Preview: Bolton Wanderers v Fleetwood Town

28 April 2023

Fleetwood Town face Bolton Wanderers on Saturday 29 April at the University of Bolton 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: Bolton Wanderers v Fleetwood Town

Competition: Sky Bet League One

Date: Saturday 29 April 2023

Kick-off: 3pm

Venue: University of Bolton Stadium, Burnden Way, Horwich, Bolton, BL6 6JW

FLEETWOOD TOWN

Fleetwood head to the University of Bolton Stadium in very different circumstance to their last visit, which did take place 364 days ago – a match which saw Town keep their League One status on goal difference.

Scott Brown’s side won their last match 1-0 against MK Dons at Highbury. Promise Omochere bagged his 7^th goal of the season after linking up with January signing, Jack Marriott.

Under-18s keeper Stephen McMullan made his debut in the fixture, with ever-present Jay Lynch named on the bench. With Town now safe, the head coach has told local media that he will be giving young players a chance in the final few games of the season.

Fleetwood currently sit 12^thon 57 points – 17 more than they picked up last campaign – and with the manager wanting to finish off the season strong, can Town grab their 20^th win of the season in all competitions and spoil the Play-Off party for Bolton?

BOLTON WANDERERS

Bolton currently sit 5^th in the league table with 75 points to their name. Defeat in their latest fixture at home to Accrington Stanley might have hindered their Play-Off chances, but a win at the weekend will only help.

Ian Evatt’s side have won four out of their last seven, with 20 wins coming on home soil this season in all competition. They’ve already claimed the Papa Johns’ Trophy after a comfortable 4-0 win over Plymouth Argyle, but will they return to Wembley in the Play-Offs?

A number of ex-Fleetwood players are playing their football in Greater Manchester. Midfielder Kyle Dempsey has made 44 appearances, scoring 5 in all competitions, Gethin Jones has featured 37 games, and forward Dion Charles has scored 20 in 48 matches this season.

LAST MEETINGS BETWEEN THE TWO SIDES

Fixture: Fleetwood Town 1-2 Bolton Wanderers

Competition: Sky Bet League One

Date: Saturday 19 November 2022

Venue: Highbury Stadium

PRE-MATCH QUOTES: SCOTT BROWN

Head Coach Scott Brown spoke to the press ahead of the final away game of the season against Bolton Wanderers at the University of Bolton Stadium on Saturday. Here is what he had to say in his interview:

“We are going to treat the game at the weekend like any other game, Bolton have a lot to play for as there are three teams going to two positions now in the play-offs. They got a disappointing result against Accy, who are fighting for their lives at the bottom of the division so they are extremely hungry and will naturally make every game they’ve got left a tough one for their opposition.

“We’ve got to do the same, we got to make sure that we turn up as we know they are going to come for us as they’ve got a lot to play for and we are in a position that we haven’t got a lot to play for, but it’s the way you want to finish the season. They will be looking to bounce back, but we are in a good place, in a good run of form, and the lads are enjoying playing games right now.

“Big stadium, big pitch, and a fantastic fanbase; it’s about our lads going there, expressing themselves, and playing good football. There’s no pressure on the lads’ shoulders, they’ve just got to show what a top-quality player you are against a top-six side as they stand at the moment.”

CLICK HERE TO READ AND WATCH THE FULL INTERVIEW

IFOLLOW DETAILS

The Cods are on a bit of a run at the moment as they have managed to pick up seven points from a possible nine in their last three games after beating both Accrington Stanley and Milton Keynes Dons and picking up another point away at Forest Green Rovers.

They will take on the play-off chasing Trotters are currently sitting in fifth in the Sky Bet League One table and they will only have eyes on making the play-off as they with only two games to go in the season, but can Town spoil their party at the weekend?

All supporters of the Cods will be able to purchase an Audio Match Pass on the day for just £2.50 and get behind the lads, and a Video Match Pass is also available for those supporters overseas, which will cost you £10 - buy your iFollow passes HERE!

Commentary for both streaming services will be provided by BBC Radio Lancashire, live from the University of Bolton Stadium, as their reporters will be watching the game next to the Club’s media team in the press box.

If you want to view these passes or even the seasonal ones which will run until our clash against Ipswich Town at the start of May, click HERE – make sure you don’t miss anything from Fleetwood Town from now until the end of the season!

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Match Previews

Match Reports

Report: Town's away clash against Bolton ends in defeat

29 April 2023

Fleetwood Town fell to a 2-0 defeat away from home against Bolton Wanderers in their final away clash of the season on Saturday afternoon.

A first-half goal, courtesy of an Elias Kachunga header from a corner kick, saw the hosts take the lead into the break and, after a red card was shown to Jayden Stockley 60 minutes in, the ball fell kindly to former-Cod Kyle Dempsey in the box to double the Trotters’ lead with 13 minutes to go.

Town looked comfortable in the opening 15 minutes of the game in Greater Manchester as they created a few half-chances to start the game off. The first shot came from Jayden Stockley, which was collected easily by James Trafford before Jack Marriott saw his effort be blocked in the box.

But it would be the hosts who would take the lead as Kachunga would get on the end of a corner kick and slot the ball past Jay Lynch with their first shot of the game. The Cods almost found an instant reply 60 seconds later but Promise Omochere’s header went just over the home side’s crossbar.

For Scott Brown’s men, the search was on for the equaliser as a corner kick straight from the training ground found its way to Marriott on the edge of the box, whose shot was blocked and deflected towards Shaun Rooney, who saw the same result soon after.

More chances would come just before the break for Town as Rooney looked to play a cross into the box for Stockley, but the delivery was just behind the frontman, which eased the danger. Two minutes later, Marriott tried his luck with a first-time effort, but it was saved well by Trafford.

With seconds left in the first period, both sides had one last effort on goal as Marriott, unluckily slipped on the wet surface as he looked to pounce on a Patterson cross, and Dion Charles headed Gethin Jones’ cross high and wide before the referee’s whistle blew.

The second half was a feisty affair with the first chance coming soon after the restart as Toto Nsiala rose highest to get on the end of Patterson’s corner, heading on target and forcing Trafford into a smart save. Jones then started a counter, but Charles couldn’t get on the end of his cross.

A major event in the second half was Stockley being shown a red card on the hour mark, it seemed to be MJ Williams who started the encounter, running into the back of the forward, but the card was shown to Fleetwood’s number nine anyway.

This put Town on the back foot for the final 30 minutes and Bolton almost capitalised on it as Kachunga slid the ball across the face of goal for Charles to tap home, but the linesman rightfully deemed the ball to have gone out of play before the shot took place.

The game was put to bed in what was quite a lucky fashion as Jay Lynch pulled off a brilliant save to stop dangerous Randell Williams cross, but it ricocheted straight into the path of Dempsey who tapped home into an open net from close range, meaning the game would end 2-0 to the hosts.

Bolton XI: Trafford (GK), Jones (C), M.Williams (Thomason 71’), G.Johnston, Charles (Adeboyejo 80’), Toal, Lee (Morley 71’), Bradley, Dempsey, Kachunga (Nlundulu 88’), R.Williams.

Unused subs: John, Sheehan, Jerome.

Town XI: Lynch (GK), Wiredu, Vela (C), Stockley, Marriott (Hayes 85’), Warrington (White 85’), Omochere, Nsiala, Patterson (Mendes Gomes 65’), Rooney, Johnston.

Unused subs: McMullan (GK), Quitirna, Holgate, W.Johnson.

Match Reports

Ticket News

Final day to pick up your tickets for Bolton away

28 April 2023

Fleetwood Town fans have until 4:30pm today to purchase their match tickets and coach travel for the final away match of the season at North West based side, Bolton Wanderers.

The Cod Army will play their final away game of the season away at the University of Bolton Stadium, and we want as many of you as possible to cheer us on from the stands.

BUY YOUR BOLTON WANDERERS TICKETS ONLINE HERE!

With the hosts still having the Sky Bet Leagie One Play-Offs to play for, they will be hoping to secure their place in the top six after their 1-0 defeat at home to Accrington Stanley in midweek.

TICKET NEWS

The Cod Army will be located in the Franking Sense South Stand (Upper), with prices as follows:

Adults: £25

Seniors: £20

Under-23s: £20

Under-18s: £15

Under-12s: £8

There will be no pay of the gate on Saturday 29 April. Supporters have until 4:30pm on Friday 28 April to purchase both tickets and travel for the Bolton match.

COACH TRAVEL

Coaches will be departing Highbury Stadium at 11:30am, costing only £5 for all Onward Card Holders and £10 for Non-Onward Card Holders.

To purchase either coach travel or match tickets, you can visit the club shop at Highbury Stadium or call 01253 775080.