Ball plots great escape

The 2-1 defeat at Peterborough on Saturday kept Town in the drop zone.

But with critical games coming up against fellow strugglers Swindon and Blackpool, Fleetwood have a chance to drag themselves up the table.

And having helped Fleetwood break a three-week goal drought at the weekend by scoring against his former club, striker Ball wants to see more chances turned into ink on the scoresheet.

At the same time, Ball made it clear Town can’t concede the kind of soft goals which cost them in Cambridgeshire.

He said: “We were very disappointed because we fought to get back in the game.

“In the end it’s (their winning goal) just a hopeful ball into the box and we’ve got to defend. It’s starting to kill us a little bit. In the last 20 or 30 minutes you’ve seen how good we are.

“We’ve got to believe we are a good side. We are a good side.

“When we do go and play our game, we can out-pass teams and we can create chance. But we’ve got to take them as well.”

Fleetwood looked more of an attacking threat against the Posh, new loan signings Tariqe Fosu and David Henen bringing pace and flair which has been lacking since the start of the campaign.

Their arrival is the latest move from manager Steven Pressley as he looks to undo the damage of a disastrous summer recruitment campaign.

And Ball is excited to have the two young guns on board

“There’s competition,” he said. “I love that.

“I’m just delighted the manager has thought I can come on and get him a goal. I’ve done that.”

“Tariqe is a clever player. He’s got good movement.

“With me behind him, I think I can find him and we can cause trouble, like we did on Saturday.

“We’ve shown what we can do with the added injection of pace.

“With the players we’ve got, it’s a good mix and I’m sure there will be some excitement in the next few games.”

Ball’s goal was only the second of the campaign for a player nominated for FIFA’s goal of the year award for his strike against Preston in March.

Ball has been adjusting to a new role under new manager Pressley – playing wider and deeper. But he’s hoping that finding the net last weekend marks the start of a good run.

“It’s lovely for me to score,” said the former Manchester City man.

“It’s been a change of position, a different dynamic. I’ve had to work out where I’m going to go to get my goals.”

“I was delighted I got one inside the box. It’s always good to get one.”

Fleetwood once again missed some clear cut chances at London Road, where Antoni Sarcevic blazed over from six yards when the scores were level.

Had Town taken advantage then, they may well have gone on to take points.

But Ball refuses to point the finger, calling for a united stand.

“We can’t blame Sarce because we’ve all been guilty of missing chances this season,” he said.

“We can’t let it get to us. We are a very good side. I know we are down there in the table but we’ve got to believe we can get out of it.

“It’s only us who can change it, nobody else. The gaffer has said it – we’ve got to work at a team.

“It’s going to be small steps but we have to believe. We’ve got to stand together, show courage and build on what people saw on Saturday.

“Everybody has to stand up and be counted – that’s everyone in a squad of 24.

“We’ve all got to stick together, because we’re all in it together.”