Five things we learned from Fleetwood's 0-0 draw with AFC Wimbledon
The draw saw Town drop to third as Bolton’s 2-1 win over Northampton saw them leapfrog Uwe Rosler’s side into an automatic promotion spot.
With eight games to go there are still improvements that can be made but there were more positives than negatives to take from the draw.
1) Town need more firepower back as soon as possible.
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Hide AdTown need bodies back and pronto as the lack of attacking options from the bench showed.
It is a touch worrying that at 0-0 the go to substitute was Victor Nirennold with development squad striker Alex Reid an unused substitute for the second game in a row.
One of Town’s strengths this season has been to throw on the fresh legs of another pacy and different striker in the closing stages and throw a new challenge at a tiring opposition defence with David Ball, Ash Hunter, Devante Cole and Wes Burns all rotating.
But with Cole and Burns currently in the treatment room it has left Town with a lack of extra and fresh firepower in the closing stages of the game.
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Hide AdGrant has done well when pushed back up into a striker role but Town could do with the pace of Burns or Cole in these final games as they failed to score for only the third time this season against Wimbledon.
2) More positives than negatives as Town picked up another clean sheet
Town had to deal with something they are not used to - the opposition going for the win in the dying stages at Highbury.
But Fleetwood’s strong defence handled everything a big and burly AFC Wimbledon side threw at them to pick up another vital point and their 12th clean sheet in 21 matches.
3) Not even a chest infection can stop Cian Bolger
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Hide AdRosler revealed in his post match press that Bolger has played the last three matches against Bolton, Walsall and Wimbledon with a chest infection.
It certainly has not dented his performances as once again he cleared everything Wimbledon threw at him to help secure a clean sheet.
4) Ash Hunter looks desperate for a goal.
Four months ago Ash Hunter would have probably scored the one-on-one opportunity Ball created for him in the 11th minute as James Shea pulled off a fine save to thwart him.
I said on Tuesday night at Walsall the forward looks hungry for a goal but he kept coming back too deep to collect the ball on Saturday.
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Hide AdHe is playing like he is desperate for a goal with his last coming in the 3-1 win over Bristol Rovers in January.
His confidence might not be as high as it was earlier in the season but the chances will come as they did on Saturday, he just needs to keep his chin up and the goals will flow again.
5) Another injury blow
There was another surprise on the team sheet with substitute keeper Chris Neal sidelined due to injury and third choice keeper Matty Urwin stepping up to the bench.
Urwin signed from AFC Fylde in the summer and was recalled from his loan spell at Telford to start on the bench.