Joey Barton backs Fleetwood keeper Billy Crellin to adjust after "flak" at Bolton

The 20-year-old, on loan at Bolton Wanderers, made a mistake which led to Cambridge United’s goal in Saturday’s 1-1 draw.

Wanderers head coach Ian Evatt outlined his frustration with Crellin’s error post-match and said he had to “man up”.

The phrase saw the former Blackpool favourite come in for criticism and led to an apology.

And Fylde coast native Crellin responded in the best possible way with a penalty save in Tuesday’s 1-0 win over Bradford City.

After his remarks on Saturday, Evatt said: “The terminology was incorrect, so I apologise for that.

“What I meant was when you’re progressing and developing from a young player to a senior player, it takes a certain level to step up to. This isn’t kids’ football any more –it’s adults’ football.

“The terminology was incorrect and, like I said, I apologise for that and I should have chosen my words better.”

Speaking ahead of Fleetwood’s home clash with Shrewsbury Town last night, Barton said of the incident: “That’s the thing about a loan agreement – you want a player to go out there and get experience, good and bad.

“It’s not always the case that you go there and it’s plain sailing.

“I spoke to Bill on Saturday night. Once I’d seen it, I gave him a call and had a chat with him through it.

“He’s quite stoic in his approach and he’s quite mature as a young keeper.

“He hadn’t read the comments in detail and I knew, having spoken to him, that he’ll adjust.

“He knew he’d made a mistake and when you’re in a senior position, in a senior team, unfortunately you cop a bit of flak and the pressure comes.”

Though Barton admitted he might not have taken the same approach as Evatt, he accepted different managers have their own methods.

Instead, he acknowledged that players will be criticised and the key thing is for them to move on.

Barton added: “I’m not going to tell any manager what to do and what not to do.

“I’m relatively new to this trade as it is and it’s a difficult trade.

“I don’t think I’d have handled it that way with a young player but I’m sure there are plenty of things I’ve done that other managers wouldn’t have done.

“He’s trying to get his team winning and there’s a pressure attached to that.

“When you’re under pressure and it’s straight after a game, managers sometimes aren’t the most rational.

“What’s done is done, the reality of it is no-one’s died. It’s a game of football.

“It’s a high pressure industry, Bolton Wanderers are a big club and they want to get results. If you make mistakes there you’re always liable to get criticised.

“We live in an age of social media where everything we do or say is analysed and discussed.

“If you want to be a top player now you have to accept criticism, albeit you would like to think that when it comes from the manager, that it is kept in house or in the dressing room. Sometimes that does leak out into the public forum.

“I don’t want to add any further fuel to the fire. I’ve spoken to my player. He knows exactly where he’s at, he knows the response he needs to make things right and I’m sure, knowing Billy as I do, he’ll be good to go.”