Preview: Ipswich Town v Fleetwood Town

7 May 2021

Fleetwood Town face Ipswich Town on Sunday 9 May at Portman Road in Sky Bet League One, and we have all you need to know ahead of the 12pm kick-off in our match preview.

Fixture: Ipswich Town v Fleetwood Town

Competition: Sky Bet League One

Date: Sunday 9 May 2021

Kick-off: 12:00

Venue: Portman Road, Ipswich, IP12DA

Match officials: John Busby (Referee), Conor Farrell & Paul Kelly (Assistant Referees), Darren Blunden (Fourth Official)

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FLEETWOOD TOWN

Fleetwood head into their last game of the season after sharing the points in a home clash against Milton Keynes Dons last Saturday.

Ged Garner opened up the scoring in the tie midway through the second half, as Wes Burns drove forward down the right, gave it to the forward who cut in and slotted home with help from the post just over the hour mark. The Dons replied just short of half an hour later as Charlie Brown followed in on his original effort from Alex Cairns’ parry.

In the game before, Town lost 5-2 to Burton Albion at the Pirelli Stadium. With four different scorers for the hosts, it was a night to forget in Staffordshire for the Cod Army, despite Town’s best efforts to get back into the game, it was The Brewers who claimed maximum points.

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IPSWICH TOWN

Ipswich have had mixed results in their last ten outings as they have won two, drawn six, and lost two as well.

In their last outing, they travelled to the Montgomery Waters Meadow on Tuesday, where they drew 0-0 with Shrewsbury Town. Dan Udoh went the closest to breaking the deadlock in a game that either side could've won as the Shrews sub headed against the crossbar late on. Kane Vincent-Young was forced from the field in the dying moments through injury.

A trip to Swindon was on the cards before that, which saw the Tractor Boys manage to come away 2-1 winners on the day. James Norwood opened the scoring late on in the first-half through a penalty and then secured his brace around the hour mark, doubling the sides lead. Brett Pitman did score late on, but it ended up just being a consolation goal in the tie.

ONE TO WATCH: JAMES NORWOOD

One to watch from Ipswich is forward, James Norwood. The 30-year-old, who joined the club on a free transfer in June 2019 is currently the side’s top goal scorer for the season, with nine goals to his name.#

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. Ipswich Town came calling next and since joining in 2019, he has found the back of the net on 21 occasions.

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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 Sunday.

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 Portman Road to face Ipswich in a league clash on Sunday 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: Fleetwood finish season off with a loss to Ipswich

9 May 2021

Fleetwood Town finished off their Sky Bet League One campaign on Sunday afternoon as they lost 3-1 to Ipswich Town at Portman Road.

Three goals conceded in the first half from three different scorers gave Fleetwood a mountain to climb in the second as Wes Burns’ goal with 20 minutes to go was just a mere consolation as Ipswich’s defence stood strong until the final whistle.

The hosts opened the scoring early in the game as only three minutes in James Norwood struck home from 12-yards out to give the hosts the lead.

Ipswich then doubled their advantage only six minutes later as Gwion Edwards shrugged off James Hill’s pressure and managed to squeeze in his driven effort from the angle past Alex Cairns.

Fleetwood immediately looked to find a response as Burns picked up the ball from deep, laid it off to Harrison Biggins whose ball over the top was intended for Kyle Vassell, but it was over-hit and the attack fizzled out.

The Cod Army then found a little bit of rhythm in the hope to get back into the game as just before the 20-minute-mark Barrie McKay’s one on one effort was saved by David Cornell.

The momentum carried with the visitors as Burns did brilliantly down the right to get past his man and get the cross in, but a bouncing ball in the box couldn’t be capitalised on by a red shirt, and the hosts cleared.

Ipswich then trebled their lead just before the half an hour mark as Troy Parrott found himself in behind Fleetwood’s lines and sent it into the back of the net.

A few minutes before the half-time break, McKay carried the ball half the pitch through the Tractor Boys’ defence, he squared it to Vassell whose effort was tame and easy for the ‘keeper.

Fleetwood started the second half with the higher intensity between the two sides where Burns and McKay combined well down the right where the former’s skill moves proved testing for the hosts’ defence, but those particular attacks fizzled out.

A smart team move by Fleetwood came when Callum Connolly’s ball into the middle of the park was met by a feint from Harrison Biggins which sent the Ipswich man the opposite way, it came to Garner who laid it off to Sam Finley whose effort went over.

Fleetwood’s account was opened for the afternoon as on the 71st minute Burns picked up the ball from deep, drove down the right, and then hammered home into the left corner.

Despite Town’s best efforts to get back into the game, the final 15 minutes was a quiet period between both sides and the scoreline stayed the same as Town lose the final game of this campaign.

FTFC XI: Cairns (GK), Andrew (84’ J.Morris), Connolly (C), Burns, Rossiter, Vassell (45’ Sheron), McKay (84’ Baggley), Finley (84’ Whelan), Biggins, Garner, Hill

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

ITFC XI: Cornell (GK), Chambers, Woolfenden, McGuinness, Kenlock, Dozzell, Downes, Dobra (78’ Jackson), Parrott (78’ Harrop), Edwards (16’ Bennetts (78’ Skuse), Norwood (69’ Bishop)

Subs not used: Holy (GK), Nsiala.