The story of Fleetwood Town's season: tremendous turnaround in February

February brought five successive league wins and it took a Sunderland equaliser in the seventh minute of stoppage time to deny them a sixth.

A first win since Boxing Day was achieved with goals either side of half-time at home to Doncaster Rovers.

Ched Evans scored the first, after Seny Diang saved his initial effort, then Harry Souttar gave Town breathing space. And although Niall Ennis soon made it 2-1, Town were largely untroubled from then on.

A week later saw victory by the same scoreline at Wimbledon. The hosts started brightly but Luke O’Neill’s own goal midway through the first half put Town on course for their first back-to-back victories since September.

Shane McLoughlin headed Wimbledon level by half-time but Town won it with Paddy Madden’s 15th league goal of the season nine minutes from time, following good work by debutant Barrie McKay.

Madden was Town’s matchwinner again three days later at Wycombe, his 75th-minute goal coming shortly after fellow frontman Evans was sent off for elbowing Jason McCarthy.

Joey Barton fell foul of referee Kevin Johnson too in the second half, but watching from the stands he saw his side emerge worthy winners.

Fellow form club Peterborough’s six-game unbeaten run was then halted at Highbury, where Cairns saved Mo Eisa’s early penalty for Posh and Town proceeded to win 2-1.

Callum Connolly’s first Fleetwood goal separated the sides for most of the first half, and Town could have added a second before Dan Butler’s solo strike made it level pegging on 54 minutes.

But Town were unfazed, winning it 14 minutes from time when Wes Burns struck from a tight angle.

Fleetwood avenged their FA Cup defeat when Portsmouth returned to Highbury and Connolly was on target again, converting Danny Andrew’s cross from close range on 12 minutes.

It proved the winner, though Town created numerous opportunities and were relieved to see Ronan Curtis’ free-kick strike the bar.

And Town so nearly made it six wins out of six for February until that latest of late equalisers by Max Power secured Sunderland’s second 1-1 draw of 2020 against Fleetwood.

The Black Cats had plenty of possession at the Stadium of Light but McKay’s first Fleetwood goal, coolly finished after only five minutes, looked like being the winner until that final Power surge. Town ended the month in seventh spot, outside the play-off zone on goal difference.