Changes afoot

Aaron Amadi-Holloway

AARON Amadi-Holloway could come back to haunt Athletic tomorrow - provided his current manager keeps faith with the striker.

Uwe Rosler fielded the injury-hampered Welsh target man for the first half only in Boxing Day's 0-0 home draw with Bury.

That was a result that made it nine unbeaten for the Cod Army under Rosler's charge, but it served as something of a disappointment to the former Brentford and Wigan boss.

The goal now is to push up into the play-offs by defeating Athletic for the first time in six meetings since the Fylde Coast club ascended to the Football League four years ago.

Holloway had a major impact up front for John Sheridan while on loan from Wycombe 12 months ago, scoring twice in 10 games but also offering an invaluable outlet as a target man blessed with pace and technical ability as well as size.

LUCRATIVE CONTRACT

He joined Fleetwood on a lucrative contract in the summer, despite interest from Rangers. To date, injury concerns mean Amadi-Holloway has made only 10 appearances for Fleetwood, scoring twice.

And while named in the starting line-up against the Shakers, Rosler hauled him off at half-time.

"We wanted to pick Aaron," said Rosler afterwards. "That was the plan. The pitch and the wind did not help us but I am not using that as an excuse because I think technically we were awful."

Blessed with state-of-the-art training facilities thanks to the April opening of the £7million Poolfoot Farm complex, Fleetwood brought Rosler in during the summer following the resignation of Steven Pressley in the aftermath of last season's 19th-place finish.

Rosler (47) is working under a technical director in former Bolton full-back Gretar Steinsson and it's clear that chairman Andy Pilley has grand plans for the club's future.

Having progressed beyond a tricky period in which the club lost four out of six in all competitions, the home record is a formidable one.

Following on from the 2-0 loss at Highbury to Athletic in the Checkatrade Trophy, Fleetwood have won seven out of the last eight on home soil. Little wonder they were left dissatisfied with a stalemate against a Bury side previously on a run of seven straight losses.

'MARATHON'

"We have put a little bit more pressure on the Oldham game but this is a marathon and not every game will pan out how we think it will," Rosler told the Blackpool Gazette.

"Sometimes players will have an off-day but we had too many (against Bury).

"I'm responsible for that, which is why I am happily looking at myself in terms of how we used the days before the game. There will definitely be changes in the future."