Fleetwood Town began their EFL Trophy campaign with a narrow defeat away to Oldham on Tuesday night. A goal from Noah Chilvers moments after the restart proved decisive in a 1-0 loss that leaves them at the foot of Group North.
The result extends a difficult recent run for Micky Lawlor's side, who have now lost their last two matches in all competitions. Their recent form shows they have conceded the decisive goal in the 46th minute in each of those defeats. They sit 11th in the League Two table with 10 points from seven games, a position they will be keen to improve upon when the league schedule resumes.
Chilvers strike decisive
After a first half of few clear chances, the game turned within a minute of the restart. Elliott Nevitt provided the assist for Chilvers, who found the net to give the hosts a lead they would not relinquish. Fleetwood responded with a triple substitution just after the hour mark, introducing Lewis McCann, Jake Thomas Batty and Will Davies, but they struggled to create clear openings.
Despite matching Oldham for shots, with nine attempts to the hosts' eight, only two of Fleetwood's efforts were on target. Shaun Rooney and R. Cirino were both shown yellow cards in a physical contest where the visitors committed 14 fouls. Goalkeeper J. Pradic made two saves but could not keep out Chilvers' effort.
Looking ahead to Rochdale
The focus now shifts swiftly back to League Two action and a key home fixture. Fleetwood Town host Rochdale at Highbury Stadium this Saturday, seeking to arrest their slide and climb from 11th place.
With the squad showing signs of fatigue, Lawlor made five changes in total during the match, including an early switch at half-time that saw R. Bennett replace Finley Potter. The manager will hope for a sharper performance in front of their own supporters as they aim to build on a league record that shows two wins, four draws and one loss so far. The latest squad news is always available on our squad page.
