Match preview: Sunderland v Fleetwood Town

25 February 2020

Fleetwood Town travel to the Stadium of Light on Tuesday night to face Sunderland in Sky Bet League One, and in our match preview, we have all you need to know ahead of the 7:45pm kick-off.

Fixture: Sunderland v Fleetwood Town

Competition: Sky Bet League One

Date: Tuesday 25 February 2020

Kick-off: 19:45 (GMT)

Venue: Stadium of Light, Stadium Way, Sunderland, SR5 1SU.

Match officials: Scott Oldham (Referee), Gareth Mellor & Simon Clayton (Assistants) Wayne Grunnill (Fourth Official)

Tuesday’s match will be Mr. Oldham’s second game officiating both Sunderland and Fleetwood. He took charge of Fleetwood’s away match at Bolton in November, and Sunderland’s home game against Coventry City.

Mr. Oldham has officiated 30 games this season in all competitions, and branched out 84 yellow cards and five red cards.

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FLEETWOOD TOWN

The Cod Army are back on the road after Saturday’s 1-0 victory over promotion hopefuls, Portsmouth. Callum Connolly scored in the 12^th minute to give Fleetwood the lead, with the Everton loanee scoring his second goal in as many games for the red and white army.

When you look back at the last six seasons since Fleetwood got promoted to League One, after 31 league matches played, it’s the best points tally collected since the 2016/17 campaign – where the club reached the play-offs.

Town picked up a point against the Black Cats on New Years Day at Highbury, and have picked up five points from a possible nine against the former Premier League side.

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SUNDERLAND

The hosts on Tuesday night have won four league matches on the bounce. They picked up all three points last Saturday in their 3-0 home win over Bristol Rovers. After a Bristol sending off, Lynden Gooch, Charlie Wyke and Luke O’Nien scored late goals at the Stadium of Light.

Phil Parkinson’s men are unbeaten in eight home matches, and will be looking to extend that run when the Cod Army visit the North East. They have kept eight clean sheets in their last nine games, conceding just the two goals in the process.

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ONE TO WATCH – LYNDEN GOOCH

One for Town fans to keep an eye out for on Tuesday night is forward, Lynden Gooch. The American has played 29 times this season in all competitions, scoring ten goals – with three being in his last three appearances.

Gooch started off his career at the Stadium of Light in their Youth setup, before moving out on loan to Gateshead in January 2015 on a six-month loan deal. He later joined Doncaster Rovers a year later, and with his form, Sunderland needed their man.

In his first season with the Black Cats, he made 14 appearances, 11 of those in the Premier League, and with their fall down the divisions, his game time has increase and has gone on to be a regular in the side.

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WATCH THE GAME ON iFOLLOW

If you can’t make Tuesday’s match against Sunderland, don’t worry as we have it covered with iFollow – meaning you can live stream the game in the comfort of your own home.

Supporters based in the United Kingdom and Ireland can pay just £10 for a Video Match Pass – What are you waiting for? Buy your match pass HERE.

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 the EFL on ifollow@efl.com.

HOW TO GET YOUR MATCHDAY TICKETS

Joey Barton's side make the journey to the Stadium of Light, with kick-off at 7:45pm, as two of League One's form sides go head-to-head under the lights.

Tickets for the match remain on sale from the club, with prices as follows:

Adults - £20

Concessions (65+) - £17

Under 22 - £12

Under 16 - £7

Wheelchair/ambulant - FREE (rate as above with carer)

Coach travel is also on sale, with the price just Onward Card holders £5. The price for all other supporters is £23. All coaches will be departing Highbury at 2pm.

SKY BET’S BETTING ODDS

Fleetwood are 3/1 to pick up all three points against Sunderland. A draw between the two sides is priced at 9/4, with the hosts 10/11 to win.

One of Sky Bets’ price boosts are for Fleetwood to win and for both teams to score – 10/1.

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

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Match Previews

Match Reports

Report: Late drama sees the points shared at Sunderland

25 February 2020

Fleetwood Town were denied all three points at Sunderland on Tuesday night due to a last minute equaliser from Max Power.

The Black Cats midfielder scored in the seventh minute of added time, tucking away his effort from 10 yards to send the 28,000 home fans into raptures.

Barrie McKay had opened the scoring with superb team goal five minutes in, with the Cod Army holding their lead until the last kick of the game.

Despite the late goal, Joey Barton's side remain unbeaten in their last nine Sky Bet League One fixtures.

It couldn’t have started any better for Fleetwood as McKay was played through by striker partner Paddy Madden after 30 seconds, but the Scotsman failed to lift the ball over McLaughlin between the sticks.

Just four minutes later, he did make the Black Cats pay for their error as he slotted his effort under the Sunderland stopper who couldn’t do too much to deny the Swansea City loanee from giving the visitors the lead at the Stadium of Light.

The Sunderland fans were getting frustrated as the minutes ticked down and every pass failing to connect with a red and white shirt. Barton’s side were great out of possession, making it difficult for the Black Cats.

It seemed that Fleetwood wanted to counter attack the hosts when they pushed bodies forward, and with Wes Burns running up and down the right flank, he did well to get to the byline, but with him looking to pick out Madden inside the penalty area, it got a block out for a corner.

Chris Maguire was the dangerman for Sunderland, and when the winger received the ball from target man, Charlie Wyke, he was only able to find the crossbar with his powerful effort. The atmosphere inside the ground was growing with the hosts on top. Half an hour on the board.

Wyke went so close to making it 1-1 after Maguire picked out the former Bradford City forward, but he failed to convert his effort from four yards out. It looked harder to miss than score.

Town looked to end the half stronger after withstanding a lot of pressure from Sunderland, but with two corners whipped in from Paul Coutts, the Cod Army failed connect to double their lead.

As the second half got underway, it was Sunderland who started the half as they finished it with Max Power having a effort from 30 yards out, but Alex Cairns was there to comfortably save the shot.

McKay continued to cause Phil Parkinson’s side problems when he had the ball, and when Ozturk brought him down 30 yards from goal, he picked it up and struck the set-piece well towards goal, but McLaughlin was well position to save.

Again Fleetwood had a chance with an overload on the right side and when Lewie Coyle looked to find Madden, his cross was deflected towards to Sunderland goal, but out for a corner. The resulting corner did find Harry Souttar – who couldn’t direct his header goal wards.

Despite Sunderland having plenty of possession, the didn’t really make that count with the chances they had. When the did get into dangerous area, their final pass or the shot towards goal was way off target, giving Town a breather.

Josh Morris and Jack Sowerby came on for Fleetwood with 15 minutes to play to give the Cod Army some fresh legs and bodies in key areas of the pitch.

With the last kick of the game, Sunderland broke Fleetwood hearts with Power scoring inside Fleetwood’s penalty area when the game looked dead and buried.

It will feel like a defeat for the Cod Army, but it’s important that the players stand strong with an important game against Tranmere coming up at the weekend.

Sunderland XI: McLaughlin (GK), Willis (Watmore 86'), Ozturk, Power ©, Maguire, Wyke, Gooch, Flanagan, O’Nien, Dobson (Lafferty 75’), Hume (Semenyo 65’).

Subs not used: Burge (GK), C. McLaughlin, Smith, Scowen.

Town XI: Cairns (GK), Coyle, Souttar, Gibson, Burns (Saunders 84’), Whelan, Coutts (Sowerby 75’), Connolly, Andrew, McKay (Morris 75’), Madden,

Subs not used: Crellin (GK), Thorvaldsson, Biggins, Holgate

Attendance: 28,253 (173)

Match Reports

Ticket News

Support the lads at Sunderland

24 February 2020

The big games keep on coming, with Fleetwood Town travelling to fellow top-six side Sunderland on Tuesday night.

Joey Barton's side make the journey to the Stadium of Light, with kick-off at 7:45pm, as two of League One's form sides go head-to-head under the lights.

Tickets for the match remain on sale from the club, with prices as follows:

Adults - £20

Concessions (65+) - £17

Under 22 - £12

Under 16 - £7

Wheelchair/ambulant - FREE (rate as above with carer)

Coach travel is also on sale, with the price just Onward Card holders £5. The price for all other supporters is £23. All coaches will be departing Highbury at 2pm.

To book tickets for this fixture, please contact the ticket office on 01253 775080 or visit the club shop between 9am and 5pm weekdays, and between 9am-1pm on Saturday’s.

Tickets can also be purchased via www.ftfcstore.com or at the front desk at Poolfoot Farm.

Ticket News

Fleetwood Town

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