and 2 holding midfielders...(that is 7/11 defensive players) and still conceded twice.

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ringwoodblue added 22:08 - Mar 16 No quality, no fight, no effort, no threat, no goals Any talk of getting into the play-offs is just wishful thinking on tonight's showing. We are still only a mid-table team at best and we'll finish below Gillingham again this season.
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Skip73 added 22:09 - Mar 16 A completely new squad needed next season. Not one player at the club is good enough.
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