FC Halifax Town 2-0 Warrington: That's what we're about, says Fullarton after cup win

The Shaymen dominated the game, scoring through Jordan Preston and Dayle Southwell in each half, but spurning several other chances to add to the scoreline.

“I think tonight’s performance reflected what we are, where we’re at, and it’s pleasing,” said Fullarton.

“Every time you go on the pitch you’re looking for the players to reflect what we are and I think they did that tonight.

“We created multiple chances, through some really good team play, and it was pleasing to see.

“If you’re being harsh you’re looking for players to take one or two more of those chances, but for a number of reasons, dogged defending, people throwing their bodies on the lines in a cup competition like the FA Cup, that’s what you get, but I felt we were competent in everything we did.

“If there is an expectation, that’s what we look for.”

Fullarton is keen for his side to be more clinical in-front of goal after failing to take some clear-cut chances on the night.

“We had multiple chances, gilt-edged chances, and that’s area where we’re looking to increase our ratio of goals to chances,” he said.

“In particular at home, the amount of chances we create, you have to make your home ground a fortress, and I think that’s important.

“If you look at our performances and results at home, it’s bearing fruit. But again, you worry when you don’t make those chances.

“It’s pleasing that the players responded after Saturday, which was difficult. You talk about staying in the game - we under-performed on Saturday in many aspects, but we didn’t lose.

“In a cup competition, results matter. We’re at the stage now, almost because of performances over a period of time, since I’ve been at the club, where there is an expectation of a level of performance.

“Tonight, we’ve demonstrated that’s the level, and it was pleasing.”

When asked what the difference was between Saturday and Tuesday, Fullarton said: “It’s a bit of a crystal ball question. You can never put your finger on it.

“The romance of the cup, if you look at the results on Saturday, and how many teams in our division who had difficult games, either went out or drew and had to replay.

“That’s what happens, that’s what makes it interesting for everyone, because everyone likes that.

“But the possibility of a lower league club winning against a team from a higher division is what makes it exciting.

“But fortunately we didn’t lose on Saturday. Whilst I was critical, as the players were, of the overall performance, I watched the game again, removing emotion, and we were reasonable in the last 30 minutes, in difficult conditions.

“The first hour wasn’t acceptable, hence why we were in the position we were in.

“But once we went 2-2, we looked more like what we would expect from an away performance.

“There was a contrast tonight, and I feel the players, from the first minute to the 95th minute, were very competent in every aspect.

“And the fact that Sam hasn’t had a save to make in the game says how we defended, and the fact we missed a number of chances, adds context to it.”

Jonathan Edwards, Cameron King and Jacob Hanson - who replaced Michael Duckworth, who rolled his ankle in the first-half of Saturday’s game - all came in to Town’s starting line-up on Tuesday, and Fullarton agreed the trio played well.

“Yeah. If you look at Saturday’s game, King and Edwards impacted and influenced the game, and all three contributed tonight, along with others who didn’t perform on Saturday and had the opportunity to perform again tonight,” he said.

“They realised that we managed to stay in the game and in the cup, and what was at stake tonight, and they went and grasped it, and it means we go to Morecambe now in the next round.”