Fleetwood Town boss Matt Lawlor demanded more character from his players after a gritty 1-1 draw at Newport County extended their unbeaten start to the League Two season. He labelled the first-half performance rubbish.
Aaron Loupalo-Bi came off the bench to score the 68th-minute equaliser, cancelling out Christian Doidge's opener for the hosts just before half-time. The result at Rodney Parade on Saturday keeps Fleetwood in seventh place with 10 points from their opening six matches, just two points behind leaders Barnet.
Lawlor's half-time demand
Lawlor was blunt in his assessment of the opening 45 minutes. "We didn’t start the first half well at all," he told the club's media team. "We were rubbish for the whole first half, then we started the second like we should have started the first." He acknowledged Newport's physical, quick style but said his own team's response was not good enough initially.
The manager made a double change after 57 minutes, introducing Danny Andrew and Crispin McLean. Later, he sent on Aaron Loupalo-Bi and Will Davies, a move that changed the game. Loupalo-Bi's strike was his second goal in as many appearances, having also netted in the 2-0 win over Shrewsbury Town the previous weekend.
Substitutes make the difference
Lawlor praised the impact of his bench, calling Loupalo-Bi, McLean, and Davies 'top' when they entered the fray. He also handed a senior debut to Josh Robertson, who replaced Adam Murphy, and noted that Andrew's experience was vital. Lawlor admitted the players shouldn't have to rely on substitutes all the time, but said they played their role.
The draw means Fleetwood have taken four points from their last two league fixtures, following the victory over Shrewsbury. They have scored in all but two of their matches under Lawlor's management, a record of attacking consistency.
Representing the town
Beyond the tactics, Lawlor emphasised a deeper requirement from his squad. "I want them to represent the town, the badge, the ownership and everything connected to the club," he said. He linked the team's required fight and desire directly to the identity of Fleetwood as a port town. The travelling supporters, who he called amazing, heard that message throughout the contest.
Attention now turns to a major midweek cup tie. Fleetwood host Championship side Sheffield United at Highbury on Wednesday night in the Carabao Cup third round. Lawlor called it a fantastic occasion for the club, acknowledging the quality of the opposition and their manager. He vowed the team would repay the fans' support in that match.
Fleetwood's solid start has them well-placed in the early table, with seven goals scored and only four conceded. Their next league assignment after the cup tie is a visit to Grimsby Town, a fixture featured in the full fixtures list. The club will hope Loupalo-Bi's scoring form continues as they look to close the gap at the top.
