McLaughlin: Season going well

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The Cod Army have been used to winning in recent times having achieved six promotions in nine years during a remarkable rise up the football ladder.

The confidence which that has brought continues to surround Highbury and although they are only two points off the play-off spots in November, the teams directly above them – Rochdale and Oldham – have received far more credit for their early-season efforts.

And so while Fleetwood may be victims of their recent success in that respect, McLaughlin stressed that the Cod Army are coping well in unfamiliar territory.

Speaking at the Northwest Football Awards where he was named League Two Player of the Year, the Northern Ireland international said: “The expectation is different with the amount of success we’ve had over the last few years.

“But I think we need to be realistic and know that it’s our first season in League One which is a huge step from where the club was.

“We know how good the squad is but we just need to keep doing what we’re doing and keep trying to pick up points.”

It has been a whirlwind few months for McLaughlin, who is now an established part of Michael O’Neill’s Northern Ireland team in their Euro 2016 qualifying campaign.

His first call-up came days after the most memorable moment of last season, when Fleetwood achieved promotion at Wembley by beating Burton in May.

“We did it the hard way really, through the play-offs, but it was probably the best way,” he conceded.

“We got the day out at Wembley and it’s something we’ll remember forever.

“It was just the feeling after, the nerves before it even. It was amazing to have the family there to share in the success as well.”

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