Lock-outs are key for experienced Jordan

Fleetwood defender Stephen Jordan was pleased to mark his return to the side with a clean sheet in the 0-0 draw at Chesterfield.
Fleetwood Town's Stephen Jordan  Photographer Chris Vaughan/CameraSportFleetwood Town's Stephen Jordan  Photographer Chris Vaughan/CameraSport
Fleetwood Town's Stephen Jordan Photographer Chris Vaughan/CameraSport

Jordan picked up a hamstring injury last month but quickly recovered and was an unused substitute in Town’s previous two defeats against Walsall and Barnsley.

But after centre-half Joe Davis picked up an injury in the 2-0 Highbury defeat by the Tykes, Jordan was recalled to the starting line-up at the Proact Stadium and helped Town pick up their first clean sheet in eight games.

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Jordan, 34, is keen to retain his place but was disappointed Town did not take home all three points.

He said: “As a defender your bread and butter is to not concede a goal and keep a clean sheet, and that is what we did.

“I suppose you would always take any point away from home but we are a bit disappointed we didn’t get the three.

“But it was nice to get back out there. I don’t like watching – you are always a better player when you are in the stand. I prefer to be out there.”

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Jordan was the only player over the age of 30 in Town’s starting 11 on Saturday as manager Steven Pressley fielded a patched-up side with an average age of 24.

The defender says Pressley’s philosophy of passing out from the back is paying dividends, though Town must find a clinical touch in front of goal.

Jordan said: “In the second half I thought we were camped in their half a little bit. It is what the gaffer wanted.

“We had a lot of energy in the side, and with David Henen and Ash Hunter up front we had a lot of pace.

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“The gaffer has instilled (playing out from the back) in us since he has arrived. That is how he plays the game.

“And when we got past Chesterfield’s initial press we were at them. It is just goals at the top end that we seem to be missing a bit at the moment but I’m happy with the draw, I suppose.”

It was the fifth time Jordan has played alongside fellow centre-back Marcus Nilsson, who joined the club in February.

Jordan said: “Marcus has slotted in quite well. We’ve kept three clean sheets out of five, so that is good.”

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And he says Town will travelling to Swindon on Saturday full of confidence after ending their three-match losing streak.

Swindon’s 50 points should be enough to keep them out of trouble, even though yesterday’s 6-0 hammering at Scunthorpe followed a 4-1 televised thumping at Wigan on Friday.

Jordan said: “We watched them play Wigan, who are obviously a top team and they dismantled them a little bit.

“Swindon are a good team but we will go there thinking we can win the game. We have eight games left and we want to stay in this league.”

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On-loan Sheffield United midfielder Stefan Scougall was handed his first start at Chesterfield, where development squad striker Keano Deacon made his debut from the bench.

Pressley was pleased with both, saying: “Keano is a great boy, who has made a good impression with us. We hope has a good future at this club.

“Stefan cramped up. He hasn’t played much football in the last three or four months but I thought he gave a really good performance.

“He ran out of steam but the important thing was that we got him off early enough.

“It wasn’t an injury that will result in him missing any games.”