Preview: Blackpool v Fleetwood Town

11 March 2021

Fleetwood Town face Blackpool on Saturday 13 March at Bloomfield Road in Sky Bet League One, and we have all you need to know ahead of the 3pm kick-off in our match preview.

Fixture: Blackpool v Fleetwood Town

Competition: Sky Bet League One

Date: Saturday 13 March 2021

Kick-off: 15:00

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

Match officials: Will Finnie (Referee), Joe Clark & Matthew Parry (Assistant Referees), Sebastian Stockbridge (Fourth Official)

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FLEETWOOD TOWN

Fleetwood have started March in the best way possible as they have managed to win all three of their games since the start of the month.

Last time out, Fleetwood Town managed to beat Gillingham 1-0 at Highbury on Tuesday night. The deadlock was broken within the first two minutes as Kyle Vassell converted a penalty after Ged Garner was fouled inside the Gillingham box. Town looked the more likely to add a second goal to the tie as Vassell and Rossiter both had shots collide with the bar throughout the game.

In the game before that, Goals from Wes Burns and Vassell saw Fleetwood travel back to Lancashire from Shrewsbury with maximum points in what was a comfortable 2-0 win for Simon Grayson’s side. Burns opened the scoring on the stroke of half-time with a strike from distance and, halfway through the second period, Vassell doubled the lead after a tidy move with Ged Garner.

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BLACKPOOL

The Seasiders are in form at the moment and have been since late January, as they have only lost one of their last nine Sky Bet League One fixtures.

Blackpool took home all three points in their last game, which was at Stadium MK on Tuesday night, as a goal from Jerry Yates just after the half-hour mark was enough to come out on top against Milton Keynes Dons.

The side drew the two fixtures before this one, against Crewe Alexandra and AFC Wimbledon respectively. Dan Ballard opened the scoring in the Crewe game late on in the first half, but a Stephen Walker strike five minutes from the end meant the points would have to be shared.

Five days later, it happened against Wimbledon as the game finished 1-1. The Wombles’ forward Ollie Palmer came off the bench and managed to cancel out Ellis Simms’ goal just before the final whistle.

ONE TO WATCH: JERRY YATES

The one to watch from The Seasiders is forward, Jerry Yates. The 24-year-old is by far the highest scorer for Blackpool, with his last goal coming on Tuesday against MK Dons.

Doncaster-born Yates began his career at Rotherham in 2014 and, even though he made 52 appearances for the club, he spent the majority of his time there out on loan at clubs like Harrogate, Carlisle United, and Swindon Town.

The forward was able to find goals during all his loan spells as he managed to score five goals in eight appearances across two loan spells at Harrogate, seven in 29 for Carlisle, and 14 in 35 at Swindon.

After his loan spell at County Ground, he returned to Rotherham in July 2020 but was then sold on to Blackpool later that month. Since joining Neil Critchley’s side, Yates has gone on to make 36 appearances, scoring 14 goals in that time.

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WATCH TOWN ON iFOLLOW!

Supporters can now purchase video match passes for Fleetwood Town’s Fylde Coast derby against Blackpool 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 down the Fylde Coast to Bloomfield Road to face Blackpool 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: Cagey affair against local rivals Blackpool ends in a draw

13 March 2021

Fleetwood Town played out a cagey affair against local rivals Blackpool, as the game finishes 0-0 at Bloomfield Road.

Jerry Yates came close to opening the scoring for the Seasiders in the first half when he tested Alex Cairns from close range. Kyle Vassell had Fleetwood’s best chance towards the end of the second half when he fired just over the top of Chris Maxwell’s goal.

Blackpool had the opening chance of the game inside the opening few minutes when CJ Hamilton cut the ball back to Sully Kaikai on the penalty spot, but his shot was blocked and cleared by the Fleetwood defence.

There was an early penalty shout for Town when Danny Andrew’s cross appeared to strike the arm of Dan Ballard, but the referee waved play on.

The hosts almost broke the deadlock when Luke Garbutt’s ball into the box found Yates, whose diving header forced goalkeeper Cairns into a superb save from close range.

At the other end of the field, the Cod Army had their first effort on goal. Dan Batty’s cross to the back post was met by the head of Janoi Donacien, but his headed effort could only find the gloves of Chris Maxwell.

Town came close moments later with Vassell at the heart of their counterattack. Ollie Turton was able to make a tackle but could clear only as far as Ged Garner, whose strike flew over the bar.

After demonstrating his defensive duties, Turton had the chance to go forward when he got on the end of Garbutt’s pass. He struck the ball from the edge of the area but fired high over Cairns’ goal meaning both sides went into the break goalless.

It was a bright start to the second half for the Seasiders. Ellis Simms almost opened the scoring, but Cairns was in the way to make another block from close range. James Hill made a superb last-ditch challenge to prevent the centre-forward from converting at the second attempt.

Garner troubled Maxwell when he optimistically tried his luck from range. The Blackpool stopper could only parry the ball back into play and strike partner Vassell went in for the follow-up but fouled the goalkeeper.

The Cod Army came close for the second time in a matter of minutes when Garner tried to pick out teammate Vassell at the back post with a driven ball across the face of goal but the ball was just beyond the reach of his teammate.

Pool came close to taking the lead when Kai Kai’s low cross picked out CJ Hamilton at the back post. The winger’s effort hit the woodwork and bounced out of play for a goal kick.

Fleetwood had the chance to capitalise on Hamilton’s miss when Sam Finley found space on the edge of Blackpool’s box. However, his effort didn’t trouble Maxwell.

The Cod Army had their best chance of the game with 10 minutes left on the clock. Wes Burns found Vassell in space on the edge of the box whose effort flew just over the crossbar.

Town XI: Cairns (GK), Andrew, Connolly (C), Burns, Rossiter, Vassell, Donacien, Finley, Batty, Garner (Madden 69), Hill.

Unused subs: Coleman (GK), Duffy, Saunders, Biggins, Holgate, Morris.

Blackpool XI: Maxwell (C), Husband, Yates, Kaikai, Dougall, Simms, Turton, Hamilton (Mitchell 73), Ballard, Garbutt, Stewart (Virtue 36).

Unused subs: Moore (GK), Gabriel, Thorniley, Ward, Embleton