Paddy Madden aims to make more Fleetwood Town history after entering record books

The striker’s 50th goal on his 132nd appearance for the Highbury club sealed Saturday’s 1-0 win at Swindon Town, moving them up to ninth in League One and within striking distance of the play-off zone ahead of tonight’s visit to third-placed Portsmouth (7.45)

Madden’s first-half winner at the County Ground was his 41st league goal for Town, equalling the club record set by David Ball.

The Irishman would love to take that record outright at Fratton Park to help Town towards a much bigger goal.

With Fleetwood going into the game three points outside the top six, Madden said: “Anything is possible. I was at Yeovil when they got into the Championship. The squad we have is more than capable of doing well in that league.

“It’s a very up-and-down league this year and we know it’s there for the taking, so we have to keep grinding out .

“It doesn’t matter how you play, if you keep racking the three points up you’ll be up there.”

Saturday’s record-equalling goal was all the more satisfying for Madden as it came from a rehearsed move, with Madden getting on the end of a Josh Morris corner.

Madden, who joined the club from Scunthorpe United in January 2018, added: “It’s a nice moment to equal David Ball’s record. When I signed here I promised goals, so it’s nice to back my talking up. Hopefully now I go on and set my own target at the top.

“We actually worked on that (set-piece) in training. With Josh’s delivery, if you get in the right area you’ll have a great chance of scoring. It was a great ball in by Josh and I connected with it well.

“I haven’t been too prolific this year but the goals will always come when I play, so fingers crossed I’ll get to my target.

Madden finds himself four behind this season’s 10-goal top scorer Callum Camps but Madden acknowledges that the team effort is all-important. And after back-to-back 1-0 league defeats, Madden was delighted that Town dug deep in Wiltshire to win by that scoreline.

He added: “You need to mix up how you win in this league. We know we weren’t at our best in the second half but we ground out and the three points are all that matters at the end of the day. Nothing is better than three points.

“It was great character shown by the boys to bounce back. I thought the back four were magnificent putting their body on the line – last-ditch blocks, taking one in the face and stuff like that – that’s what you need.”

Saturday’s match in tier two Swindon was Fleetwood’s first in front of a crowd (limited to 2,000 home supporters) since March and Madden admitted: “It was nice to have fans back but it was a weird feeling when we came out.”

Tonight’s hosts Portsmouth can also admit 2,000 and will provide a tough test for Joey Barton’s side.

Since losing to Blackpool at the start of the month, Pompey have won all three games without conceding.

Fleetwood played their final match of last season before lockdown at Fratton Park, drawing 2-2 in March.

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