Match Preview: Blackpool v Fleetwood Town

6 December 2019

Fleetwood Town make the short trip down to Blackpool on Saturday 7 December, and with pride at stake in the Fylde Coast derby, we have all you need to know ahead of the match at Bloomfield Road.

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Fixture: Blackpool v Fleetwood Town

Competition: Sky Bet League One

Date: Saturday 7 December 2019

Kick-off: 15:00 BST

Venue: Bloomfield Road, Seasiders Way, Blackpool, FY1 6JJ

Match officials: Antony Coggins (Referee), Helen Byrne & Wade Smith (Assistants), David Richardson (Fourth official)

Mr. Coggins has taken charge of 12 fixtures this season, with most being in Sky Bet League One and Two. Coggins has shown 40 yellow cards in total during those matches. The last match he officiated with Town involved was their 0-0 draw away at Charlton Athletic last season.

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BLACKPOOL

Blackpool, like the Cod Army return to league action this weekend after FA Cup action. Blackpool won 3-1 against Maidstone United last Sunday, which has now seen them face Reading away in the Third Round.

The Seasiders currently sit one place below Fleetwood in the table on goal difference, despite playing two more games than their opponents.

Simon Grayson’s side went on an eight match unbeaten run until mid-September when they were beaten away at Coventry City 3-2.

Last time out in the Fylde Coast derby Blackpool took the spoils.

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FLEETWOOD TOWN

Town, like Blackpool, are returning back from cup action this weekend after two wins in as many games, against Everton U21’s in the EFL Trophy, and against Crawley Town in the FA Cup Second Round.

The Cod Army sit one place above their opponents ahead of this derby match and are yet to win the fixture at Bloomfield Road. With a win at Crawley last weekend and the 4-0 win over Everton U21s, confidence will be high in the Town dressing room.

Joey Barton will have a near full squad to select from for this weekend’s match, apart from Jordan Rossiter.

The Rangers loan player could miss the rest of the season after sustaining a knee injury in the second half of the match at home to Tranmere Rovers, last time out in the league. Lewie Coyle is also expected to make his 100^th league appearance, for Fleetwood at Blackpool.

ONE TO WATCH: ARMAND GNANDUILLET

The one to watch this weekend is the Tangerines' striker Armand Gnanduillet, who joined the club for the second time back in 2018.

With 12 goals in all competitions this season, he is seemingly hard to stop, and was nominated for the League One Player of the Month award for November.

The Frenchman began his career at Le Havre II in a North-Western part of France, and then moved to Poissy before finally making his way to England in 2013 when he joined Chesterfield.

The six-foot centre forward had loan spells at Tranmere Rovers, Oxford United and Stevenage whilst on the books with the Spireites before moving down south to join Leyton Orient in 2016.

Gnanduillet then joined Blackpool after making 18 appearances for the O’s, and he made 44 appearances for the Lancashire club. The 27-year old then moved to South Africa for a very short spell at Baroka before returning to Blackpool a year ago. He has now made 50 appearances since his move back in 2018.

WATCH TOWN ON iFOLLOW

Can't make the game on Saturday? Well don't worry as we have it covered just for you!

Fleetwood Town fans around the world, and in the United Kingdom, will be able to listen and watch full match commentary from Bloomfield Road.

Video Pass: £10

Audio Pass: £2.50

If you want to know more about iFollow, and find out ways to support the Cod Army, click HERE.

Any further questions on iFollow Fleetwood, please contact sam.fielding@fleetwoodtownfc.com.

WHAT JOEY BARTON HAD TO SAY:

Joey Barton spoke to the media on Friday ahead of the game:

“We go there this year with a good football team. We know we are a good side, and we will see what they have got about them.

“There is not much separating us both in the league. I know they have played more games than us, but there is not much between us in the table.

“They are a side that is a good competitive League One outfit. Simon [Grayson] has got them well organised. You can see what they can create and what they are trying to do. It is another fantastic opportunity for us to go there and show our qualities as a team.”

You can catch to the full interview on iFollow.

WHAT LEWIE COYLE HAD TO SAY:

Fleetwood Town forward Lewie Coyle was on press duty with Barton, and here are some of his thoughts leading up to the match:

“They are brilliant they get better every time and the excitement levels throughout the full squad are very high.

“I think in any derby game is one that you want to be involved in, and as a player you want to come out of it with the right result.

“Away at their place in the last couple of times that I have been involved, we have been ahead in the game and then unfortunately gone on to lose.

“Hopefully we can put that right tomorrow and get the win.”

You can catch to the full interview on iFollow.

THOUGHTS FROM THE BLACKPOOL CAMP: SIMON GRAYSON

“It’ll be a good encounter and there will be a good edge to it. There will be some good footballers on show and both sides are in good form, as well as close in the table and geographically.

“It’s important we don’t do anything stupid that is potentially going to cost the team the chance of winning a football match. Yes, be competitive and win your tackles but play with your head as well as your heart.

“We want to win the game and go above them in the table – that, for me, is the main thing. We’ve got to ensure that we remain solid at the back and don’t give cheap goals away. They’ve got players, particularly in the final third, who have done well at this level such as Paddy Madden, Josh Morris and Wes Burns.

“It’s going to be a competitive game and ultimately we need to play with passion and belief when out on the pitch."

TICKET INFORMATION

Joey Barton’s side will make their way to Bloomfield Road tomorrow, and supporters will have up until 12pm on Saturday to purchase their tickets online, or in store at the club shop at Highbury, or down at Poolfoot Farm.

Here is a list of the ticket prices for the match:

Adult pricing - £19.00

Senior (65+) pricing - £17.00

Young Person pricing - £17.00

Juniors 12-16 pricing - £9.00

Juniors 5-11 pricing - £4.00

Juniors U5 pricing - FREE

#OnwardTogether

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BETTING ODDS

You can get a price of 19/10 for Fleetwood to beat Blackpool for the very first time at Bloomfield Road on Saturday.

If you think Joey Barton’s side will win 3-2, you can get a massive price of 40/1.

Here are some of the odds for players to score in 90 minutes:

Paddy Madden – 13/8

Ched Evans – 2/1

Josh Morris – 5/2

Harry Souttar – 10/1

Or, if you think that Lewie Coyle will cap his 100^th league appearance for Town with a goal, you can get odds of 28/1 for him to score in ninety minutes, or 80/1 for him to bag the first of the match.

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

Match Reports

Report: Cod Army suffer defeat away at Blackpool

7 December 2019

Fleetwood Town suffered a 3-1 defeat away at Blackpool in the Fylde Coast derby on Saturday afternoon at Bloomfield Road.

Blackpool took the lead with Liam Feeney firing in after ten minutes, before Sullay Kaikai doubled the score line shortly after the break.

Armand Gnanduillet scored a third for the hosts midway through the second period before Town grabbed a consolation goal through substitute Conor McAleny.

After a scrappy opening five minutes, with both teams trying to find their feet in the derby match, it was the hosts who took the lead after Town failed to clear their lines. The ball bobbled around Town’s penalty area before the winger slotted it home.

The opener woke up the Cod Army, and soon after created a chance of their own. Wes Burns found Paddy Madden who ran off the back of Ben Heneghan, but the Irishman failed to hit the target.

From this point, the match become a more open affair, most of the play in the middle of the park, and it was Town who were dominate in that area.

Burns was the man who found a pocket of space outside the Seasiders’ penalty area, but his ambitious effort went wide of Jak Alnwick’s goal.

As the half approached the final five minutes, the hosts had a chance to double their lead. Feeney crossed the ball to Matty Virtue – whose effort dipped just over the crossbar and onto the roof of the net.

Joey Barton would have been hoping for his side to start the second half, as they finished the first, on the front foot. But unfortunately that was not the case.

Blackpool doubled their lead after a cheap free-kick which was given away in a dangerous position. Up stepped Kaikai to curl the set piece into the top corner.

After the second, the Cod Army tried to get a foothold on the game and on a number of occasions tried to open up the Blackpool backline but nothing gave.

With Town having many players up the field, the hosts countered just after the hour mark. A cross from the left gave Gnanduillet the chance to put in the third, which he duly did, with a header which hit the back post and trickled over the goal line.

Shortly after conceding, Town had a chance through Lewie Coyle - who made his 100^th league appearance for the Cod Army - but his low drive was saved by Alnwick.

As the game approached the final ten minutes, the hosts had another chance to sail away with the points, but Billy Crellin denied Kaikai his second with a smart stop with his feet.

Suddenly, the game had come to life. Town got one back though substitute, McAleny – who fired a low driven shot into the bottom corner from the edge of the area.

There was a chance for a second for the away side. Josh Morris looked to beat the keeper from a free-kick, but the effort just went over the crossbar.

With the game nearing an end, there was a last few chances for the Cod Army. The first from Danny Andrew which bobbled wide, and then it was Morris who found space to shoot from an angle, but his effort was deflected onto the roof of the net.

With nine minutes added on, Blackpool were on the back foot and Barton thought his side had got another goal back, but Madden’s header rebounded off the crossbar and out to a Tangerine shirt.

The referee blew his whistle after 10 minutes added on, with the travelling Fleetwood fans applauding their side for the efforts shown out on the pitch. Eyes now turn to Gillingham, who are Town’s opponents next weekend at Highbury.

Blackpool XI: Alnwick (GK), Edwards, Heneghan, Delfounso, Spearing (C), Kaikai (Thompson 85’), Feeney, Virtue, Turton, Gnanduillet, Husband.

Subs not used: Sims (GK), Hardie, Scannell, Tilt, Nuttall, MacDonald.

Town XI: Crellin (GK), Coyle, Andrew, Eastham, Souttar, Burns (Evans 53’), Dempsey, Morris, Coutts (C), Madden, Sowerby (McAleny 64’).

Subs not used: Cairns (GK), Clarke, Southam-Hales, Biggins, Garner.

Attendance: 10,355 (1,375)

Match Reports

Ticket News

Blackpool tickets for Under 21s start at just £4

2 December 2019

Fleetwood Town travel to local rivals Blackpool on Saturday 7 December, and fans under the age of 21 can support the Cod Army at Bloomfield Road for as little as £4.

Tickets for Fleetwood Town's Fylde Coast derby match against the Seasiders are on sale, in what is set to be an important Sky Bet League One fixture.

Here are a list of the ticket prices for supporters who are under the age of 21-years-old:

17-21 Years - £17

12-16 Years - £9

5-11 Years - £4

Under 5s (with a paying Adult/Senior) - FREE

Please note that the club will not be running official coach travel for the match, but further details can be found by contacting the ticket office.

Tickets will be on sale from the club shop at Highbury Stadium, over the phone by calling 01253 775080, at the club's training ground Poolfoot Farm, or online here.

Fleetwood Town

Standings

Match Preview: Blackpool v Fleetwood Town

Report: Cod Army suffer defeat away at Blackpool

Blackpool tickets for Under 21s start at just £4

Blackpool derby day tickets on sale Saturday