Fleetwood Town youngster offers another attacking option

Simon Grayson is delighted that Fleetwood Town have a new weapon in their attacking armour.
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The long throws of teenage defender James Hill were a feature of last weekend’s Highbury draw with Charlton Athletic.

Hill, who turned 19 last month, has started Town’s last two games while Charlie Mulgrew recovers from Covid-19 and has 19 appearances this season, 12 in League One.

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The club’s ‘secret weapon’ may no longer be a secret but head coach Grayson is pleased to have Hill’s skill as part of his attacking arsenal.

Fleetwood Town youngster James Hill Picture: Stephen Buckley/PRiME Media ImagesFleetwood Town youngster James Hill Picture: Stephen Buckley/PRiME Media Images
Fleetwood Town youngster James Hill Picture: Stephen Buckley/PRiME Media Images

The Town boss said: “Charlton were really surprised about the long throw. I mentioned at the meeting before the game that it might be something we could use and we certainly did.

“It’s worked before for other clubs and it’s a really nice weapon to have.

“You have to mix it up and not do it all the time, but you can use it sometimes and it works.”

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That point against the Addicks is the only one Town have mustered from their last three games and Grayson welcomes Accrington Stanley to Highbury on Saturday, anxious for a return to winning ways.

Defensive errors proved costly in Tuesday’s 2-0 defeat at Sunderland, as did Fleetwood’s wastefulness in possession.

Grayson added: “We work hard on the defensive side and individuals have to make sure they do their jobs when it’s asked of them.

“The first goal was probably avoidable and the second one as well.

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“The big thing we spoke about in the dressing room was that when you come to a place like this and you get the ball, you have to keep it.

“We probably turned over possession too easily at times but there were too many unforced errors, which gave them the chance to come at you with good players.

“So we’re disappointed that we didn’t keep the ball on a big, open pitch, where we could have hurt them.

“But I thought we kept (Charlie) Wyke quiet and I thought (Aiden) McGeady was quiet – two influential players – and there wasn’t a great deal in it.

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“I think it’s probably a testament to how we played in the first half that Sunderland had to go and change their formation.”

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