Preview: Burton Albion v Fleetwood Town

21 February 2019

Fleetwood Town travel to Burton Albion on Saturday afternoon in the Sky Bet League One fixture and with both sides sat in mid-table, we have all you need to know ahead of the match.

Fixture: Burton Albion v Fleetwood Town

Competition: Sky Bet League One

Date: Saturday 23^rd February 2019

Kick-Off: 15:00

Venue: Pirelli Stadium, Princess Way, Burton-upon-Trent, Staffordshire, DE13 0BH.

Match officials: Michael Salisbury (Referee), Stephen Wade and Alix Pashley (Assistants), Billy Smallwood (Fourth Official)

FLEETWOOD TOWN

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

League position: 10th with 45 points

Club’s top goal scorer: Paddy Madden (18 goals all competitions)

Fleetwood Town sit in 10^th place in the league and have only lost two of their last seven league matches, with the latest result being a narrow 2-1 loss to league leaders, Luton Town.

Paddy Madden scored the only goal for the Cod Army with a lovely finish inside the penalty area, which took his tally to 18 for the season, and the Irishman believes he is on target for is own goal he set at the start of the campaign.

Ross Wallace picked up his 10th yellow card of the season against Luton, which means he will serve two matches on the sideline, with Burton being the first match, and Gillingham being the second.

BURTON ALBION

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

League position: 11^th with 43 points

Top goal scorer: Liam Boyce (10 goals in all competitions)

Burton Albion are only one place behind Joey Barton’s Fleetwood Town ahead of the match on Saturday, with two draws in their last two matches.

In their last match they drew 0-0 away at Play-Off hopefuls Barnsley and will be looking to build on their unbeaten run, and push themselves ahead of the Cod Army with all three points on home turf this weekend.

Top goal scorer Liam Boyce is on a goal draught at the moment, having not scored a goal since the 5^th January. He has played nine times since his goal against Rochdale. Can the Cod Army back four keep the dangerman out?

Last time the two sides met

It was a game where there was plenty of rain and wind on the Fylde Coast when Fleetwood came away 1-0 winners thanks to a converted penalty from Welshman, Ched Evans.

Players came off the pitch frozen back on December 15^th, with both sets of players hoping for slightly warmer conditions in the midlands on Saturday. Check out the highlights below.

One To Watch: Liam Boyce

Liam Boyce, who started off his career in Ireland at Cliftonville, is this weekend’s danger man as he has ten goals to his name so far this season, with his last goal for the club coming back on January 5^th against Rochdale at Spotland.

The 27-year-old had a short spell at Werder Bremen II back in the 2010/11 season, but soon returned to Cliftonville where he then went onto win the league title with the club for the first time since 1998, scoring 29 league goals.

Boyce joined Ross County and scored his first ever top-flight hat-trick in a 3–0 win at St Mirren. He then enjoyed a prolific season in 2015/16, scoring 17 goals in 24 games. A year later, the forward was the top goal scorer in the 2016/17 Scottish Premiership, with 23 goals.

In 2017, Burton signed Boyce for a club record fee and has gone onto score 28 goals in the 20 months he has been with Nigel Clough at Burton.

STEVE EYRE

“The manager is always pushing our emerging culture each day and we’re seeing the benefits of that. We’re pushing a short-term, medium-term and long-term plans and all are equally important to us, with our immediate focus on Saturday’s game at Burton.

“I think Burton have a similar model to ourselves, and they’ve had a similar journey to ourselves. Hopefully we’ll see a better game in terms of the weather, and I’m sure the players who played in the last game would agree that they haven’t played in worse conditions!

“Thankfully we came away with three points and now we have a chance to beat another football club twice, something we’re keen to do.”

Watch the full interview HERE.

NIGEL CLOUGH

“The next step is finishing the opposition off whether that’s through one or two opportunities in a game or 30 as we have had in some home games. You have to finish them off when you need to. That’s why teams win games – they score goals at the right time.

“Portsmouth have hit a little bit of a wall but it’s better to do it now and then with a dozen or more games left they are more than capable of picking up enough points. Sunderland are also more than capable of going on a charge and scoring goals, but I think the best two are at the top and everyone else is trying to catch them up.

“We have been to Portsmouth, Luton and Barnsley now, played all the top teams and have acquitted ourselves pretty well. On our day we can compete with any of them.”

Ticket information

Fleetwood Town fans who haven’t yet purchased their tickets for the match can still buy theirs online, over the phone or at either of our club shops at Highbury or Poolfoot Farm. With Joey Barton’s side looking to maintain their run of form, you can back the side at Highbury by purchasing your tickets today!

Adults - £22

Senior / Students (17-22)* - £20

Under 17s - £12

PLEASE NOTE THAT ALL TICKET PRICES WILL INCREASE BY £2 IF PURCHASED ON MATCHDAY.

*YOUNG PERSONS MUST BE IN POSSESSION OF ID TO QUALIFY FOR CONCESSION.

For more information about the fixture, or to purchase tickets, supporters can call 01253 775080, or visit the club shop at Highbury Stadium.

BETTING ODDS

If you fancy Fleetwood Town to get three points against Burton Albion at the weekend, they are currently 29/10 to head back to the Fylde Coast winners.

Burton are favourites with odds of 19/20 to get revenge on the Cod Army, with a draw between the two at 11/5.

For Fleetwood to win 3-0, 2-0 or 2-1, you get can special odds of 18/1.

The special price boost for this game is that if Fleetwood win the game, but both teams score, the odds are now at 10/1. What about another clean sheet for Fleetwood and another 1-0 win? The odds are now 9/1.

There are more odds on the official Sky Bet website HERE. Please bet and gamble responsibly.

Match Previews

Match Reports

Report: Nadesan's maiden goal seals the points at Burton

23 February 2019

Fleetwood Town extended their unbeaten form away from home after Ashley Nadesan scored his first goal for the club in Saturday’s 1-0 win at Burton Albion.

Joey Barton’s side earnt themselves another three points – as well as another clean sheet on the road – with a well fought performance against a side who were two points behind them prior to kick-off.

Nadesan managed to get himself onto the end of Paddy Madden’s cross and had the composure from range to get the right connection onto the ball, and to see the back of the net rattle, midway through the second half.

Heroic defending – let by Harry Souttar and Ashley Eastham – saw the Cod Army deservedly take all three points and remain unbeaten on the road in 2019.

It was an even start to the game at the Pirelli Stadium where the sun was shining and both teams were making the most of weather and also the pitch conditions in Staffordshire.

After a corner was crossed into the box by Jack Sowerby, the danger was only cleared to Ched Evans even on the edge of the box. The Welshman the crossed the ball to Madden who looked like he was getting onto the end of it, but it was great defending by Jake Buxton in the heart of the Burton defense.

Lucas Akins looked dangerous for the hosts and when he drifted out wide, he managed to get back onto his favoured right foot, delivered a nice ball into the box for Liam Boyce, but when ball reached the club’s top goal scorer, his glancing header sailed over the crossbar.

Akins – who has six goals to his name for the season – had the goal staring at him from six yards out, but failed to make the connection he needed on the ball to give his side the lead at the Pirelli Stadium. A huge chance for Nigel Clough’s side in the opening stages of the match.

Both teams wanted to get the ball down on the floor and play football, but it was when Burton and Fleetwood got into the final third where that composure and final pass was missing.

Chances were limited in the first half, which left both managers frustrated as they headed down the tunnel and into their respected training room to give their players a talking to before the restart of the match.

As the game got underway, it was Burton who had the first opportunity of the half after David Templeton crossed into the reached Boyce, but his header was met my Ash Eastham – who dealt with the threat well inside the six yard box.

Town took the lead just before the hour mark through Nadesan – who scored his first goal for the club – after superb work by Burns and Madden at either end of the field of play.

Burns broke the play up just outside his own 18-yard-box and hit a 60 yard pass to the Irishman on the opposite flank, and when he opened his body and saw Nadesan driving into the box, he picked him out and Nadesan finished well. A perfect example of how to counter attack!

The goalscorer was replaced by Ashley Hunter after the hour mark in a like for like swap on the attacking wings for the away side and it was the 23-year-old who was so close to doubling his sides lead, but Collins managed to get a hand to the first shot, and then did enough to claim the ball second time round when it was in his area.

Stalemate would be the perfect word to describe the action after the opening goal went in. Both teams were battling it out in the middle of the park, with the forward passes being intercepted by the defenders.

Clough’s side were pushing bodies forward, and with two attacking changes coming midway through the second 45 minutes, gaps were opening up for Barton’s side to capitalise on as the match went on.

Hunter rattled the crossbar in injury time, before Souttar made a heroic block to deny the lively Marcus Harness a certain goal. Phew. Three points secured.

Burton Albion XI: Collins (GK), Brayford (Sbarra 73’), Buxton ©, Allen (Bradley 89’), McFadzean, Akins, Templeton (Fraser , Harness, Quinn, Daniel, Boyce.

Subs not used: Bywater (GK), Miller, Hutchinson, Wallace.

Fleetwood XI: Cairns (GK), Coyle, Holt (Sheron 72’), Eastham ©, Burns, Evans, Souttar, Madden, Nadesan (Hunter 61’), Husband, Sowerby (Biggins 88’).

Subs not used: Jones (GK), Clarke, Garner, Rydel.

Ticket News

Tickets and coach travel still available for Burton clash

21 February 2019

Tickets and coach travel are still available for Fleetwood Town’s Sky Bet League One clash against Burton Albion on Saturday.

Joey Barton’s side are looking to continue their run of form away from home this year, after recently beating Bradford City 1-0 at Valley Parade.

The visiting supporters will be situated in the Carling Stand, with prices as follows:

Adults - £22

Senior/17-22** Year Olds - £20

Under 17** - £12

*Please note all ticket prices increase £2 if purchased on matchday

**Young persons must be in possession of ID to qualify for concession

The club are also running official supporters coaches for the match, with the price just £5 for Onward Card Holders and £15 for Non Onward Card Holders. Coaches will depart at 10am.

To book tickets or travel for the match, visit the ticket office at Highbury Stadium or call 01253 775080.

Ticket News

Fleetwood Town

Standings

Preview: Burton Albion v Fleetwood Town

Report: Nadesan's maiden goal seals the points at Burton

Tickets and coach travel still available for Burton clash

Burton tickets and travel now on sale