Joey Barton praises Fleetwood players for "superb preparation" ahead of play-off against Wycombe

Fleetwood Town boss Joey Barton hailed his players' professionalism and motivation ahead of Friday's League One Play-off semi-final against Wycombe Wanderers at Highbury.
Joey Barton says both clubs will have left no stone unturned ahead of Friday's play-off semi-final first leg between Fleetwood Town and Wycombe WanderersJoey Barton says both clubs will have left no stone unturned ahead of Friday's play-off semi-final first leg between Fleetwood Town and Wycombe Wanderers
Joey Barton says both clubs will have left no stone unturned ahead of Friday's play-off semi-final first leg between Fleetwood Town and Wycombe Wanderers
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Barton's bid to make fans so proud

Addressing national media, the head coach praised his squad's attitude throughout the suspension of sport due to the coronavirus pandemic.

Barton cannot wait to do battle with Gareth Ainsworth's Chairboys over two legs and told the Press Association: "You have to trust your players and trust your staff to know they are getting everything they need and I have nothing to fault. No-one has cut any corners.

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"Every single one has come back ahead of where they were at last pre-season and I don't take that for granted. It is easy in the off-season to hear there will be no promotion or relegation and it would be easy as a player to lose focus and concentration.

"It is hard to keep training for 12 to 13 weeks when there is no guarantee at the end of it. You have to be incredibly motivated and hugely professional.

"If you haven't been and you've not put in the running or gym session, when you are back to business those moments of weakness will be exploited.

"On the wall here it says, 'Confidence comes from good preparation' and we're supremely confident because our preparation has been superb."

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But Barton knows Town's semi-final opponents will also leave "no stone unturned" in their pursuit of promotion to the second tier.

He added: "Now the best that Wycombe could have done is match us. There is no way they could have prepared better than us and if they've matched us, then we will have a phenomenal encounter over the two legs.

"Knowing Gaz and their team, I can almost guarantee they would have done the work and there will be no stone unturned.

"It is as big an opportunity for their club as it is for us, so we have prepared for the best of them and we hope to give the best of ourselves on Friday night, and after that we will see where we are at."

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Even though the 37-year-old felt Town may have been able to secure automatic promotion had Covid-19 not halted the season prematurely, Barton is pleased they have a shot at going up in just his second season as a head coach.

He added: "If you'd spoke to us in August and said you will have three games to win to get in the Championship, you'll have to beat Wycombe twice home and away and then one of Oxford or Portsmouth, I think anybody would have taken that."