Joey Barton believes great times could be ahead for Fleetwood Town after they beat ‘hot’ Peterborough United and reveals how they thwarted Mo Eisa from the penalty spot

Peterborough United’s glorious six-game winning run came to an end at Highbury yesterday (February 15) as Fleetwood ran out deserved 2-1 winners against a team lacking star striker Ivan Toney.

Mo Eisa failed to convert an early Posh penalty and although Dan Butler’s first goal for the club made it 1-1 in the second-half, it was the home side who found a 76th-minute winner to boost their oewn play-off chances.

Barton said: “It was a great win in bad weather conditions against the hottest team in the division. We talk about our boys all the time and how much they compete and how much they are together and the team shape, but I said to the players before this game that this was a real test of our culture and our principles and whether or not what we believe to be true is actually true.

“I think performances like that, playing in the manner we did, using the game intelligence at times that we did showed these are really, really good times for our football club and I am absolutely delighted with every single person within that dressing room.

“You saw the substitutes come on and make an impact. We had Ched Evans suspended today, and I thought Paddy Madden was superb – really filled that shirt, won every header in that front line which he’s not renowned for and worked tirelessly for the cause.

“For the first time in a long time here, I really think the fans are starting to believe in this group of players. If we’re going to be successful we need everybody in Fleetwood, not just one or two, we need these lads’ support and if they turn up and support this team, I think there are some incredible days ahead.

“We want to give them more days like today.

“As for the penalty save it’s a combination of great goalkeeping and great work in the background from the analytics and the backroom staff because the normal penalty taker, Ivan Toney didn’t play today. Obviously the second player who usually take penalties is Marcus Maddison who’s left the club. So, there was a potential four players out there who could take the penalty!

“Our goalkeeper Alex Cairns had those on his water bottle, those takers and where they go. It was (Mo) Eisa and we knew he went down the middle, and Alex follows the instructions and makes a great save, which was a huge catalyst for us.”