Injuries threw Fleetwood Town gameplan out of the window admits Joey Barton

Joey Barton believes the outcome at Hull could have been different had Fleetwood been awarded a first-half penalty

Barton gives positive updates on two forwards stretchered off

Striker Ched Evans' match lasted barely two minutes and fellow forward Harvey Saunders was also forced to leave the field, like Evans with his neck in a brace, as the Tigers won Saturday's FA Cup first-round tie 2-0.

With their attacking options so depleted, Fleetwood didn't register a single attempt on target and were beaten by a goal in each half.

But Barton felt the outcome may have been different had the incident which ended Saunders' game resulted in a penalty - either for a push on the Town player or for handling outside the box by home keeper George Long.

Fleetwood's head coach said: "Had we had VAR we could have had a penalty. We feel it's a pen which was kind of missed because of the injury, so we might have gone in level at the break. Instead we had two players stretchered off and game plan then is out of the window."

Callum Camps also left the field injured but Barton was less concerned about the midfielder.

He added: "Camps just had a kick and hopefully it's not too bad. He's taken a whack on it but we brought him off with one eye on Sunderland (in the EFL Trophy tomorrow) and Bristol Rovers beyond that."

Barton suggested cup football is less of a priority in this congested season, though the Town boss was still disappointed to see Town's FA Cup involvement end so early.

He added: "The cup is a great traditional showcase for every team, but in terms of revenue with no crowds and the fixture congestion we said cup football is a bonus this year.

"We try to win every game but we just want to get our players through fit and healthy.

"You need a bit of luck when you come here. If the penalty gets given for Harvey, then who knows?

"We need to look at certain things, such as conceding from a set-play. We need to address that, certainly if we want to improve. But I think we've learnt an awful lot."

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