Preview: Fleetwood Town v Sunderland

17 September 2021

Fleetwood Town face Sunderland on Saturday 18 September at Highbury in a Sky Bet League One fixture, and we have all you need to know ahead of the 3pm kick-off in our match preview.

Fixture: Fleetwood Town v Sunderland

Competition: Sky Bet League One

Date: Saturday 18 September 2021

Kick-off: 15:00

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

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FLEETWOOD TOWN

Fleetwood are on a good run of form as they head into their next league fixture, which is against Lee Johnson’s Black Cats at Highbury on Saturday. Last time out, they managed to beat Rotherham United 4-2 away from home as they extended their unbeaten run to four games in all competitions.

Town opened the scoring in the game through a Callum Morton strike in the first half and, even though the hosts gained the lead after goals from Michael Smith and Kieran Sadlier, Fleetwood managed to convert three more chances in the second half through Ged Garner, Danny Andrew, and Callum Camps.

In the game before, Town started their Papa John’s Trophy campaign at Highbury as they beat Leicester City 4-1 ensuring a comfortable beginning to the competition for Simon Grayson’s men.

Morton netted his first goal not long after the start with his right, then his second with his left at the end of the first half, and finally completed his hat-trick after the restart with his head to complete his hat-trick against the Foxes. Ryan Edmondson added a fourth later, with Jacob Wakeling scoring a consolation late on in the game for the visitors.

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SUNDERLAND

The Black Cats have had almost a perfect start to their campaign this year as they have managed to win seven out of their eight games so far, with their latest game being a 2-1 win over Accrington Stanley at the Stadium of Light.

It was a game that Sunderland started the better with Daniel Neill opening the scoring just 15 minutes into the game, but Accrington pulled one back at the half-hour mark through Michael Nottingham to make both sides go into the break on level terms. A Carl Winchester goal in the 58^th minute was the difference in this game as Johnson’s side took all three points from the tie.

In the game before, they overcame recently relegated Wycombe Wanderers at home, winning the game 3-1 on the day. Ross Stewart secured a brace in the game, with Ross Embleton adding another to the scoreline and even though David Wheeler found the back of the net late on for the Chairboys, it was too late to start a comeback.

LAST THREE MEETINGS

Fixture: Sunderland 2-0 Fleetwood Town

Competition: Sky Bet League One

Date: Tuesday 23 February 2021

Venue: Stadium of Light

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Fixture: Fleetwood Town 1-1 Sunderland

Competition: Sky Bet League One

Date: Friday 27 November 2020

Venue: Highbury Stadium

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Fixture: Fleetwood Town 2-1 Rotherham United

Competition: Papa John’s Trophy

Date: Tuesday 10 November 2020

Venue: Highbury Stadium

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	Fleetwood Town	Draws	Sunderland
H2H results	2	4	1

PRE-MATCH QUOTES: SIMON GRAYSON

Head Coach Simon Grayson spoke to the local press ahead of Fleetwood Town’s Sky Bet League One clash against Sunderland this Saturday at Highbury Stadium. Here is what the gaffer had to say in his interview:

“I don’t focus on the league table, nor do I read it at this point, and I’m not interested in what other teams do, our main focus is how we’re doing; allegedly Sunderland are top of the table but we have to make sure we embrace these games.

“Not many teams enjoy coming to Highbury, they will look at us and see we’re on a decent run of form and have some quality players, we do have to respect Sunderland though, they will think they’re far too big for the division and will think they have been here for far too long, no-one has a divine right to get out of the division, you have to earn it.”

GET YOUR ONWARD CARD TODAY!

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Match Previews

Match Reports

Report: Late drama sees Town pick up a point against Sunderland

18 September 2021

Fleetwood Town shared the points in a 2-2 draw against Sunderland in Sky Bet League One at Highbury on Saturday afternoon.

The visitors took the lead midway through the first half after Ross Stewart converted a cross from the right with his head, with the side doubling their lead from the spot through captain Aidan McGeady.

Callum Morton pulled one back late on to start a counter-charge which paid off right at the death as Ged Garner converted a last-minute spot-kick to make it level.

Sunderland had the first real chance of the afternoon after just five minutes as Stewart’s header was directed straight at Alex Cairns who matched the effort with a confident catch.

The opening 10 minutes was primarily played in the middle of the park - a couple of half-chances created for both sides where on the 10-minute mark, McGeady cut inside and blazed one over the bar from range.

A few minutes later at the other end of the pitch, Ged Garner whipped in a teasing cross but no one in a red shirt could capitalise.

Fleetwood enjoyed a spell of pressure against the Black Cats as a ball over the top of Sunderland’s defence proved a problem for the away side, but Morton’s shot was well saved by Thorben Hoffman and after an intense minute or so, the visitors cleared their lines.

Less than a few minutes later, the away side took the lead as Stewart’s guided header found the bottom right corner from Elliot Embleton’s free-kick.

The next few minutes the visitors looked to double their advantage, but Fleetwood’s back-line soaked up the pressure and kept the scoreline the same.

Just before the 40th minute Harrison Biggins had a strong penalty claim waved away as his cross appeared to have struck the arm of Bailey Wright, but the referee wasn’t interested in the appeal around Highbury. Soon after, Town were close to going in level at the break but James Hill’s header was just shy of the crossbar.

The Cod Army made a positive start to the second half, keeping the ball well and getting into dangerous positions. Callum Camps found himself on the right side of the box but was caught in two minds and the attack fizzled out.

Morton pushed forward with intent down the left and forced Luke O’Nien into receiving the first yellow card of the game as he dragged the Fleetwood attacker to the ground to prevent the counter-attack.

Cairns was called upon to make a fine save against McGeady to deny the visitors from doubling their lead. Jordan Rossiter produced a proper captain’s block a few moments later.

Morton once again caused havoc amongst the Sunderland back line as he got in behind one on one with Hoffmann, but the visitors’ goalkeeper provided a fine save to deny Morton once again.

All of Fleetwood’s hard work in the second half to get back into the game took a massive blow as the referee gave Sunderland a penalty for a foul by Biggins inside the box, which McGeady narrowly converted as Cairns nearly produced yet another fine save.

Fleetwood halved the deficit with just over 10 minutes of time left to play. Morton finally got the goal he deserved all afternoon from the left-hand side of the box which set up an intense ending to the game.

Town piled on the pressure as they sought the equaliser as Garner’s fancy flick went just inches wide of the post but couldn’t quite find an equaliser until Town won a penalty with seconds to go, which G.Garner converted.

Town XI: Cairns (GK), Andrew, Clarke, Morton, Camps, Rossiter (C), Garner, Hill, Johnson, Biggins (Lane 77’), Clark (Garner 46’)

Unused subs: Crellin (GK), Edmondson, Matete, Baggley, Conn-Clarke.

Sunderland XI: Hoffmann (GK), Doyle, Embleton (Broadhead 72’), Gooch, O’Nien, Stewart, Winchester, Cirkin, Neil (Evans 67’), Wright, McGeady (C) (Alves 90’)

Unused subs: Burge (GK), Huggins, Dajaku, Pritchard.

Match Reports

Ticket News

Ticket update for Town's league fixture against Sunderland

17 September 2021

Tickets are now available only in-store at the club shop at Highbury Stadium to people with previous history on the shop system.

The Cods are on a roll at the moment as they are heading into the Sunderland clash at Highbury on the back of a four-game unbeaten streak, with the last outing resulting in a 4-2 win over Rotherham United on the road.

Please note, Fleetwood Town are only selling home tickets. If any tickets are purchased from away supporters through the home ticket system, they will be automatically cancelled with no refund.

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