Fleetwood Town's Sunderland victory was a performance of two halves

Two goals in nine minutes helped the Cod Army battle back from a goal down to see off their visitors, winning 2-1.

After a first half which saw the Black Cats hit the woodwork on three occasions, Nicholson was understandably delighted that Town turned the contest on its head to win their final EFL Trophy Northern Section Group A clash.

“I think the whole performance just flipped,” reflected Nicholson.

“I just think the difference in us in the second half was our intensity of our pressing and the intensity of when we had the ball.

“The boys were running harder, it’s simple when you break the game down. I think when you run hard, things happen for you.

“That’s what it was like in the second half. We just upped the intensity with the ball and that got us further up the pitch. That obviously allowed us to score a couple of goals.

“The manager said to the players to run harder at half-time, it was as simple as that. Be quicker on the ball, be quicker with decisions.”

Swansea City loan signing Barrie McKay cancelled out Callum McFadzean’s 15th minute opener for the visitors with his first goal of the season, seven minutes after the restart.

Veteran midfielder Mark Duffy then coolly slotted home the winning goal following some great work from Shayden Morris down the right flank.

“I think Barrie McKay and Josh Morris really gave us a real platform at the front of the pitch,” added Nicholson.

“Obviously we’ve not got a recognised number nine, so it was a little bit more difficult for us to go a bit more direct.

“I thought Josh competed really well and Baz just upped the tempo from his performance in the first half.

“Them two set the platform for the performance for the rest of the lads.”

Town and Sunderland had already guaranteed their progress to the next phase with two wins in a row respectively, so Barton made 10 changes to his starting side as he gave youth a chance to shine.

After a shaky first half in which the hosts were forced to soak up a barrage of pressure, the youngsters came into their own and gave plenty of food for thought ahead of Saturday’s trip to Bristol Rovers.

“With both clubs already through this game could have been quite easy to take your foot off the gas,” stressed Nicholson.

“There was a home tie up for grabs whoever won the game – and I think that was important for us to get that.

“Those senior boys have got to treat games like this as a proper game. I thought their attitude was spot-on.

“But I think the manager is willing to give these young boys a chance in this competition.

“They’ve just got to make sure they’re ready and, when they’re in front of the manager, perform.”

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