Fleetwood hot-shot Burns hails '˜fiery' boss Pressley for his scintillating form

Fleetwood Town striker Wes Burns hailed boss Steven Pressley for giving him '˜the kick up the backside' he needs as Town's relegation fight goes down to the wire.
Wes Burns celebrates scoring at Burton AlbionWes Burns celebrates scoring at Burton Albion
Wes Burns celebrates scoring at Burton Albion

Burns’ sparkling form of five goals in 14 appearances since he moved to Highbury in February has seen him bag a one-year contract extension at parent club Bristol City and now he is keen to repay manager Pressley’s faith in him by ensuring Town beat the drop.

He said: “I think it has been a successful loan spell,.

“When I first came here I didn’t expect to get as many goals as I have done but looking back on how I have been since I have been here I think it is a massive credit to Fleetwood, the manager, all of the coaching staff and the players here that have helped me get the goals that I have got and have helped me do well since I have been here.

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“(The gaffer) is a fiery character which is always good for a player like me because I need someone now and then to give me a kick up the backside.

“He is a great manager to play for. All of the players in the dressing room like playing for him which is good.”

Monday will see Burns go head-to-head with Walsall’s Tom Bradshaw and the hot-shot is keen to win the battle of the Welsh goal kings and help Town beat the drop.

Bradshaw scored the only goal of the game as the promotion-chasing Saddlers narrowly edged past Fleetwood 1-0 at Highbury last month.

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And Burns is keen to outshine his fellow countryman and bag another vital three points as Fleetwood’s survival quest goes down to the wire.

He said: “I think Walsall need three points to secure their promotion, we are fighting to stay in the league and they are fighting for promotion so it is going to be all out attack in the game I think.

“Romaine Sawyers has been shortlisted for one of the players of the season so we need to make sure that he does not have an effect on the game.

“Tom Bradshaw is a little goalscorer as well so we just need to isolate players like those two and we will be alright.

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“I have played with Tom in the Welsh Under-21 set-up so I kind of know what he is about.

“It does not matter to me whether they go up or not, I just have to make sure Fleetwood stay in this division.”

And Burns says playing on Monday after fellow strugglers Blackpool host Wigan and Doncaster travel to already relegated Crewe tomorrow will be an advantage as Town will know exactly where they stand with a game in hand.

Currently lying in 20th place Town are two points above the Seasiders and three above Doncaster, who occupy the last two relegation spots.

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Come 5pm on Saturday Town could only need one point to ensure survival or have dropped into the bottom four depending on those results.

Burns is confident Town can get a result and hopes Blackpool and Doncaster slip up.

He said: “Obviously it is going to be a nervous time for everyone who is down the bottom because we are fighting to stay in the league but I think we are going to Walsall on Monday full of confidence because we are going to know the results from Saturday so I think if Doncaster and Blackpool slip up then we know what we have got to do on Monday.

“I think everyone will keep an eye on the results we are in training on Saturday and Sunday preparing for Monday’s game.

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“I think it is an advantage playing on Monday because we will know what we need to do and it is in our own hands which is a massive positive for us.

“If both teams slip up we can go to Walsall knowing just a point will keep us up so we have just got to wait and see how the results go.

“If we only need a point it makes it a lot easier but I think we never really set up to just go and get a point, we are always an attacking team.

“And if we do go to Walsall and we don’t get the result we need then we have still got the Crewe game to get the three points we need to stay in the division anyway.

“Of course we can do it.”

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The striker got a kick on his ankle during the 0-0 draw with Blackpool but he says he is fine and ready for the Walsall game.

And the in-form forward says strikers are always under pressure to score goals.

He said: “As a striker I think there is always pressure to score goals. That is what you are in the team to do, and if you don’t do so, everyone kind of looks at you and says ‘well that is what you are here to do so why aren’t you doing it?’

“I think there is always pressure to score goals.”