Preview: Fleetwood v Sunderland

30 April 2019

Fleetwood Town return to action on Tuesday to take on Sunderland, and we have all you need to know ahead of the Sky Bet League One clash at Highbury.

Fixture: Fleetwood Town v Sunderland

Competition: Sky Bet League One

Date: Tuesday 30^th April 2019

Kick-Off: 19:45

Venue: Highbury Stadium, Park Avenue, Fleetwood, FY7 6TX

Match Officials: Robert Jones (Referee), Nick Greenhalgh & James Mainwaring (Assistants), Jeremy Simpson (Fourth Official)

FLEETWOOD TOWN

Last five results in all competitions: D L D L D

League position: 12th on 58 points

Club’s top goal scorer: Paddy Madden and Ched Evans (18 goals in all competitions)

In Fleetwood's final Saturday home game of the season, it was a share of the points between us and Bristol Rovers at Highbury. Town dominated the possession, but failed to capitalise on the chances that fell their way.

The Cod Army picked up a point at the Stadium of Light last time the two sides met for the very first time the club's history, and it was a game where it could have easily been all three for Joey Barton and his side. Paddy Madden scored the first of the game after Ash Hunter's corner. However Josh Maja equalised midway through the half. Madden had a penalty saved in the second half, with Sunderland having one big chance at the death.

After the game on Tuesday, Town will travel down South to Wycombe Wanderers for the final game of the 2018/19 season.

SUNDERLAND

Last five results in all competitions: D D W L D

League position: 4^th on 85 points

Club’s top goal scorer: Josh Maja (16 goals in all competitions)

Sunderland are in the play-off positions heading into the final stretch of the 2018/19 season, and after picking up two draws in their last two matches, it seems more likely - results depending - that it will be a second trip to Wembley if they want to bounce back from relegation last season.

Jack Ross' side have won 29 games this season in 56 games this season in all competitions, only losing five matches. They finish off the campaign with the trip to the Fylde Coast on Tuesday, and then away at Southend United on Saturday.

Sunderland are unbeaten in eleven matches on the road. Can Barton and his players end that run in front of their own fans?

ONE TO WATCH

Aiden McGeady - who joined Sunderland from Everton in 2017 - has been an important player for the Black Cats since his move to the North East.

McGeady started his career by rising through the youth ranks at Celtic, and then earned a promotion to the senior team, where he appeared over 250 times in all competitions. He then joined Spartak Moscow, where he scored 13 times in 93 appearances. The stint at the Russian club earned him a move to the Premier League, where he played for two seasons at Everton.

Whilst there, he went on loan to Sheffield Wednesday and Preston North End. Last season, the 31-year-old winger scored seven times in 37 Championship games and he has bettered that this season - scoring 14 times in 35 appearances in all competitions.

JOEY BARTON

“Tuesday will be a good occasion. Sunderland will need to win if they are to get into the automatic promotion spots and if we aren't at it, they are a good side who will expose us. The stadium at Highbury will probably be rammed to capacity on the night and those nights under the floodlights, it's what players will thrive on"

JACK ROSS

“For Fleetwood it is about finishing off the season strong. For us there is an incentive in the game, and to help us give us a chance to push for promotion whether it's automatic or the play-offs. Against Portsmouth our aim was to win as we knew the importance of a positive result.

"If I rest players and results went the way we want them to go, we would be kicking ourseleves but we will be putting out a team to go and get all three points. There's two or three players out of the game on Tuesday due to the knocks they've picked up, but that's nothing new.

"We want to just spend the one season in League One, and the aim for us is to go up at the first attempt."

WE’VE MET BEFORE

Fleetwood and Sunderland last met met in September of last year, and with nearly 30,000 fans in attendance, it was Paddy Madden who gave the away side the lead after a lovely header beat the keeper to find the back of the net. Josh Maja equalised before the half-time whistle. Both teams had chances in the second 45-minutes. Watch the key highlights below:.

TICKET INFORMATION

Town supporters can purchase tickets for the game online here and over the phone by calling 01253 775080. Tickets are also available in person at Highbury Stadium or Poolfoot Farm.

Ticket prices are below:

Adults – from £24

Senior (65+) / Young Adult (16-25) – from £19

Under 16 – from £9

Under 5 – FREE

BETTING ODDS

With the Cod Army sat eight places below their opponents, Fleetwood are currently 29/10 to go and pick up all three points against the Black Cat.

Sunderland are the favourites, and have been backed at 17/20 to pick up a win on the road, with a draw priced at 5/2 by the bookies.

For Fleetwood to win the match 1-0, 2-0 or 2-1, the odds are 4/1, with a 1-1 draw, a 2-2 draw and a 3-3 draw to happen, the odds are currently at 7/2.

To find more odds on Sky Bet please click here. Please bet and gamble responsibly.

Match Previews

Match Reports

Report: Late drama as Cod Army beat Sunderland

30 April 2019

Fleetwood Town beat Sunderland 2-1 in dramatic fashion to win their last game at Highbury on Tuesday night.

Fleetwood welcomed Sunderland to Highbury - the club's 55^th guest in the Football League - in what was a really tight but exciting game of football. The visitors started brightly but only capitalised on one chance, when Lee Cattermole headed home, unmarked, from a corner ball.

Both teams came out the second half, and despite being a goal down, it was Fleetwood that were the better side and eventually found an equaliser through Paddy Madden, as he slotted home Lewie Coyle’s cut back.

Town continued to be a threat in the latter stages, andd left it late to get the winner, with Ashley Nadsesan heading home in injury time to secure three points.

Sunderland started off brightly on their first league visit to Highbury, after Chris Maguire was picked out on the left. The Scotsman then darted to the byline to cut the ball back to the in-form Max Power, but his effort was kept out by a brilliant save from Alex Cairns.

The visitors continued to put pressure on Fleetwood’s defence and just four minutes later, threatened again. This time the Black Cats were able to beat the offside trap, with Lynden Gooch finding Will Grigg who’s effort ricocheted off of the crossbar.

With the game opening up and both teams getting periods of the ball, Fleetwood tried to capitalise and in the 27^th minute, released Wes Burns down the right wing. The wing-back’s cross was deflected into the path of Ashley Nadesan who could only force Jon McLaughlin into making a good save at his near post.

Two minutes later, Lee Cattermole opened the scoring and put Sunderland in the lead. The experienced midfielder was able to nod home from a corner, after he was picked out unmarked, from a corner ball.

Fleetwood reacted well and a corner ball whipped in by Ross Wallace forced an awkward clearance from Jack Ross’ men which fell to Ash Hunter, but his volley was hit wide and into the away support.

The teams came out equal to each other in the second half, cancelling out any action or attack that was building up. The Cod Army almost found an equaliser after Burns was able to beat Brian Oviedo and deliver the ball into a dangerous area, but Nadesan couldn’t quite meet it.

The game remained quite open but there were warning signs for the visitors down the right wing as Burns and Madden had threatened time and time again. Eventually, Fleetwood found the equaliser they were looking for.

Lewie Coyle was played through and cut the ball across to Madden before reaching the by-line, and the Irishman calmly slotted home his 19^th goal of the season, levelling the score in the 74^th minute.

Fleetwood continued to pose a threat in the latter stages and forced Sunderland into giving away a corner in injury time. The corner was swung in by Wallace and met by the head of Nadesan, who nodded home to secure a win for Fleetwood on the final home game of the season.

Fleetwood Town XI: Cairns (GK), Coyle, Clarke (Sowerby 46’), Eastham, Burns, Madden (C), Hunter, Wallace, Nadesan, Husband, Biggins.

Subs not used: Jones (GK), Southam-Hales, Baggley, Rydel, Hill, Mooney.

Sunderland XI: McLaughlin (GK), Oviedo, Ozturk, Cattermole (C), Maguire (Honeyman 70’), Gooch, Flanagan, O’Nein, Morgan, Grigg (Sterling 65’), Power.

Subs not used: Ruiter (GK), Matthews, Leadbitter, Dunne, Hume.

Match Reports

Ticket News

Sunderland up next in final home game of season

29 April 2019

The Cod Army play their final home game of the Sky Bet League One season on Tuesday night when they host Sunderland.

Joey Barton's side will look to end their home campaign on a high, before heading to Wycombe Wanderers on Saturday in the final match of the season.

Tickets are available in the home areas of the stadium, with Fleetwood Town supporters able to purchase theirs online by clicking here.

For further ticketing information on this fixture, contact the ticket office on 01253 775080.

Ticket News

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