Preview: Fleetwood Town v Gillingham

1 March 2019

Fleetwood Town will welcome Gillingham to Highbury Stadium on Saturday afternoon in Sky Bet League One, and we have all you need to know in our preview.

Fixture: Fleetwood Town v Gillingham

Competition: Sky Bet League One

Date: Saturday 2^nd March 2019

Kick-Off: 15:00

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

Match officials: Neil Hair (Referee), Simon Clayton & Mark Cunliffe (Assistants), Philip Dermott (Fourth Official)

FLEETWOOD TOWN

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

League position: 8^th with 48 points.

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

Fleetwood Town sit in 8^th place in the league and have only lost two of their last eight league matches, with the latest result being a hard fought 1-0 victory over Nigel Clough’s Burton Albion.

Ashley Nadesan scored his first goal for the club after three years with a lovely timed finish after Paddy Madden’s cross from the left wing. A goal which will only give the young striker confidence going forward, with Town looking to push for a play-off place.

Harry Souttar has been a key figure in Joey Barton’s side since his arrival in January, and since the 20-year-old has come in, he has played in four games and kept three clean sheets. A record I am sure he will like to continue against Gillingham.

GILLINGHAM

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

League position: 18^th with 39 points

Top goal scorer: Tom Eaves (17 goals in all competitions)

Gillingham picked up all three points in their last fixture in League One and that was 1-0 victory over Wycombe Wanderers. Regan Charles-Cook scored the only goal of the game, seven minutes from the end.

With a 4-2 defeat away at former Premier League side Sunderland a few weeks back, and a win against Scunthorpe at Priestfield, the club have only won 2 out of their last eight matches.

Steve Lovell’s side do sit five points above the relegation zone, and have important games coming up against Oxford, Rochdale and AFC Wimbledon in their next five matches.

Last time the two sides met

On the 3^rd November, the two sides met at the Priestfield Stadium in a match where Tom Eaves scored a double as Gillingham continued their revival with a victory over Joey Barton’s Fleetwood.

Brandon Hanlan scored the opening goal after intercepting a back pass and slotted the ball home, with Eaves then showing his threats inside the box with two well taken goals.

Paddy Madden rattled the crossbar with eight minutes left with a crisp volley before the striker fired over right at the death.

One To Watch: Tom Eaves

With 17 goals to his name this season (16 being in the league), Tom Eaves is the player Fleetwood should be wary of this Saturday. Striker Eaves scored his last goal in the 4-2 defeat at the Stadium of Light.

Eaves was a product of the famed Crewe Alexandra academy, and he began his professional career with Oldham Athletic before signing for Bolton Wanderers in 2010.

However, Eaves only made four appearances in his six year spell at the Macron Stadium, with management opting to loan him out, with spells at Bristol Rovers, Shrewsbury, Rotherham, Yeovil and Bury.

He signed permanently for Gillingham in the summer of 2017, and has made 75 appearances for the Gills, whilst scoring 32 goals in the league alone for the club.

JOEY BARTON

“We’ve got to focus on winning our next game which is Gillingham on Saturday, A side with slightly different aims to us this season but also very important aims for them which is their survival in this division for next season.

“We lost down their 3-0, albeit I felt we played a certain way and we are looking forwards to the challenge and putting right our biggest defeat of the season.

“I’m really, really looking forwards to the game tomorrow. We know it will be a tough game because they are down there fighting for their lives at the bottom but also we feel we have got a little bit of a wrong to right, we are looking forward to exercising that kind of demon.”

STEVE LOVELL

“It will be a very tough game, but they all are now. Ultimately we want to get as high up the league as we can; March is a massive month for a lot of teams.

“There are some big games coming up and with a good little run we could move up the league quite quickly.

“We have six home and six away left. This time last year we were a little bit ahead of where we are now regarding points but we had a dodgy March last year, picking up just three or four points and that can happen.”

Ticket information

Fleetwood Town fans still have time to purchase their tickets ahead of Saturday’s match against Gillingham. The Cod Army will be looking for a reaction on home turf after losing last time out to the league leaders, Gillingham.

It is also Grassroots Day at Highbury, where over 500 young inspiring players are bound for the terraces behind the goal, which really should

Adults – Starting from £24

Senior / Under 25s – Starting from £15

Under 16s – Starting from £5

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 Gillingham at Highbury this weekend, you can get odds of 17/20.

Steve Lovell’s side are currently 3/1 to pick up the point on the Fylde Coast, with a draw being priced at 5/2.

For Fleetwood to win 3-0, 3-1 or 3-2 against the Gills, the odds are 11/2.

The special price boost for this game is that if Fleetwood win the game, but both teams score, the odds are now at 7/2.

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

Match Previews

Match Reports

Report: Late Husband free-kick rescues vital point

2 March 2019

James Husband’s injury-time free-kick rescued a late point for Fleetwood Town as they drew 1-1 with Gillingham at Highbury on Saturday.

Husband’s first goal for the Cod Army cancelled out Tom Eaves’ second half header, in what was difficult conditions on the Fylde Coast.

Joey Barton made two changes to the side that beat Burton Albion last weekend. Nathan Sheron and Ashley Hunter came into the side, with Jason Holt and Ashley Nadesan dropping to the bench. Harrison Holgate was named amongst the substitutes for the first time in a league match.

Fleetwood created the first chance of the game after a chipped through ball from Wes Burns picked out Paddy Madden, who managed to skip past Connor Ogilvie, but fortunately for Gillingham the referee pulled play back for a foul.

In the tenth minute, Harry Souttar was called into action when Eaves was played through on goal but the centre back, on loan from Stoke City, made an important block to stop the shot from reaching the target.

Just two minutes later and Town had another opportunity thanks to a brilliant through ball from Lewie Coyle, who fed Hunter into the box. The winger then cut inside but his shot was also blocked.

It was an open first twenty minutes with both sides not creating any big opportunities on goal. The Cod Army were playing a highline, forcing Gillingham to keep the ball quite deep before attempting long balls over the top.

Town won a free-kick in a dangerous area after Ched Evans was fouled by Dean Parrett. The free-kick was taken by Evans but hit straight into the wall and the follow up by Hunter was his high over the crossbar.

Fleetwood continued to put pressure on the visitors and in the 31^st minute, Evans managed to get a shot on goal which was parried away by Holy but only back into the path of the striker, but nothing comes from it.

The best chance of the first half fell to Hunter after Madden’s pass, similar to Coyle’s pass earlier on, put him in on goal but the forward’s low shot could only force a save from Holy who did well to keep it out.

The Cod Army came out the blocks quicker in the second half, with Coyle being brought down by Leo Da Silva Lopes as he was running through on goal. The Gills midfielder only received a yellow card for his actions, giving away a free-kick on the edge of the 18-yard-box.

In the 66^th minute, Town countered fast after a low cross from Da Silva Lopes was collected by Alex Cairns who released James Husband down the left wing. The left-back then took it in his stride, as he glided past three players before picking Hunter out on the edge of the box, but his shot didn’t struggle the keeper.

Jack Sowerby found himself in space after some good play by the Cod Army, the midfielder then took a touch before firing at goal but Holy comfortably smothered it into his chest.

Gillingham found a foot in the game late on and forced Souttar into making a brilliant tackle to deny Da Silva Lopes any chance inside the area. The game was beginning to open up, once again.

A big chance for Gillingham came with just nine minutes left to play, when substitute Elliot List got on the end of O’Neill’s cross at the front post but couldn’t manage to put his header on target.

The Gills continued to put pressure on Fleetwood and finally got their reward as Tom Eaves got his 17^th of the season, after he headed home at the back post.

Fleetwood substitute, Ashley Nadesan was fouled on the edge of the area which gave Town one last chance in injury time. James Husband stood over the free-kick and hit it ever so sweetly on his left foot, curling the ball into the top corner, making it 1-1.

Joey Barton’s side came from behind for the first time this season gaining another point in the Sky Bet League One table, building on good form recently, losing just one of their last five games.

Fleetwood Town XI: Cairns (GK), Burns, Eastham, Souttar, Husband; Coyle, Sheron (Nadesan 62’), Sowerby; Madden, Evans, Hunter (Garner 72’).

Subs: Jones (GK), Holt, Biggins, Rydel, Holgate.

Gillingham XI: Holy (GK), O’Neill, Ehmer, Ogilvie, Fuller; Parrett, Byrne, Da Silva Lopes; Burke; Eaves, Hanlan (List 79’).

Subs: Hadler (GK), Charles-Cook, Reilly, Campbell, King, Rees.

Ticket News

Gills up next on Saturday

Match tickets available to purchase online via FTFC Store!

27 February 2019

Fleetwood Town return to Highbury this Saturday for an important Sky Bet League One fixture against Gillingham.

The Cod Army have climbed the league table after an impressive February, and sit just six points outside of the play-off positions.

Tickets for the match are available to purchase online here, over the phone by calling 01253 775080 or by visiting the ticket office at Highbury Stadium!

Ticket News

Standings