Story of the Fleetwood Town season: October

Having taken 10 points out of 12 in September to climb to third in League One, Town lost their opening game of October 1-0 to leaders Ipswich Town.

It was Town’s first home defeat of the season, having won five of the previous six in league and cup at Highbury.

Kayden Jackson scored the only goal on 58 minutes, reacting quickest when Town keeper Alex Cairns blocked Luke Garbutt’s free-kick.

Jackson could have iced the Ipswich win when he won a penalty for a foul by Jimmy Dunne but fired wide.

Fleetwood gave Paul Lambert’s side a tough test but struggled to create chances, going closest early on when Wes Burns headed wide from a Josh Morris corner.

Ipswich had defender James Wilson sent off in stoppage time after a second yellow card.

Town had to wait a fortnight for a chance to bounce back but did so in style with a 4-1 home win over Burton Albion.

Paddy Madden stole the show with a second-half hat-trick, having put the opener on a plate for Ched Evans on 38 minutes.

The Brewers were level by half-time, Oliver Sarkic beating Cairns at the second attempt, but Madden gave Town breathing space by volleying home a Lewie Coyle cross on 58 minutes and heading his side’s third 10 minutes later.

The Irishman claimed the matchball in the final minute with another fine finish, teed up by Morris.

Madden was at it again four days later at Coventry, giving his side a ninth-minute lead after Evans’ header came back off a post.

But Fleetwood paid for not capitalising on a first half they controlled and two goals in eight minutes won it for the Sky Blues.

Cairns saved well from Sam McCallum, only for Amadou Bakayoko to slam home the rebound on 59 minutes, then Zain Westbrooke’s penalty saw Coventry replace Town in fourth spot in the table.

It was again Dunne who conceded the spot-kick for a foul on Max Biamou.

But Fleetwood ended the month with a return to winning ways the following weekend, though out-of-sorts MK Dons made them struggle for the points at Highbury.

Evans came off the bench to score an 85th-minute winner after keeper Lee Nicholls had dropped Coyle’s cross.

Goal-shy MK had given Town an early scare when Hiram Boateng headed just over but the hosts gradually took charge.

Morris saw a goal ruled out for a push by Madden before Evans popped up to restore Town to fourth in the table, four points behind leaders Ipswich.