Preview: Fleetwood Town v Bolton Wanderers

6 December 2021

Fleetwood Town face Bolton Wanderers on Tuesday 7 December at Highbury 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 Bolton Wanderers

Competition: Sky Bet League One

Date: Tuesday 7 December 2021

Kick-off: 19:45

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

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FLEETWOOD TOWN

Stephen Crainey and the Cods are back at home this Tuesday as they host Bolton in another league clash, with the Interim Head Coach in search of all three points, after the narrow loss against the side the Papa John’s Trophy last month.

In that game, a young side battled hard throughout their Papa John’s Trophy cup tie against Bolton Wanderers on Tuesday evening but fell to a narrow 1-0 defeat. The youthful eleven looked to have matched the experienced Trotters side, but it was Kieran Lee’s strike that was the difference on the night.

Last time Fleetwood were at home, Town fell to a narrow 2-1 defeat to local rivals Morecambe midway through November. Callum Johnson thought his header had cancelled out Callum Jones’ first-half free-kick, but an injury-time winner from Cole Stockton saw Town fall to a defeat.

BOLTON WANDERERS

Bolton’s last game, as previously mentioned, was the narrow win over a young Fleetwood side in the EFL Trophy, but before that, they managed a win and a draw in the league.

Xavier Amaechi, who made his first start for the club early on last month, opened the scoring in their last league fixture against Cheltenham Town, which ended in a 2-2 draw. Alfie May bagged a brace on the day for the Robins, but it was Elias Kachunga who ensured the points would be shared on the day with his goal around the hour mark.

They showed some dominance in the game before as they beat Doncaster Rovers 3-0, with three different scorers in the game. Eoin Doyle started the day with a goal before Joseph Olowu saw red just before the break for Donny. Goals from Kachunga and George Thomason added on after that, seeing Ian Evatt’s side walk away comfortable winners.

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LAST THREE MEETINGS

Fixture: Bolton Wanderers 1-0 Fleetwood Town

Competition: Papa John’s Trophy

Date: Tuesday 30 November 2021

Venue: University of Bolton Stadium

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Fixture: Bolton Wanderers 2-1 Fleetwood Town

Competition: Sky Bet League One

Date: Saturday 2 November 2019

Venue: University of Bolton Stadium

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Fixture: Fleetwood Town 2-4 Bolton Wanderers

Competition: Sky Bet League One

Date: Saturday 11 March 2017

Venue: Highbury Stadium

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	Fleetwood Town	Draws	Bolton Wanderers
H2H results	0	0	4

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PRE-MATCH QUOTES: STEPHEN CRAINEY

Interim Head Coach Stephen Crainey spoke to the press after Fleetwood Town were beaten at the Wham Stadium by Accrington Stanley. Here is what he had to say in his interview:

“We conceded some sloppy goals but there is no point dwelling on it, we have to quickly move on, dust ourselves off and focus on Tuesday - the red card is a big turning point but as I said there was a few decisions like us potentially having a penalty, but it was just one of those days.

“I felt we had some good periods. I have to give a special mention to Cian Hayes making his first full debut where we also have some really good young players where I’m fully aware of their ability and it’s something the club can look forward to the youngsters coming through.

“The work ethic this team has shown since I’ve come in has been really positive, they give me everything in training and there’s a balance between youth and senior players who all get along. We have to take things day by day and keep together so that we can focus on the next game.”

GET YOUR ONWARD CARD TODAY!

The best way to watch Fleetwood Town this year is by purchasing the Onward Card. For adults, you will pay as little as £170 for 23 Sky Bet League One matches, with many benefits included in the deal. Click HERE for more details.

Match Previews

Match Reports

Report: Town walk over Bolton in brilliant win at Highbury

7 December 2021

Fleetwood Town walked away 3-0 winners over Bolton Wanderers on a stormy night at Highbury Stadium on Tuesday evening.

Town started the game as they ended it, with goals coming at either end of the 90 minutes. Ged Garner opened the scoring just five minutes in with Harrison Biggins adding a late brace to bring his tally, and Fleetwood’s for the game, to three.

With the first chance of the game, Fleetwood took the lead. The move started with Jay Matete fiercely playing the ball from the centre to Callum Morton, who held the ball up well, waiting for the run of Danny Andrew. He then carried the ball before finding G.Garner in the box, who poked home.

The weather was playing havoc with both teams, with balls going out of play anytime they went into the air, meaning that the amount of chances created was at a minimum until Oladapo Afolayan whipped in a free-kick towards the head of Elias Kachunga, but his header was flagged offside.

Bolton put a series of attacks together from set-pieces with one of them ending in what The Trotters believed to be a goal, but after a brilliant one-handed save from Alex Cairns, Eoin Doyle turned home from close range and an offside position.

28 minutes into the game, Town were back on the attack down the left, with Andrew and Biggins connecting once again. The latter played a lobbed ball into the box, and even though the defenders cleared, it was only to Carl Johnston – who started his first league game on the night – but he fired over.

Three Fleetwood penalty claims were waved away by the referee, which saw the fans very displeased. The first was Morton coming in from the left and was pushed to the ground, the second saw Garner seemingly tripped on the turn, and the last was Cian Hayes, who lost a battle with Ricardo Santos.

Town were almost two up 33 minutes in as Morton somehow kept the ball as he pushed through the Bolton back line. The forward carried on his run-up to the edge of the box, but his effort was saved by the trailing leg of Joel Dixon.

Just before the break, Bolton had a spell of their own as Afolayan’s free-kick from 20-yards struck the Town wall and George Thomason tried his luck from range, firing his effort into the palms of Cairns.

In the fourth minute of added time, G.Garner should have added to his first as C.Johnston played a well-placed ball through a crowd and into the feet of the forward, but it almost seemed to catch him off guard as he hit it wide.

G.Garner was at the front of another attack, when Paddy Lane fed the ball through the line, finding the forward. He took the ball towards goal, but Dixon did well to come out, read the play, and make himself big, forcing Garner to fire wide.

Soon after, Doyle latched on to a perfectly placed ball down the right, before playing a first-time cross to Kachunga and even though the ball was just behind him, he turned and forced Cairns into a save.

Drama stirred around Highbury 18 minutes from the end as G.Garner played Morton through one-on-one, but Santos took out from behind, with him being given a red card.

It was bedlam at the end of the game as Fleetwood stormed away, scoring two goals in as many minutes. Biggins is a man in demand over the last week as he bagged a late brace in the game, taking his tally up to three in two games.

Town XI: Cairns (GK), Andrew (C), McLaughlin, Clarke, Morton, G.Garner, Matete (Boyle 90’), Biggins, Lane (Baggley 90’), C.Johnston, Hayes (C.Johnson 68’).

Subs not used: Crellin (GK), Morris, Clark, Conn-Clarke.

Bolton XI: Dixon (GK), John, Santos (C), G.Johnston, Doyle (Baptiste 74’), Aimson (Amaechi 68’), Afolayan, Lee, Kachunga, Thomason, Gordon.

Subs not used: Gilks (GK), Delfouneso, Tweedley, Conway, Pettifer.

Match Reports

Ticket News

Tickets on sale for league clash against Bolton on Tuesday

6 December 2021

Tickets for Fleetwood Town's Sky Bet League One clash against Bolton Wanderers are on sale - come and support the Cods on Tuesday night at Highbury!

Town are set to host The Trotter at home on Tuesday 7 December for the side's second league clash of the month. It's only been a short while since we last faced Bolton, in which a very young side battled valiantly throughout the Papa John's Trophy clash.

Ticket prices for our league clash are below:

General Sale

Seating (Parkside blocks B, C, D, and E Highbury Stand)

Adults: £24 (Premium block D: £26)

Concessions/Under-25s: £19 (Premium block D: £21)

Under-16s: £8 (Premium block D: £9)

Standing (Memorial Stand)

Adults: £22

Concessions/Under-25s: £17

Under-16s: £7

Get your tickets today in the club shop at Highbury only. Please note any away supporters found buying tickets in the home end will have them cancelled with NO REFUND.