Preview: Fleetwood Town v Sheffield Wednesday

25 December 2022

Fleetwood Town are set to face Sheffield Wednesday at Highbury Stadium on Monday 26 December, and we have all the information you need to know ahead of the 3pm kick-off in our match preview.

Fixture: Fleetwood Town v Sheffield Wednesday

Competition: Sky Bet League One

Date: Monday 26 December 2022

Kick-off: 15:00

Venue: Highbury Stadium, Park Ave, Fleetwood, FY7 6SP

FLEETWOOD TOWN

With the Club's last match against Cambridge United being postponed due to a frozen pitch, the Cods come into this game on the back of a late 2-1 win over MK Dons at Stadium MK (Saturday 10 December). Young defender Carl Johnston scored Town's equaliser after Warren O'Hora's opener for the hosts, and then it was left for substitute Dan Batty to win it for Scott Brown's men right at the death.

Batty scored in Milton Keynes last season when the two sides played out a six-goal thriller, and made his birthday this year one to remember by scoring with his weak foot, right in front of the travelling away fans.

This will be Town's first home match since Saturday 19 November when they hosted Bolton Wanderers in the league. That match finished 2-1 to the Trotters, so a win before Christmas Day on home soil will really boost the festive spirit in the community.

BUY YOUR TICKETS FOR THE MATCH HERE!

SHEFFIELD WEDNESDAY

The Sky Bet League One side currently sit 3rd in the table after picking up 43 points from their 22 league matches played. Their last match in Sky Bet League One was a goalless draw against Oxford United at Hillsbrough - which was played on Saturday 17 December

Thie last win on the road was way back in November when they made the trip to Accrington Stanley. The game finished 1-0 to the visitors, with Alex Mighten scoring the only goal in the fixture. Sheffield Wednesday have won 6 away from home this season, with their sights on a 7th win, replicating what they did at Highbury last campaign.

Their man to watch on Boxing Day is Lee Gregory. He scored a hat-trick the last time the two sides met. He scored in the opening few minutes of the game and then saw his team concede two goals with Wednesday's play-off hopes hanging at a thread. With two goals in as many minutes late in the second half, the 34-year-old helped his side to come from behind to claim a vital victory on the road in front of over 1,200 travelling away fans.

He's scored four goals in 12 starts this season, and will be looking to be the firing forward once again to help push the blue and whites into the top two places before the New Year.

WHAT SCOTT BROWN SAID AHEAD OF THE GAME

“We want to be a possession-based side and we showed that at Ipswich a few weeks ago. We did struggle for the first 10 minutes of the game but then we grew into it and controlled the game. We had a lot of possession, and it makes me proud the lads playing that way.

“We create chances and when you bring on the likes of Cian Hayes and Joe Garner, you know they’re going to create chances and Joe had a great chance cleared off the line with his first touch, and Hayesy gets that bit of luck you need to grab the equaliser.

“There’s more to come. We are all learning and I have to say I am enjoying it. I think if you don’t enjoy your work, there’s no point turning up. I chat to the lads, tick all the boxes before training to give the lads the best opportunity on a Saturday afternoon.

“It’s about getting an understanding and with each game comes different challenges and for us when we play Sheffield Wednesday, we are looking forward to it with the crowd and it should be a good occasion with it also being Christmas time.”

WATCH THE FULL INTERVIEW LIVE ON IFOLLOW HERE!

IFOLLOW DETAILS

On the day of the game, there will be two matchday packages available for our UK-based and overseas supporters:

Audio Match Pass - £2.50

Video Match Pass - £10.00*

*This package is available for both U.K and Overseas supporters. This will change come January 2023.

Those who choose the Audio Match Pass option will get access to just the commentary, which will be provided by our partners, BBC Radio Lancashire.

Season passes are available with audio passes for only £45 for the season, for all UK-based members of the Cod Army! You can find more details by heading over to our iFollow page.

iFollow Graphic (Website).jpg

BUY A MATCH TICKETS FOR SATURDAY'S CLASH

The Cods are back at home for the first time in over a month and, in that time, have progressed into the Third Round of the Emirates FA Cup after beating Ebbsfleet United, earned a valuable point at high-flying Ipswich Town, before snatching the win at Stadium MK on Saturday over Milton Keynes Dons.

Play your part in keeping the momentum going by getting your seat sorted for our upcoming game. Tickets for adults start at £22 in the Memorial Stand, with premium seating still available in the Parkside for just £26 (limited spaces left in this section). Seniors and Under-25s can get their tickets from as little as £17, with Under-16s able to gain access from £7 onwards.

WANT SOMETHING MORE? What better present for the Fleetwood Town fan in your life than this year’s half-season Onward Card, which will allow access to every home league game from Boxing Day onwards?

The reduced price will be valid from the Sheffield Wednesday game on 26 December, meaning you will be able to go to 12 league games at Highbury from just £7 per game for adults, £5 per game for seniors and under-25s, with under-16s just £1.92 per game!

This is the perfect time to get a loved one a Fleetwood Town Onward Card this Christmas. Half-season Onward Cards are on sale in the club shop/ticket office and will also be available online via store.fleetwoodtownfc.com.

Match Previews

Match Reports

Report: Town fall to a narrow defeat to Sheffield Wednesday

26 December 2022

Fleetwood Town fell to a narrow 2-1 defeat as Sheffield Wednesday took all three points from the League One clash at Highbury Stadium.

It looked like the Cods had done enough during the game to earn at least a point from the fixture after Shaun Rooney opened the scoring 10 minutes in, but goals from George Byers and Marvin Johnson meant the Owls would take the win on a windy afternoon in Fleetwood.

What a start it was for Scott Brown’s men as not only did Ged Garner work a brilliant effort, which had to be saved by Cameron Dawson, but they also managed to open the scoring thanks to a venomous effort from Rooney.

Just 10 minutes in, the ball was played to Carlos Mendes Gomes on the edge of the box, who laid it off for Dan Batty. He did well as he spotted the run of Rooney, with the full-back putting everything into his strike, which flew into the bottom left corner of the goal.

Not long after, the away side found their way back into the game after a shot from Marvin Johnson, who was 20 yards out, deflected into the back of the net off Byers to level the game up again after a quarter of an hour.

Jay Lynch was called into action soon after as Alex Mighten worked a yard of space after latching onto the end of a deep cross from the left, but Town’s shot-stopper made himself big and blocked the shot with relative ease before the defence got the ball clear of danger.

Darren Moore, in his 100^th game in charge of the visitors, was forced into an early change midway through the half, having to replace Lee Gregory with Callum Paterson, and they created a chance straight after as Smith looked to have his eye in inside the box, but his effort went wide.

Town ended the half the better side and should have gone into the break a goal up. Not only did Rooney nod the ball into Dawson’s bar, but Brendan Wiredu also had a shot cleared off the line. Callum Morton somehow put his effort from less than five yards out, and Rooney’s drilled effort from range afterwards was saved by the diving Wednesday keeper.

It was a slow start to the second half for both sides, with the first real chance coming on the hour mark. Ged Garner stood over a free-kick on the far side and aimed it in towards the near post, and Morton headed just over Dawson’s bar from close range.

The visitors turned the game into their favour with not long left to go as a brilliantly struck effort from Johnson, after a pivotal clearance from Rooney, was drilled straight into the bottom left corner of the goal, leaving Lynch not much chance to save it.

A red card for Rooney would follow, and multiple subs for both sides, but the game would see no more goals as Wednesday walked away from Highbury with a 2-1 victory on the afternoon.

Town XI: Lynch (GK), Wiredu, Mendes Gomes (J.Garner 86’), Vela (C), Morton (Muskwe 77’), Warrington, G.Garner (Hayes 77’), Nsiala, Batty (Omochere 77’), Rooney, Johnston.

Unused subs: Stolarczyk (GK), Andrew, Lane.

Owls XI: Dawson (GK), Palmer, Gregory (Paterson 24’), Bannan (C) (Dele-Bashiru 87’), Byers (Windass 87’), Johnson, Bakinson (Vaulks 60’), Smith, James, McGuinness, Mighten.

Unused subs: Stockdale (GK), Fawemo, Hunt.

Match Reports

Ticket News

Back the lads at Highbury on Boxing Day

22 December 2022

Fleetwood Town supporters can still buy match tickets for the Boxing Day league clash against promotion hopefuls, Sheffield Wednesday.

We have made it as simple as we can, you can buy your match ticket in-store at Highbury Stadium's Ticket Office (please check opening times on the website).

If you would like to know any further details, please contact the Ticket Office on 01253 775080.