Away form concern for Grezza

“The first half was tough, because of the conditions, to get the ball up the pitch, but I thought we handled it well,” said the Fleetwood boss.

“We got to half-time and we were happy with being on level terms.

“Then second half I don’t think we played well enough when we had the ball. The red card and the goal has gone against us.

“We just didn’t have enough quality on the day to win the game.”

Alexander made clear the pain being felt in the Fleetwood changing room after such a poor show.

“They are hurting. They are professionals and good professionals,” he said.

“We came here, an experienced team, looking to get in the next round of the cup.

“It’s another away defeat, we’re out of the competition.

“We’re all hurting. We can’t hide it or sugar coat it.

“We have to turn that pain into hard work, intelligent work and make sure we turn this run of away 
defeats around.”

Alexander says he was in no position to pass judgement on the red card incident.

“I didn’t have a view, I didn’t see it,” he said.

“I didn’t even know who was in trouble, I had to ask the fourth official.

“I can’t give you an 
explanation of what went on. It was just a melee and I was following the ball. He was sent off for violent conduct, that’s all I know.”

Rather than blame conditions or officials, he lays the blame for Fleetwood’s cup exit firmly on a lack of quality on the day.

“I just don’t think we looked after the ball well enough,” he said.

“We didn’t show enough quality on the ball when we did have it.

“We got turned over, got done on the break. We’re down to 10 men, but I expect us to defend it better as a team.”