Dan Barnes Profile Image
Dan Barnes Profile Image
Jake Batty defends against Max Dowman (Image: PA)
Jake Batty defends against Max Dowman (Image: PA)
Former Rovers defender Jake Batty helped Fleetwood Town pull off a huge upset against Arsenal in the Carabao Cup.
Batty played the full 90 minutes at the Highbury Stadium as the Cod Army held the Premier League champions to a 1-1 draw before winning on penalties.
Aaron Loupalo-Bi gave the League Two club a shock lead on the night. Viktor Gyokeres equalised after the break and Jay Lynch was the hero in the shootout, saving Brune Guimaraes' spot kick.
Fleetwood are now through to the quarter final and will learn their next opponents when the draw takes place on Wednesday night after Chelsea’s game against Liverpool.
"The champions of England coming to our patch, we always knew it was going to be a tough game, we always knew we were going to have to grind out a result,” Batty told BBC Radio 5 Live.
"I think 1-1 was probably a fair result over 90 minutes, I think we did what we needed to do, I think everyone stuck to the game plan.
“But it gives us so much confidence, so much motivation, and it brings us lads closer together because we know we can trust each other arguably against the best players in the world at the moment."
He added: "We knew they were going to come here and dominate the ball. We're not silly, we know what we are, we know what they are.
“Obviously, when they got the goal early in the second half, you're thinking, here we go, but I think the resistance, the communication and the culture of the lads.
"Everyone is just doing a job for each other, fighting for their own place, which is what they need, and we need to go onto Saturday, and carry that momentum and confidence into the game to get three points.
“We knew we would give (Arsenal) a good game on our patch, and we knew the crowd was going to be there for us."