Match preview: Fleetwood Town v Gillingham

14 December 2019

Fleetwood Town welcome Gillingham to Highbury Stadium on Saturday 14 December for a Sky Bet League One fixture, and in our match preview we have all you need to know.

Fixture: Fleetwood Town v Gillingham

Competition: Sky Bet League One

Date: Saturday 14 December 2019

Kick-off: 15:00 BST

Venue: Highbury Stadium, Park Avenue, Fleetwood, Lancashire

Match officials: Graham Salisbury (Referee), Billy Smallwood & Matthew Bristow (Assistants), Gary Hilton (Fourth official)

Mr. Salisbury will referee a Town game for the second time this season tomorrow, after already taking charge of the home match against Rochdale in September.

The 57-year old has been in the middle for sixteen games this campaign, and has shown 60 yellow cards and one red card.

Salisbury Referee.jpg

FLEETWOOD TOWN

The Cod Army will be looking to get back to winning ways this weekend against Gillingham following the defeat in the Fylde Coast derby at Blackpool last time out.

Fleetwood currently sit in 9^th in the Sky Bet League One table, one point outside the play-off places, despite having games in hand on the teams above them due to the international break.

The home side are unbeaten at home since October - when Ipswich Town became the team to end the side’s eight-month unbeaten run – and the team will be full of confidence going into this one against the Gills.

Joey Barton will have a near complete side to choose from for his team selection, excluding the long layoff for Jordan Rossiter, who could be out for a matter of months after sustaining a knee injury.

PRiME_League1_BlackpoolvFleetwoodTown_20191207_032_SB.jpg

GILLINGHAM

The visitors to the Fylde Coast on Saturday are on a run of two wins in a row following their FA Cup Second Round victory against Doncaster Rovers, and a league victory over Sunderland last weekend.

The Gills are currently sat five points below the Cod Army in 14^th position, with the visitors having won just one of their nine matches away from home in the league.

The Kent side travel to Fleetwood this weekend with just the one known injury, with Mark Byrne being a doubt for Saturday’s match after tearing his ACL against Sunderland.

Gillingham Team.jpg

ONE TO WATCH: BRANDON HANLAN

One to watch for Town fans this weekend is Brandon Hanlan. With five goals this season, the forward is the Gills’ top goal scorer.

Two of those goals have been scored in his past four matches, so the Cod Army will be looking to keep him quiet on Saturday and make sure that he doesn’t add to his tally.

Hanlan began his career at Charlton Athletic after coming through the Academy. The 22-year-old had two loan spells at Bromley as well as Colchester United in between, before moving to Gillingham in 2018 on a free transfer.

The Chelsea-born man won Gillingham’s Young Player of the Year award for the 2018-19 season, to top off a good first season after scoring nine goals.

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 Highbury.

Overseas 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. (terms and conditions)

Any further questions on iFollow Fleetwood, please contact sam.fielding@fleetwoodtownfc.com, or email the EFL on iFollow@efl.com.

WHAT JOEY BARTON HAD TO SAY:

“It is going to be physical, competitive, and a tough game for us. Certainly at home, where they can cause you a problem because of the way they play, it is very effective.

“It is a great challenge for me as a young manager, I have got to learn how to deal with different styles of football, it is the only way you grow and improve.

“Saturday was the first time that I had ever encountered with Simon Grayson as a manager and I learnt a lot from the exchange.

The challenge is to come back smarter and with a different strategy, to make sure that you can implement your game plan more effectively next time.”

You can catch to the full interview on iFollow.

THOUGHTS FROM THE GILLINGHAM CAMP - STEVE EVANS

“It is going to be tough. I think they have won nine out of eleven home matches, so they have made that a fortress for sure.

"We know what sort of game we will get at Fleetwood. We have done our homework and we are looking forward to it."

“They have done very well and they will be fighting for the play-offs for sure, and we know they are full of great players that will be a real threat to us."

Steve Evans Gills Manager.jpg

BETTING ODDS

You can get a price of 4/5 for Fleetwood to win at home tomorrow.

If you think Joey Barton’s side will win and BTTS you can get a price of 7/2.

If you fancy Town to grab a 4-0 victory at Highbury then you can get a stunning 33/1

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

Paddy Madden – 6/5

Ched Evans – 6/4

Paul Coutts – 9/1

Danny Andrew – 10/1

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

Match Reports

Report: Town forced to settle for a point against Gillingham

14 December 2019

Fleetwood Town were held to a 1-1 draw against Gillingham on Saturday afternoon as both sides battled it out in blistery conditions on the Fylde Coast.

Paddy Madden netted from a Josh Morris’ cross to break the deadlock just before the hour mark, with former Town loanee, Alex Jakubiak netting to set up a nervy ending to the match.

Despite chances for both teams towards the end, neither side could take them and the points were shared.

The visitors had the games first real chance as Barry Fuller found space to strike from distance, but his shot went just over Billy Crellin’s crossbar.

This was followed by two corners for Gillingham in quick succession. Joey Barton’s side were under pressure, but Peter Clarke and Harry Souttar were there to clear the danger on both occasions.

The hosts had to wait until midway through the first half for their first real chance. Morris whipped in a wicked ball from the right, which fizzed across the Gillingham goalmouth, with no Town player gambling to get on the end of the cross.

Minutes later, there was another opportunity for Fleetwood! After a nice one-two between Jack Sowerby and Burns, it was the Welshman who ran to the by line to put his cross into the box. But just like earlier, there was frustration as there no one gambled inside the danger zone.

Madden – who scored his 16^th of the season - latched onto a long ball over the top, and with a quick glance towards goal, he picked out Burns who made a fantastic run, but he couldn’t direct his header on target!

The last action of the half involved Gillingham. Steve Evans’ side pushed forward but Town’s back line stood firm to make sure they went into the break on level terms.

The second half began with Town on the front foot. Burns broke away from Brandon Hanlan on the right hand side, and was eventually brought down after making ground. The Gillingham player was booked for his cynical tackle.

Five minutes later Burns was involved again. This time the winger set up Danny Andrew on the far side, who struck the ball first time to see it narrowly go over Jack Bonham’s bar.

With the wind not being a factor as much in the second half, the pace of the game increased which suited Town.

The first goal of the match came just before the hour mark through Madden. Kyle Dempsey did well to pick out Morris on the left before he found the Irishman inside the six yard box - who prodded the ball home from close range! Just what they deserved!

After the goal, the home side continued to dominate, however the conditions picked up again causing both Fleetwood and Gillingham difficulties with their defending and attacking.

Souttar almost doubled the Cod Army’s lead. The Australian international looked to head home from a corner, but the keeper, along with his defenders did enough to prevent the ball from finding the back of the net.

Gillingham went close with under twenty minutes left on the clock. After a lovely move down the left, Lewie Coyle managed to get a decisive block in on the edge of the box, which he eventually cleared away!

Shorly after, the visitors moved forwarded down the left with intent. Lewie Coyle was there once again to put in a vital block to prevent Crellin being called into action.

The match began to open up with both teams having chances at either end, and with Gillingham making a change, they were looking for the equaliser, and that’s what they got through their substitute.

Jakubiak levelled proceedings eight minutes form time with a lovely curling effort. Not too much the England Under 20 goalkeeper could do about it.

Town responded well to the goal and probably should have been ahead moment later. Conor Ogilvie slipped on the edge of his back and when the ball was played into the 18-yard-box, all Morris had to do was hit the target.

The forward missed his opportunity, but give credit to the Gillingham defender who did enough to put off the former Scunthorpe man.

The last action of the game saw Brandon Hanlan go close to giving Evans’ side all three points. Hanlan's strike looked to be hitting the target, but it bounced off Ben Pringle's back out for a goal-kick.

With both teams heading into a busy festive period, Barton will now look to prepare his side for the trip to Rotherham United next Saturday.

Town XI: Crellin (GK), Coyle, Andrew, Clarke, Souttar, Burns, Dempsey, Evans (C) (Saunders 88’), Morris, Madden, Sowerby.

Subs not used: Cairns (GK), Eastham, McAleny, Coutts, Biggins, Garner.

Gillingham XI: Bonham (GK), O’Keefe, Ehmer (C), Ogilvie, Hanlan, Mandron, Fuller (Marshall 68’), Jones (Jakubiak 68’), Lee, O’Connor(Pringle 83’), Tucker.

Subs not used: Walsh (GK), Hodson, Ndjoli, Charles-Cook.

Attendance: 2468 (117)

Ticket News

Gillingham up next for the Cod Army

13 December 2019

The Cod Army return to Highbury for the first time in three weeks on Saturday, with Gillingham the visitors.

Joey Barton’s side are back on home soil this weekend, with tickets still available for the match with Steve Evans’ Gills side.

Tickets are available online by clicking here, over the phone by calling 01253 775080, or by visiting the club shop at Highbury Stadium.

Both sets of supporters are welcome in Jim’s Bar from 12pm, with great offers on drinks and food, as well as live sport shown throughout the day.

Ticket News

Standings