Matt Lawlor insists he will not be distracted by Fleetwood’s League Two campaign
The Cod Army have a Carabao Cup quarter-final date with Everton next month, but Lawlor is adamant that the league is priority.
Fleetwood boss Matt Lawlor has shelved thoughts of next month’s Carabao Cup quarter-final with Everton to concentrate on pushing the Cod Army up the Sky Bet League Two table.
Captain Shaun Rooney’s second goal of the season with an 82nd-minute header lifted Town up to 11th, two points behind the play-offs.
Rather than concerning himself with the visit of the Premier League outfit, Lawlor is looking forward to next weekend’s away trip to Crawley.
“We want to go three in a row in the league and that hasn’t happened since March 2021,” said the Fleetwood chief.
“We’ve got two in a row now, but we want to set these markers. I have not thought about Everton in the slightest other than sorting tickets the other day.
“We have a load of games between now and the Carabao Cup and that isn’t on my mind.”
Rooney popped up in the six-yard box to head in substitute Andy Cannon’s in-swinging corner to earn Fleetwood’s first win over Tranmere since 2019.
“I’m not sure he should score more goals,” added Lawlor of his match-winner. “We’d like him to score more goals, but the should bit is harder.”
An even first half saw Jake Batty denied by Rovers goalkeeper Luke McGee, while a George Nevett header was pushed on to the top of the crossbar by Jay Lynch at the other end.
With the wind at their backs, Fleetwood were the dominant side after half-time. McGee denied Crispin McLean, but clear chances were at a premium until Rooney stole in to stoop home.
Lynch then protected the lead, tipping over a Joe Ironside header, but the Cod Army comfortably saw out the remaining minutes.
Tranmere have never won at Highbury and boss Darrell Clarke was left “frustrated” by his team’s display, particularly the second-half display.
“We knew what we were coming up against,” he said. “In the first half we were in control a lot of the time, but we needed to score the first goal.
“That was going to be vital. In the second half we were sloppy in possession and kept giving the ball away too loosely.
“That meant we had to do more defending than we should have done.
“To concede a goal from that set-piece was criminal. It is an angry changing room and rightly so.
“The boys are angry, the staff are angry because in the worst case you come away with a point.
“If you can’t win, don’t lose it and that was a silly set-piece. We switched off.”