Preview: Ipswich Town (H)

16 March 2021

Fleetwood Town face Ipswich Town on Tuesday 16 March at Highbury Stadium in Sky Bet League One, and we have all you need to know ahead of the 7:45pm kick-off in our match preview.

Fixture: Fleetwood Town v Ipswich Town

Competition: Sky Bet League One

Date: Tuesday 16 March 2021

Kick-off: 19:45

Venue: Highbury Stadium, Park Avenue, Fleetwood, FY7 6TX

Match officials: Gavin Ward (Referee), Shaun Hudson & Mark Dwyer (Assistant Referees), Nik Barnard (Fourth Official)

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FLEETWOOD TOWN

Fleetwood continued their recent unbeaten streak on Saturday as they played out a tight affair against Blackpool at Bloomfield Road.

Blackpool forward Jerry Yates came close to opening the scoring for the Seasiders in the Fylde Coast derby when he tested Alex Cairns from close range in the first half. 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.

In the game before, Fleetwood Town managed to beat Gillingham 1-0 at Highbury. The deadlock was broken within the first two minutes as 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.

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IPSWICH TOWN

The Tractor Boys have had mixed results as of late as they have won one, drawn one, and lost one game in their last three League One outings.

In their last game, Paul Lambert’s men were able to take all three points when Plymouth Argyle travelled to Portman Road on Saturday. Tottenham-loanee Troy Parrott opened the scoring four minutes into the game, and this goal ended up being the difference in the end as the game finished 1-0.

Five days before, Lincoln City made the trip to Ipswich and they ended up drawing their league clash 1-1. Morgan Rogers broke the deadlock for The Imps at the half-hour mark, but James Wilson was on hand to level the scoreline with less than 20 minutes to go, meaning each side would take home a point apiece.

ONE TO WATCH: JAMES NORWOOD

The one to watch from The Tractor Boys is James Norwood. The 30-year-old forward currently has six goals to his name for the season, with his latest one coming earlier this month in a 2-1 win over Accrington Stanley.

The player from Eastbourne started his career as a trainee at Exeter City in 2009 and even though he only made five appearances in his two years there, he spent most of his time out on loan at Forest Green Rovers and Eastbourne.

Forest Green then made the move permanent in June 2011 and his time at the club was a success. He managed to bag two hat-tricks in two months in 2013 and at the end of that season, he won the Players’ Player of the Year award and was called up to the England C squad for the first time. He would go on to become the club’s top goal scorer two seasons in a row.

The 30-year-old became Forest Green’s all-time Conference Premier goal scorer in 2015 and also helped lead the side to their first-ever Conference Premier play-offs, before making the move to Tranmere Rovers later that year.

He carried on the form shown at Forest Green at Tranmere and even upped his scoring record whilst at the Merseyside club. He would spend four years at the club and in that time, he would go on to make 180 appearances in all competitions and score 93 goals.

In the Summer of 2019, he moved on to Ipswich Town and since his arrival at Portman Road, he has found the back of the net 17 times in just over 50 appearances, with six of those goals coming this 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 Ipswich Town on Tuesday.

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 host Ipswich Town in a league clash at Highbury on Tuesday 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: Goals from Connolly and Garner secure max points against Ipswich

16 March 2021

Fleetwood Town extended their unbeaten run to six games as they managed to beat Ipswich Town 2-0 at Highbury Stadium on Tuesday evening.

Simon Grayson’s side started the game as they meant to go on as they broke the deadlock nine minutes into the game as Callum Connolly converted from James Hill’s long throw. Ged Garner made it two in the second half after finishing off a tidy counter-attack, started by fellow forward Kyle Vassell.

Fleetwood managed to take the lead with the first chance of the game as Hill did one of his trademark throws, from the right into a packed Ipswich box, towards Connolly who nodded the ball into the far corner.

The home side then went on the attack just two minutes later as Sam Finley received the ball 25-yards out, dribbled into some space on the edge of the box, but his shot ended up going just wide of the right-hand post.

15 minutes in, Vassell found Garner 20-yards out, who took control of the ball, composed himself, and struck the ball towards goal, worrying Tomas Holy even though the effort went the wrong side of the post.

The game was fiercely battled in the middle of the park until the end of the half when Vassell took a touch to get away from his marker, before playing it into the box for Garner, who forced the goalkeeper into a save with his feet.

The action kicked on right at the start of the second half as Fleetwood managed to win a free-kick deep inside the opposition’s half. Dan Batty whipped it towards the front post, where Vassell was able to head towards the goal, but the shot went just over the bar.

The Cod Army doubled their lead ten minutes into the half as Vassell started a counter-attack, then fed the ball to Garner, who got the ball out of his feet and drove the ball into the bottom right corner, past Holy.

Multiple chances soon followed as Wes Burns beat his man but hit his shot straight at Holy from inside the area before Sam Finley played an inch-perfect ball to Danny Andrew, who found Vassell in the box, but his shot was saved by the goalkeeper.

In the 75^th minute, Vassell was on the attack, yet again, as he dribbled in between two defenders and pushed the ball out to the wing, he then played a one-two with Batty, with the midfielder trying his luck from the edge of the box, but it was easily saved.

The last big chance of the game fell to substitute Harrison Biggins in the 83^rd minute. A defensive mishap saw the goalkeeper clear the ball to the midfielder 20-yards out but his half-volley couldn’t find the back of the net.

Town XI: Cairns (GK), Andrew, Connolly (C), Burns, Rossiter (Biggins 77’), Vassell, Finley (J.Morris 85’), Batty, Garner, Holgate, Hill.

Subs not used: Coleman (GK), Duffy, , Rydel, S.Morris.

Ipswich XI: Holy (GK), Chambers (C), Wilson, Edwards (Harrop 45’), Skuse (Bishop 81’), Jackson (Lankester 66’), Judge, Nsiala, Dozzell, Kenlock (Ward 66’), Parrott (Drinan 66’).

Subs not used: Cornell (GK), Bennetts.