Little time for Joey Barton to focus on transfer market as Fleetwood Town games come thick and fast

Town's run in the Carabao Cup means early-season matches are continuing at a rate of two a week, with limited options for squad rotation.

The quest for new arrivals did not overshadow preparations for Peterborough on Saturday, when Barton had to be totally focused on the players he already has.

The head coach explained: “We had to be on it for this game and not thinking about transfers, but we have a few irons in the fire and we’re hoping to get some of those closed in the next couple of weeks.

“Once we do that it will stand us in good stead to crack on and attack the rest of the season.”

But Town's relentless schedule continues and next up is a visit from Everton this Wednesday for a televised Carabao Cup third-round tie.

Barton will also have to put to the back of his mind his grievances over the 2-1 defeat at Peterborough, where the hosts scored twice in stoppage-time and the refereeing angered the Town boss

He added: “We’ll send the clips in. I’ve just watched them back now: there’s a handball in the build-up to the second Peterborough goal, when their attacker flips the ball backwards, which sums up the afternoon from the ref’s perspective.

“It’s disappointing because it has cost us three points but we have 44 games to go, and if we play like that we’ll be there or thereabouts.

“We’ve no time for feeling sorry for ourselves because Carlo Ancelotti and Everton are in town on Wednesday night.”

Meanwhile, Town have held a ballot among Onward Card holders in the hope a limited number will be allowed to attend Saturday’s home game with AFC Wimbledon.