Southern: The secrets to Town's success

Ex-Fleetwood midfielder Keith Southern believes that belief, organisation, a wealth of firepower and defensive strength are key elements to Town's change in fortunes from relegation battlers to promotion chasers.
Keith SouthernKeith Southern
Keith Southern

This time last term, Steven Pressley’s Town side were battling it out at the wrong end of the table and beat the drop to League Two on the final day.

After leaking goals in pre-season, Pressley was replaced by Uwe Rosler just days before the opening day draw at Northampton. Now Town go into the reverse fixture at Highbury this afternoon fourth in League One and on a 16-game unbeaten run.

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Southern said: “I think Uwe Rosler as instilled a belief into the squad. He has got them so well organised, well drilled. Everyone knows their jobs and on top of that they have some really exciting attacking options.

“The two who start the game (up front) don’t usually finish it because he has so many options. At MK Dons we saw David Ball and Ash Hunter come off the bench and make an impact. He had the luxury of bringing Cameron Brannagan and Devante Cole off, and Wes Burns was injured.

“I must say Andy Pilley has done really well. He has backed his manager and put his hand in his pocket.”

Southern also praised the defensive structure, adding: “Looking from the outside, it looks like Rosler spends a lot of time on the grass coaching.

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“It looks like they do a lot of shape and tactical organisation when they haven’t got the ball because they are so hard to break down.

“The 3-5-2 system really suits the wing-backs, Conor McLaughlin and Amari’i Bell.

“The three centre-halves are not blessed with great pace but are so experienced and organised that they rarely get breached.

“They are a threat from set-pieces and powerful in the air, and if you are defensively strong it does not half give you an opportunity to get a foothold in the game and nick a goal on the break, which we have seen Fleetwood do many times this season.”