Joey Barton: New rule helps Fleetwood Town to make most of strength in depth

Both sides made all five permitted substitutions at Highbury on Saturday, when Fleetwood overwhelmed Plymouth Argyle 5-1.

The outgunned Pilgrims made five changes by the start of the second half, while Barton rested players for the final half-hour with his team already four goals to the good.

The Town head coach explained: “We’ve got the players in we need and up to speed, and with the five-sub rule we have the ability to use the strength in depth we have at the club.

“The substitutions were about keeping the lads fresh, and the squad fit and healthy. Making the changes we were able to at that stage will benefit us over the season and with one eye on Sunderland on Friday.”

Barton is delighted with the options now available to him, adding: “I could go right through the team and wax lyrical about every single performance.

“Sam Finley was unplayable and his goal was the cherry on the top of an all-round midfield performance.

“Jordan Rossiter came in alongside him and was outstanding. Callum Camps has weighed in with goals again in a really dominant performance from start to finish.

“We are chipping in with goals right across the team, which is really pleasing.

“I made one change and Paul Coutts missed out after probably his best performance of the season at Bristol Rovers.”

But Barton insists it is hard work off the field which is now paying dividends on it.

“I told the lads before the game that if we reach the standard of performance we demand of ourselves it will be very, very tough for most sides in this division to stay with that.

“We are a good side building nicely in a hugely competitive league and we’re bedding a team down now that has a real nice balance.

“They work ever so hard and are a pleasure to coach because they are receptive and manage to carry that through to a matchday environment, which is rare.”

But there will be no resting on laurels. “The lads will get a short period to enjoy the win – that’s important after such a dominant performance,” Barton said.

“But on Monday or Tuesday we’ll be getting everyone’s feet back on the ground ready to play a big side in our division in Sunderland.

“Come the shake-up at the end of the season those big teams will be there or thereabouts. But if we get our fans back in, then strap yourselves in because this could be a very exciting ride.”

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