Fleetwood Town pair missed out following positive Covid-19 tests

Charlie Mulgrew and Barrie McKay were both ruled out of contention for Town after testing positive for the virus in the aftermath of the previous weekend’s fixture at Plymouth Argyle.

Mulgrew and McKay weren’t necessarily missed as Town impressed hugely without them and dominated the Highbury clash against the high-flying Addicks, which ended 1-1.

However, the situation is a concern as it isn’t the first time Town have been affected this season.

“Obviously it’s been a blow for us,” said Grayson.

“There’s lots of protocols at the club and we have suffered in the past.

“With Charlie it came off the back of the long journey to Plymouth last weekend.

“He started getting symptoms on the way back, but he should be OK again after this weekend.

“Whether he’s available for Tuesday at Sunderland, we’ll just have to wait and see.

“Unfortunately, we lost two players off the back of that trip.

“It’s a 12-hour bus journey – six there and six back – and it is very difficult when one player has got it and maybe passed it on.

“Barrie’s symptoms emerged a little bit later in the week.

“As much as you try and comply with all the protocols, we’ve just been hit with these two cases affecting two players this week, and it is unfortunate.”

On the field, Town got off to a disastrous start at a breezy Highbury.

Charlton struck after only six minutes when Andrew Shinnie crossed for Jayden Stockley, who darted in and headed past Alex Cairns.

However, Grayson’s men rallied well, and after Kyle Vassell had gone close a couple of times, Town levelled when skipper Paddy Madden converted Mark Duffy’s cross.

Town dominated the second period, but just couldn’t grab a winning goal their performance had deserved.

Vassell and Madden went close as the Addicks were forced to defend for their lives in order to head back down to the capital with a point.

“I’m really pleased, but so disappointed at the same time,” reflected Grayson.

“I was really pleased with the performance, how we competed and how we played.

“It was a great response after we’d gone a goal down, but it’s disappointing because we haven’t gone on to win the game.

“The chances we had, the possession we had, and the domination we had should have seen us victorious at the end of it.

“I’m sure Lee (Bowyer, Charlton manager) will be delighted that he got a point.

“It was a tough one because of the conditions but maybe our players are used to that a bit more.

“We asked them questions when we were against the wind, then with the wind in the second half we had to play a different style and we dominated.

“We were inches away from getting that second goal and probably going on to win the game, but it just wasn’t to be.

“There were lots of good positive aspects from the performance regarding individuals, but also from a collective point of view too.”

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