Matt Lawlor proud of battling Fleetwood after narrow win at Chesterfield

Fleetwood Town boss Matt Lawlor praised a “proper battling performance” from his team after veteran striker Ched Evans scored to give them a 1-0 win at Chesterfield.

The result and scorer was the same as last week’s Carabao Cup tie between the two teams, with Evans finding the net with a superb lob over keeper Ryan Boot from around 30 yards out.

Lee Bonis had Chesterfield’s best chances, firing wide and heading off target from a great position.

Lawlor said: “To a man, the ones that started, the ones that finished the game, a proper performance, a proper battling performance.

“We will be better with the ball, we will get better, it’s the first game of the season. It’s just great to get off to a win, what a goal.

“Rode our luck at times we did, but we had a load of chances as well as did they. They are a proper team that play proper football. Difficult to go up against, so I was really proud of the lads today.

“(Dilan) Markanday is 100 per cent one of the best wingers in this league. He’s unbelievable. For us to be able to cope with him and (Josh) Koroma on the other side – two really, really good wingers.

“We’re going to defend as hard and as aggressive as we can and as controlled as we can. I do want a team that can be able to press, but you can’t press for 95. I think we played, what, 98 minutes today altogether. You can’t press for that.”

Chesterfield manager Paul Cook was left to reflect on a “really frustrating” afternoon.

Cook said: “Great goal by Ched, fair play to him, it’s a fantastic strike, but we’ve missed a couple of good chances we felt in the first half.

“And you’ve got to say well done to Fleetwood. It’s always easy to be a negative person.

“We’re bringing new players into the club, they’ve got to find a way to become those players that we’ve had in the past, that the crowds have idolised.

“We’re really disappointed with the results, of course we are. But I don’t feel the players have done loads wrong today. I think it was a tough afternoon for them.

“There was a bit of frustration there. It’s modern day football. I can’t influence what the crowds do. Chesterfield supporters, I feel, are brilliant.

“If some of them want to voice a bit of frustration, that’s up to them. I don’t agree with it, but that’s my opinion and they’re fully entitled to do this.

“Unfortunately, it wasn’t our day and, as I say, I prefer to say well done to Fleetwood.”