Preview: Hull City v Fleetwood Town

16 April 2021

Fleetwood Town face Hull City on Saturday 17 April at KCOM Stadium in Sky Bet League One, and we have all you need to know ahead of the 12:30pm kick-off in our match preview.

Fixture: Hull City v Fleetwood Town

Competition: Sky Bet League One

Date: Saturday 17 April 2021

Kick-off: 12:30

Venue: KCOM Stadium, West Park, Hull, HU3 6HU

Match officials: Ollie Yates (Referee), Joe Clark and Marc Wilson (Assistant Referees), James Oldham (Fourth Official)

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FLEETWOOD TOWN

The Cod Army managed to come out 1-0 winners in their last outing at Highbury against Rochdale, and they will want to add to that when they travel to Hull.

Town created chances throughout the game, testing Brian Barry-Murphy’s defence at all stages of the game, but it was an own goal that separated the two sides on the afternoon as a Wes Burns’ cross went past the Rochdale goalkeeper, deflecting off Eoghan O’Connell’s leg.

In the game before, Fleetwood came out 1-0 winners yet again at AFC Wimbledon on Easter Monday. It was a scrappy affair for much of the game in South London, but a defensive error put the hosts’ goalkeeper under pressure just two minutes from the end, which substitute Barrie McKay pounced upon, meaning Town would end up winners on a cold afternoon.

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HULL CITY

The Tigers are coming into the fixture in fine form coming off a 3-0 away win at Plymouth Argyle, being unbeaten in 10, and currently find themselves at the top of the table.

Keane Lewis-Potter opened the scoring for the visitors at Home Park before Josh Magennis and Greg Docherty added further goals after the break as The Tigers claimed their second 3-0 win in five days.

In the game before, Hull earned all three points again after another dominant display at the KCOM against Northampton Town. Callum Elder opened the scoring with his first goal for the club with a sweet strike from outside the box before Lewis-Potter doubled their lead just before the interval. The Tigers then added to their lead through Gavin Whyte making it three with the last kick of the game.

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ONE TO WATCH: KEANE LEWIS-POTTER

The one to watch from The Tigers this weekend is forward Lewis-Potter. The 20-year-old has come through the academy at the KCOM and has managed to score double-digit goals in the current campaign.

The Hull-born attacker joined The Tigers at the age of 14 and has advanced through the youth set-up at the club. After impressing, the youngster was offered a scholarship towards the end of the 2016-17 campaign. Lewis-Potter then continued to shine for the club, leading to him being offered a professional contract in 2018. Shortly after, he went on to make his debut for The Tigers making an appearance off the bench in an FA Cup tie away at Millwall the following month.

Lewis-Potter then went on to win the Academy Player of the Year in the 2018/19 season after finding the net on 24 occasions in an impressive 34 games at both the U18s and U23s level. The youngster's form didn’t go unnoticed as the following season was his breakthrough campaign. His first goal for The Tigers came in a fixture against Barnsley in 2019 which made him the first Hull-born player to score at the KCOM in nearly nine years.

The 20-year-old has played a crucial part in the side’s battle at the bottom of the table this season and is the club's third top goalscorer with 13 goals in all competitions so far in the 2020/21 season.

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WATCH TOWN ON iFOLLOW

Supporters can now purchase video match passes for Fleetwood Town’s Sky Bet League One clash against Hull City on Saturday.

With fans still unable to attend games, the iFollow match pass is your best option to watch the Cod Army play.

Simon Grayson's side are set to travel to Hull in a league clash at Highbury on Saturday and you can watch the game for just £10!

If you'd like to purchase your match pass, click HERE.

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Match Previews

Match Reports

Report: Town narrowly lose out to top of the table Hull City

17 April 2021

Fleetwood Town narrowly lost out to top of the table, Hull City, at the KCOM Stadium on Saturday afternoon.

Town opened the scoring in the first half when Kyle Vassell finished off a wonderful move. However, despite a valiant performance, second-half goals from Josh Magennis and Keane Lewis-Potter were enough to cancel out the Cod Army’s early goal.

The hosts had the first chance of the game inside the opening minutes of the game when Danny Crowley exchanged passes with Mallik Wilks on the edge of the area. The midfielder bundled his way past a few Fleetwood bodies before seeing his shot deflected wide.

After a slow start to the game Hull came close to breaking the deadlock when Regan Slater’s free-kick found the head of Magennis, who rose highest to head the ball into the path of Wilks – but he sliced his volley wide of Alex Cairns’ goal.

The Cod Army almost opened the scoring when Callum Camps picked out Vassell on the right. After cutting inside the striker spotted the run of his partner Barrie McKay, but his effort was too close to goalkeeper Matt Ingram.

After striking the wall on his freekick, Danny Andrew lifted the ball into the box towards James Hill at the back post. The centre-back got his head to the ball but couldn’t direct his effort on target. Seconds later the offside flag was raised.

Town opened the scoring 22 minutes in courtesy of Vassell’s fourth goal of the season. Wes Burn’s driving run down the right-hand side to the by-line saw him beat Callum Elder for pace - nutmegging him in the process – before picking out Vassell with a dangerous cross along the six-yard box and the striker poked home.

After receiving the ball from Andrew on the left, McKay looked to double his side’s lead when he tried his luck from range. However, his curling effort toward to top right corner was well held by the diving Ingram.

Fleetwood, now looking the better side were looking dangerous on the flanks. Andrew’s cross into the area was headed away by the Tigers’ defence, but only as far as Burns who controls the ball superbly before firing a shot towards goal and rattling the side netting just before the break.

The Cod Army had the ball in the back of the net less than five minutes into the second half. McKay was at the heart of the move on the left-wing, beating his man before cutting the ball back towards Dan Batty whose shot was deemed to have deflected off Vassell - who was deemed to be in an offside position by the officials - before nestling into the bottom corner.

At the other end, the hosts threatened when Lewis-Potter drifted past his marker, running towards the Fleetwood goal with speed but a combination of the onrushing Batty and Callum Connolly was enough to prevent the shot from finding the target.

On the hour mark, The Tigers found the back of the net when Lewie Coyle’s deep cross found Lewis-Potter at the back post who looked to have equalised, but the assistant’s flag was raised.

Moments later, Hull got their goal. Greg Docherty spotted the run of Magennis down the middle and the forward slotted the ball past goalkeeper Alex Cairns in a one-on-one situation.

Fleetwood responded immediately when Vassell took down Batty’s long ball forward. He cut inside his man and fired a shot towards goal, but his effort was deflected wide of the Hull goal.

The hosts took the lead with 20 minutes to go when Crowley’s cross picked out Lewis-Potter whose diving header at the near post beat Alex Cairns.

Town XI: Cairns (GK), Andrew, Connolly (C), Burns, Camps, Rossiter (Finley 76), Vassell (Saunders 76), McKay (Garner 76), Donacien, Batty, Hill.

Bench: Coleman (GK), Duffy, Biggins, Holgate.

Hull XI: Ingram (GK), Coyle (C), Elder, Wilks (Smallwood 90+2’), Jones, Slater, Lewis-Potter, Crowley (Whyte 71), Greaves, Magennis, Docherty

Bench: Long (GK), Eaves, Scott, Emmanuel, McLoughlin.