Opposition boss wary of 'false dawn' and tips Chesterfield for another promotion challenge
Fleetwood Town manager Matt Lawlor admits his team’s opening-day win over Chesterfield could be a “false dawn” ahead of this weekend’s league clash between the two.
A strike from former Spireite Ched Evans and a load of defensive resolve sends the Cods to north Derbyshire on the back of a 1-0 win in the Carabao Cup.
The scouting has effectively been done for both clubs and, for Lawlor, that is a problem.
“They know a little bit more about us and we know a little bit more about them. It kind of becomes a false down,” he said.
"People don’t understand the work that goes on behind the scenes to prepare for each game, so it’s very tough to go again, come up with something different and try to get one over on the opposition again so soon.
“It’s never ideal. Sometimes you get it during the season when you play two games in a row, with one in a cup, but never at the start of the season.
“It’s different, but we’ve known about it for six weeks so we’ve been preparing for that."
The win gives Fleetwood the chance to get a Premier League side in tonight’s second round draw but Lawlor would rather have three league points in the bank.
“If you’d asked me before the game which one I would have preferred, this would have been next week, but I’ll take the cup win and hopefully build on it for Saturday,” he said.
Like Chesterfield, Fleetwood have had their injury problems, some of which are expected to clear up in time for the weekend.
Saturday’s match winner Ched Evans will again be in their ranks, ten years since he signed for Chesterfield.
“He was brilliant,” said Lawlor. “He’s a brilliant person and a brilliant player and the goal is Ched Evans in a nutshell for me. It’s clever and intelligent.
"He’s massively vital in the Fleetwood Town first team at the moment. I wish I’d had him at 27 when he was last at this club, if I’m honest, but the 37-year-old version will do for me at the moment.”
Whatever the result in the second meeting between the teams, Lawlor expects Paul Cook’s side to again be in the promotion mix.
“Paul has done an amazing job putting them together over the years and then adding some strength in the summer.
“They’ll be right up there at the end of the year with the footballers they have at their disposal,” he added.