Match Preview: Southend United v Fleetwood Town

13 September 2019

Fleetwood Town travel to Southend United on Saturday 14th September, and we have all you need to know ahead of the Sky Bet League One fixture at Roots Hall in our match preview.

Fixture: Southend United v Fleetwood Town

Competition: Sky Bet League One

Date: Saturday 14^th September 2019

Kick-Off: 15:00

Venue: Roots Hall, Victoria Ave, Southend, SS2 6NQ

Match officials: John Busby (Referee), Carl Fitch-Jackson & Louis Marks (Assistants), Ryan Atkin (Fourth Official)

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FLEETWOOD TOWN

Fleetwood head to Essex full of confidence after a 2-1 win over Oxford United last weekend, with Paddy Madden and defender Peter Clarke getting on the score sheet at Highbury Stadium. This result meant the Cod Army keep their unbeaten record on home soil.

Harry Souttar returns from international duty with the Australia Senior team. Despite not getting time on the pitch, the air miles and travelling might keep the youngster out of contention for a start.

Barton’s side failed to beat Southend United last season, with a loss at Roots Hall and a 2-2 draw at Highbury, but with no focus on the past, the club’s head coach knows his players can go and pick up all three points if they focus on what they need to do and not thinking about Southend’s current situation.

SOUTHEND UNITED

Southend United haven’t had the best of starts to the 2019/20 campaign, and they currently find themselves on a six game losing streak, with their last league result being a 3-0 defeat at home to Rochdale at Roots Hall. With only scoring four goals in the league – three coming from their own players, the coaching staff will be hoping for a bit more luck in front of the sticks.

With Kevin Bond leaving his position as the club’s manager last week, the Shrimpers are currently looking for a manager to replace Bond – who has worked with Joey Barton at Queens Park Rangers.

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LAST TIME WE MET

The last time Fleetwood and Southend United met was at the back end of the 2018/9 season, with the game finishing two a piece at Highbury Stadium. Ched Evans scored a brace for Town, with Harry Bunn and Luke Hyam scoring for the visitors.

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ONE TO WATCH: STEPHEN HUMPHRYS

The one to watch for Southend United is forward Stephen Humphrys – who has scored two goals this season, with both coming against Wycombe Wanderers in the 4-3 loss at Adams’ Park.

The 21-year-old started off his career at Fulham in their Academy, and featured for both their Under 18s and Under 21s before moving to Shrewsbury Town on loan in January 2017 until the end of the season. He made 14 appearances (11 from the bench) for the Salops, scoring two goals.

Rochdale and Scunthorpe United picked up the forward on loan between January 2018 - January 2019 – before he was signed up by Southend for an undisclosed fee.

He has made 17 appearances since the start of the year, scoring seven goals in the league. Will he be the man to give Southend their first win of the campaign?

WHAT JOEY BARTON HAD TO SAY

Fleetwood Town head coach Joey Barton was on media duty ahead of the match against Southend, and you can listen to the full interview on iFollow.

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TICKET INFORMATION

Adult - £22

Senior (Concessions 60+) - £15

Students (Valid ID required) - £14

Disabled with free carer - £14

Juniors (9-16) - £10

Under 9s - £4

Emergency - £15

Coach travel will cost only £5 for Onward Card holders, and £23 for non-Onward Card holders. The coaches will be departing from Highbury Stadium at 6:30am on the day of the game. For further details, please contact the ticket office on (01253) 775080.

BETTING ODDS

For Fleetwood to make it back to back wins in the league against the Shrimpers, the odds are 10/11. For a draw on the road, it’s currently 12/5.

For Joey Barton’s side to win & both teams to score at Roots Hall, it’s 10/3 odd for you to take home the money.

For an away 3-0, 3-1 or 3-2 win, it’s 11/2.

Get more odds on SkyBet by clicking HERE. Please remember to bet and gamble responsibly.

FOLLOW TOWN ON IFOLLOW

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

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

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

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Match Reports

Report: Six goal thriller ends with point earned at Southend

14 September 2019

Fleetwood Town had to settle for a point on Saturday, after drawing 3-3 at Southend United.

First half goals from Jimmy Dunne and Josh Morris saw Joey Barton’s side leading 2-1 at the break after Stephen McLaughlin opened the scoring for the hosts.

Stephen Humphrys scored straight after the restart, before Kyle Dempsey regained the lead for the Cod Army, only until Humphrys got his second with just a couple of minutes remaining.

As we see on a weekly basis, it was Fleetwood who started the better of the two sides. Paddy Madden forced a decent save from Southend keeper Mark Oxley from Danny Andrew’s quick free-kick, but the linesman had his flag up for offside shortly after.

Despite Town’s dominance in possession and chances, the first goal of the game came from the hosts. After Humphrys was fouled on the edge of the box – McLaughlin stepped up and curled one around the wall into the back of the net.

Gary Waddock’s side could have been two up moments later. Isaac Hutchinson drilled the ball across the six yard box and with McLaughlin there to tap the ball home for his second. However, the forward failed to convert his chance from two yards out.

After working the ball well, Dempsey drove forward to eventually pick out Wes Burns. The Welshman played in midfielder Jordan Rossiter who shot first time over the bar. A decent position not taken advantage of.

McLaughlin was involved in most of the home sides attacking plays, and when the ball fell to the goal scorer on the edge of the box, he tried his luck with a thunderous effort towards goal. Peter Clarke blocked well with the shot arrowing on its intended target.

Matt Gilks was called into action this time when Humphrys found himself one on one with the keeper. With the shot being low driven across the goal, the former Scottish international made a great save with his feet.

Town equalised through summer signing Dunne. He initially met Morris’ corner, with his second effort at goal beating Oxley in the Southend goal. A deserved equaliser.

Just like Southend earlier in the half, the Cod Army should have grabbed their second of the game through Madden, but he missed the chance from six yards out. On the rebound, Dempsey’s curling effort was tipped over the crossbar – a fantastic save from Oxley.

On the stroke of half-time, Morris gave his side the lead in the match with a tap in after Andrew’s long range strike was parried by the keeper.

That lead didn’t last long and within three minutes of the restart; Humphrys low free-kick beat the Fleetwood wall and Gilks between the sticks. All square once more.

Dempsey regained Town’s lead at Roots Hall with a powerful header from eight yards out after full-back Lewie Coyle’s hanging ball into the penalty area. A great goal on the midfielder’s 100^th EFL game for the club.

Harrison Biggins replaced Rossiter in midfield and with the appearance from the substitute’s bench, it brought up his 50^th EFL game for Fleetwood. He nearly scored in the match, but he saw the Southend defender deflect his shot up and over the bar.

Biggins was involved in his side’s next opportunity at goal. After he fizzed in the ball to Madden, he flicked one around the defender to the on-running Morris, who went drove into the Shrimpers’ 18-yard box, failed to make the counter attack count.

Fleetwood could have given themselves a two goals coushin in the match when Burns was played through by fellow Welshman, Ched Evans. Burns hit his shot first time only to see the ball clip the outside of the post.

There was late drama at Roots Hall when Humphrys’ scored a brace to give his side their first points of the campaign, with the match finishing three a piece in the sunshine on the South East coast.

Southend XI: Oxley (GK), Bwomono, Humphrys, Cox, McLaughlin (Ndukwu 79’), Kiernan, Hamilton, Manton ©, Lennon, Hutchinson (Goodship 58’), Blackman (Demetriou 69’).

Subs not used: Bishop (GK), Hyam, Dieng, Shaughessy.

Town XI: Gilks (GK), Coyle, Clarke, Dunne, Andrew, Coutts ©, Rossiter (Biggins 60’), Dempsey, Burns, Morris (Souttar 80’), Madden (Evans 69’).

Subs not used: Cairns (GK), Hunter, Sheron, Saunders.

Attendance: 5,236 (83 away)

Ticket News

Tickets and coach travel on sale for Southend fixture

4 September 2019

Tickets and travel are on sale for Fleetwood Town’s Sky Bet League One trip to Roots Hall to face Southend United on Saturday 14th September (3pm k/o).

Joey Barton’s side played out a 2-2 draw last time the sides met earlier this year, thanks to a brace from Ched Evans. They will head down to the South Coast for their first league game in September.

Town supporters on the day will be situated in the North Stand. (Unreserved covered seating), with prices as follows: