A fish called wonder

Last updated : 10 November 2004 By Luke Thornhill
United ran out 2-0 winners, thanks to a double from in-form striker Paul Hayes - his sixth and seventh goals in the last five games.

The Cods were reduced to 10 men for much of the match, when Jon Daly was shown a red card for a needless elbow on Ian Baraclough.

Laws said: "My players were superb, we were really disciplined and remained focused on the game. We deserved the win, and the second goal killed the game.

"We didn't get embroilled in any of the incidents, and kept our discipline.

"We seized the initiative with the first goal through a fantastic counter attack, and in a high-tempo game the players responded well. Our big following of fans should have gone home very happy."

Codfather Russell Slade avoided commenting on Daly's elbow-led assault on Baraclough.

He said: "I am disappointed for our fans, it was a passionate affair, but a ocuple of decisions went against us.

"I didn't see the sending off incident, at that point it had been nip and tuck but the game changed when we were down to 10 men.

"There was nothing wrong with our work-rate, and prior to the game our disciplinary record was first class."