Simon Grayson: Fleetwood didn't want Paddy Madden to leave and gave 'great' performance against Ipswich Town

Fleetwood  boss Simon Grayson says he didn't want Paddy Madden to leave club, though Town are doing well without their record league goalscorer.
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Fleetwood Town 2 Ipswich Town 0: Grayson's men turn on style to stretch unbeaten...

Grayson's side saw off Ipswich Town 2-0 at Highbury on Tuesday to climb to 11th in League One, five points outside the play-offs with 10 games to play.

Victory over the Tractor Boys, who arrived at Highbury in the top six themselves, extended Town's unbeaten run to six games and this was their fourth successive clean sheet.

Kyle Vassell congratulates fellow striker Ged Garner on scoring Fleetwood's second againt Ipswich TownKyle Vassell congratulates fellow striker Ged Garner on scoring Fleetwood's second againt Ipswich Town
Kyle Vassell congratulates fellow striker Ged Garner on scoring Fleetwood's second againt Ipswich Town
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Madden had not started any of those games ahead of his sale to non-league Stockport County on Monday.

Grayson said: “Hopefully the fans don’t forget about Paddy Madden because he was a fantastic servant to this football club.

"I’m happy to back up what Andy Pilley has said over the past day or so – Paddy had an opportunity to get a long-term contract and we put it to him. We asked him what he wanted to do.

“I didn’t want him to leave and the club probably didn’t want him to leave. But it was his decision that he wanted to sign a really good contract elsewhere, so we wish him all the best.

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“These things happen in football. People move on and new people come into the team.

“The present two up front – Kyle Vassell and Ged Garner – have got great attributes and they’re playing really well together.

“They understand each other and there is a nice little partnership developing.

“Hopefully Paddy can get Stockport promoted and maybe one day we’ll see him back at Highbury.”

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Grayson’s side took the lead after just nine minutes, when skipper Callum Connolly headed home James Hill’s long throw.

Garner and Sam Finley also went close, with Ipswich posing little threat themselves before Town's victory-sealing second after 57 minutes.

And it was Madden's replacement Garner who took a measured pass from strike partner Vassell to score his second league goal for the club.

“We were really good tonight and really positive throughout,” said Grayson. “It was a quick start from us and we got into Ipswich’s faces. We just didn’t allow them to settle.

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“They’ve got really good players all over the pitch, players who will hurt you if you allow them time and space. We just didn’t allow them that, though.

“When we had possession of the ball we were composed and used it really well.

“Overall it was a really good performance, both collectively as a team and individually.

“If it had been 3-0 or 4-0 I don’t think many people who witnessed the game will have had too many complaints.

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“We mixed our game up well and our defensive unit was immense from start to finish.

“The front two were a real handful as well. Overall it was a great performance from the lads.”

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