Preview: Nottingham Forest v Fleetwood Town

12 August 2019

Fleetwood Town are heading to the City Ground to face off against Nottingham Forest in the Carabao Cup first round on Tuesday 13th August.

Fixture: Nottingham Forest v Fleetwood Town

Competition: Carabao Cup First Round

Date: Tuesday 13^th August 2019

Kick-off: 7:45pm

Venue: City Ground, Pavilion Road, Nottingham, NG2 5FJ

Match officials: Alan Young (Referee), Ravel Cheosiaua & Gary Hilton (Assistant Referees), Matthew Smith (Fourth Official)

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FLEETWOOD TOWN

Fleetwood have started off the season exactly the way head coach Joey Barton would have wanted, with two wins from the opening two Sky Bet League One games.

The Cod Army’s first game of the season was a comfortable 3-1 win over Peterborough United at The Weston Homes Stadium. Harry Souttar started the scoring off early, with a headed goal in the third minute. Josh Morris followed that up with a delicate chip over a rushing Christy Pym, and a long-range Danny Andrew finished the game off with a free-kick in the second half.

This was followed with a 2-1 victory over AFC Wimbledon. Paddy Madden and Morris were on the score sheet in the second game, as they completed a comeback after Kwesi Appiah opened the scoring in the first half.

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NOTTINGHAM FOREST

Nottingham haven’t quite hit their stride so far this season, as they sit in 20^th position in the Sky Bet Championship after two games.

Forest opened their league campaign with a 2-1 loss to Slaven Bilić’s West Brom. Nottingham took the lead after just eight minutes, thanks to a Matty Cash goal, but The Baggies pulled quickly equalised through Kyle Edwards before Matt Phillips scored the winner.

Forest then travelled away to Leeds United, and a 59^th minute goal from Pablo Hernandez put the home side ahead. Nottingham fought hard and it was Lewis Grabban who grabbed a late equaliser meaning each side left Elland Road with a point.

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ONE TO WATCH: LEWIS GRABBAN

The player to watch for Fleetwood’s Tuesday trip to City Ground is Lewis Grabban. The forward started his footballing career at Crystal Palace, and whilst there, went out on loan to Oldham Athletic and Scottish side Motherwell.

He then made the move to Millwall and scored his first goal a month after signing against Port Vale. Grabban made 58 appearances and scored nine goals at The Den, before moving on to Brentford in 2011.

After only spending a season at Brentford, he went to Rotherham United to work with one of his old managers Andy Scott. His first goal for the side was on his debut. It was a volley from the edge of the box in a 1-0 win over Oxford United.

A spell at Bournemouth, and an 18-month stint at Norwich City followed, and this is where the forward hit the best form in his career. In his spell at The Cherries, he managed 35 goals in 87 games, before moving to Norwich. There, he scored 13 in 42 appearances, before heading back to Bournemouth.

In his second stint at the Vitality Stadium, he made only 18 appearances and spent time most of his time there out on loan to Reading (three goals in 16 games), Sunderland (12 goals in 19 games and Aston Villa (eight goals in 15 games) respectively.

In July 2018, Grabban made a multi-million pound move to Forest, and after going six games without scoring, he then hit unbelievable form, scored 15 goals in as many games. He scored two more during the 2018/19 season, which made him Forest’s highest scorer in an individual league season in the last decade, beating Britt Assombalonga’s 15 from the 2014/15 season.

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TICKET INFORMATION

The Cod Army will be situated in the Bridgford Stand (Lower Tier), with prices as follows:

Onward Card Holders

Adults: £10

Over 65s & 18-23 Year Olds: £5

Under 17s: £1

Non Onward Card Holders

Adults: £15

Over 65s & 18-23 Year Olds: £10

Under 17s: £1

COACH TRAVEL

Coaches will be departing from Highbury Stadium at 3pm, costing only £5 for Onward Card Holders and £10 for non-Onward Card Holders.

To purchase either match tickets or coach travel, click here or visit the club shop at Highbury. For any questions or queries on this fixture, please call the ticket office on 01253 775080.

BETTING ODDS

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After back-to-back wins, Town supporters their side to win their third game win in a row at 18/5, whereas the hosts at 4/6.

If you fancy backing a goalscorer, forward Paddy Madden is 6/1 to score first, or 21/10 to score anytime during the match at City Ground.

For more odds on SkyBet, click HERE. Please remember to bet and gamble responsibly.

FOLLOW TOWN ON IFOLLOW

Can’t make the game on Tuesday? Well don’t worry as with iFollow Fleetwood, you won’t miss any of the action!

With audio match passes available, you can keep up to date with all that happens on a matchday in the comfort of your own home.

For more details, head over to our iFollow subscription page.

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Match Previews

Match Reports

Report: Town exit Carabao Cup despite impressive display at Forest

13 August 2019

Fleetwood Town gave a great account of themselves on Tuesday night, as they narrowly lost 1-0 at Sky Bet Championship side Nottingham Forest in the Carabao Cup first round.

Tiago Silva’s second half strike saw Forest secure a second round tie against arch rivals Derby County, but it was the Cod Army who had a host of chances in the second half, with Conor McAleny and Paddy Madden going closest.

A performance to be proud of nonetheless, as Joey Barton’s side now focus back on the League One campaign at Doncaster Rovers on Saturday.

Barton made two changes to his side from Saturday’s victory at AFC Wimbledon. Madden and livelong Forest fan Ash Hunter came into the side, with McAleny and Josh Morris moving to the bench.

Alex Cairns was called into action early on, with the keeper denying Rafa Mir’s volley from inside Fleetwood’s box, in the third minute. The home side continued to pressure Town’s defence and just five minutes later threatened again, however Samba Sow’s effort from the edge of the area was watched comfortably wide of the target by Cairns.

Harrison Biggins had Fleetwood’s first attempt on goal after driving through the midfield before unleashing a vicious strike, but the 23-year-old saw his effort sail wide of the post.

Town continued to create chances when they regained possession and it was Biggins who was at the heart of the next attack. The midfielder managed to latch onto a brilliant through ball, before laying it across the area for Madden – but the Irishman couldn’t find space to strike it and played it back to Jordan Rossiter who won Fleetwood a free-kick.

The resulting free-kick was hit by Danny Andrew, having already scored one early in the season, but Brice Samba was able to match it – tipping the ball over the crossbar for a corner.

Peter Clarke then soon after had the best chance of the half, as he almost put Fleetwood a goal up on the brink of half-time. The centre-half rose the tallest at the back post and connected with Paul Coutts’ corner ball, but his headed effort was pushed onto the post by Samba.

A promising first half performance from the Cod Army meant the teams went into the break at The City Ground all-square.

There was little action at the beginning of the half, with Sammy Ameobi going the closest from a Silva corner.

Forest opened the scoring, in the 60th minute, when Silva managed to get past Harry Souttar in the area to gain space before unleashing a powerful shot past Cairns and into the net. A tidy finish in truth.

Fleetwood had a brilliant chance to equalise after Paul Coutts snatched the ball from John Bostock before driving into the area and firing a shot at goal. The shot was parried by the keeper, however only as far as McAleny, but his effort was just wide of the post – agonisingly close.

The Cod Army came close again when substitute Ross Wallace’s free-kick almost caught Samba off-guard, with the experienced midfielder’s effort parried away from goal by a great save.

Town kept banging on the door and this time it was Madden who had the opportunity to level for Town. A header from Clarke played the striker in on goal, but with two defenders on his tail the forward was unable to direct his attempt on goal.

Defeat in the end for Fleetwood, who gave their Championship opponents a real scare, but it’s Forest who go through.

Nottingham Forest XI: Samba (GK), Ribeiro, Figueiredo, Worrall (C), Bostock, Mir, Jenkinson, Ameobi, Sow (Johnson 64’), Silva, Appiah (Cash 76’).

Subs not used: Muric (GK), Milosevic, Robinson, Richardson, Mighten.

Fleetwood Town XI: Cairns (GK), Coyle, Andrew, Clarke, Souttar, Burns, Coutts (C), Rossiter (Wallace 78’), Madden, Hunter (Morris 52’), Biggins (McAleny 61’).

Subs not used: Crellin (GK), Eastham, Sowerby, Sheron.

Ticket News

Nottingham Forest Carabao Cup details confirmed

1 July 2019

Fleetwood Town can confirm that our Carabao Cup first round fixture against Nottingham Forest will take place on Tuesday 13 August, with kick-off at 7:45pm.

The Cod Army will travel to The City Ground for the first time in the club’s history, with a place in the second round of the competition at stake.

Ticket prices have also been confirmed, and will be available soon:

Adult Onward Card holder - £10

Adult Non-Onward Card holder - £15

Concession Onward Card holder - £5

Concession Non-Onward Card holder - £10

Ages 4-17 - £1

The club will also be running coach travel to the match, with further details set to be announced in due course.

All tickets are available to purchase from the Highbury Stadium ticket office, over the phone by calling 01253 775080 or online here.

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