Preview: Bristol Rovers v Fleetwood Town

14 November 2020

Fleetwood Town face Bristol Rovers on Saturday 14 November at the Memorial Stadium in Sky Bet League One, and we have all you need to know ahead of the 3pm kick-off in our match preview.

Fixture: Bristol Rovers v Fleetwood Town

Competition: Sky Bet League One

Date: Saturday 14 November 2020

Kick-off: 15:00

Venue: Memorial Stadium, Filton Avenue, Horfield, BS7 0BF

Match officials: Antony Coggins (Referee), John Flynn & Darren Wilding (Assistant Referees), Mark Derrien (Fourth Official)

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FLEETWOOD TOWN

Fleetwood find themselves with an even record after eleven games in the league so far, which sees them sit in 10^th in the table.

Town’s last league outing was over a week ago as they just fell short in a 3-2 loss to Charlton Athletic at The Valley. Charlton started out the better side with first-half goals from Ben Purrington and Conor Washington giving the Addicks a two-goal lead.

However, a quickfire double just after the half-hour mark from Ched Evans was enough to send the two sides in level at the break. Early in the second half, the hosts retook the lead courtesy of a Washington penalty.

In the side’s most recent game, Fleetwood Town finished their Papa John’s Trophy group stage with a perfect record as they managed to beat Sunderland 2-1 at Highbury Stadium on Tuesday evening. The Cod Army came back from one down to beat the Black Cats as goals from Barrie McKay and Mark Duffy overshadowed Callum McFadzean’s opener.

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BRISTOL ROVERS

The Gas currently find themselves in 15^th position in Sky Bet League One after winning three of their opening ten in this year’s campaign.

Their most recent result in the league saw them host Peterborough United, with the game finishing 2-0 to The Posh on the night. Jack Taylor opened the scoring just before the half and Dan Butler doubled the travelling side’s lead 25 minutes before the end to secure the points for his side.

Since then, they have competed in the Emirates FA Cup, this time they were away to Walsall in the second round and they managed to win 2-1. Two quickfire first-half goals from Jack Baldwin and Brandon Hanlan seemed to be the equivalent of a knockout punch for the Saddlers as even though they controlled the stats for the game, they weren’t able to force a comeback.

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PRE-MATCH QUOTES – JOEY BARTON

Head coach Joey Barton spoke to the press ahead of his side’s trip to the Memorial Stadium to face Bristol Rovers in a Sky Bet League One clash. He had this to say:

“They are a side that is going to be competitive because they are in League One. They’ve got the ability to play out from the back and if you don’t get your part of the game right, they will cause you problems.

“They have a real threat from set-plays, I think they’ve clearly worked hard on them on the training ground so we will have to be on the ball and alert at all times for those. This will include throw-ins as they have a few sharp throwers in the side.

“We’ll have to be on the money. It’s about getting back to our bread and butter and turn up with a performance with the physical intensity against Bristol on Saturday to get more points on the board.”

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ONE TO WATCH – BRANDON HANLAN

One to watch from Bristol Rovers during the game will be forward Brandon Hanlan. The 23-year-old started his career at Charlton Athletic, and even though he made multiple cup appearances and a few cameos off the bench, he spent the majority of his time there out on loan, with two stints at Bromley and one at Colchester United.

During those loan spells, he found the net 11 more times in 18 months, which caught the eye of Gillingham scouts, as he joined them in July 2018. Hanlan would go on to be a permanent fixture in the Gills side for two-and-a-half years, making 84 appearances, scoring 16 goals in that time.

Hanlan signed for the club back in September and has since managed to score four goals in 11 appearances for The Gas.

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WATCH FLEETWOOD ON iFOLLOW!

Supporters can now purchase video match passes for Fleetwood Town’s Sky Bet League One clash against Bristol Rovers at the Memorial Stadium on Saturday.

With games still being played behind closed doors, the match pass is your best option to watch the Cod Army at this stage of the 2020/21 season.

Joey Barton's side will travel all the way down the west coast of England to face The Gas in a league clash – 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: Four goals for Fleetwood in clinical Bristol Rovers win

14 November 2020

Fleetwood Town managed to pick up all three points on Saturday afternoon after beating Bristol Rovers 4-1 in blustery conditions.

Callum Camps opened the scoring early on with a barnstorming free-kick from range, with Paddy Madden doubling the sides lead just before the half, beating Jordi van Stappershoef in the process. Josh Grant pulled one back for the home side, but it wasn’t enough to forge a comeback for The Gas.

The first chance of the game came from a Fleetwood attack as Wes Burns played the ball back to Paul Coutts, who whipped a cross into the box, which was cleared only to Charlie Mulgrew, but his drilled effort went just wide of the near post.

Soon after, Sam Finley played the ball to Mulgrew, who was rushing forwards. He stopped his run to cross the ball into a packed Bristol box where Madden could only head wide of the target.

Bristol had their first chance of the game in the 27^th minute as the ball was passed into the box towards Brandon Hanlan, who gave it to Erhun Oztumer on the edge, but his strike was easily blocked and cleared.

The home side had another a few minutes later as a stray ball found its way to Oztumer 18-yards out, he dribbled the played in Luke McCormick who struck the ball straight at Jayson Leutwiler.

Town broke the deadlock on the half-hour mark as Camps stood over a free-kick from 30-yards, tried his luck, with his effort flying into the top corner.

Joey Barton’s side made it two five minutes before the half as Callum Connolly got on the end of a deep cross, heading it into some space inside the Bristol Box, where Madden controlled the ball and drove his strike past Jordi van Stappershoef.

It was close to being three in the next attack as Josh Morris beat the offside trap before switching the ball to Wes Burns on the right. He spotted the run of Madden through the middle, but the Irishman couldn’t quite guide his pass in.

Bristol came out after the break looking to attack and they did that two minutes in as Hanlan cut inside, played the ball to Zain Westbrooke whose shot was punched away by Leutwiler.

Van Stappershoef was called into action in the 49^th minute as Finley played J.Morris in, who turned well inside the box and tried to catch the goalkeeper off guard with a near-post strike but it was stopped and cleared away.

Bristol pulled one back on the hour mark as substitute Sam Nicholson drove at the Fleetwood defence, playing a one-two with Hanlan before feeding Grant, who placed it into the back of the net.

The game played majorly in the middle of the park for the next 20 minutes, with both sides trying to get control of the ball, even with non-favourable weather conditions.

Camps confirmed his brace in the 81^st minute as he found a yard of space and bent his strike perfectly into the top corner of the Bristol goal, making it unsavable for the home side’s goalkeeper.

Substitute Ched Evans made it four when he was brought down in the Bristol box, earning the Cod Army a penalty. He then stepped up and sent the goalkeeper the wrong way, placing it in the bottom right corner.

Gas XI: Van Stappershoef (GK), Grant, Ehmer (C), Westbrooke, Hanlan, McCormick (Nicholson 45’), Hare (Daly 45’), Harries, Baldwin, Oztumer, Koiki (Tutonda 75’).

Subs not used: Armstrong (GK), Kilgour, Upson, Mitchell-Lawson.

Town XI: Leutwiler (GK), Edwards (Hill 45’), Andrew, Connolly, Burns, Camps, J.Morris (Evans 69’), Mulgrew, Coutts (C), Madden, Finley (Rossiter 69’).

Subs not used: Cairns (GK), Whelan, McKay, S.Morris.