Match preview: Derby County v Fleetwood Town

17 March 2023

Fleetwood Town travel to Derbyshire to face Derby County in their latest Sky Bet League One fixture, and we have all the information you need ahead of the game.

Fixture: Derby County vs Fleetwood Town

Competition: Sky Bet League One

Date: Saturday 18 March 2023

Kick-off: 3pm

Venue: Pride Park

DERBY COUNTY

The Rams come into this fixture on the back of a 3-2 win away at Oxford United at the Kassam Stadium. Even though they found themselves behind after 14 minutes, Louie Sibley was on hand to level up the scoring in Oxfordshire.

Sibley made it a brace for him just before the half-time whistle, with an own goal from Sam Long making it 3-1 at the hour mark. They managed to hold on, but with the hosts scoring in the 90th minute, it was a nervy end to the match.

Derby currently sits 5th in Sky Bet League One with 64 points, with their home form being a key point for their success as they've picked up 12 wins thus far. Their last home win was a 2-0 victory over Cheltenham Town, with David McGoldrick and Lewis Dobbin both getting themselves on the scoresheet.

McGoldrick, who is the man to watch this weekend, missed the last outing due to a hip injury, but is thought to be back in contention for Saturday. With spells at Nottingham Forest, Sheffield United and Ipswich Town, he has scored more than 130 career goals, with 19 coming this season.

FLEETWOOD TOWN

Town came from behind in the last match to salvage a point against Port Vale at the weekend. After Matty Taylor opened the scoring for the Vale in the 57th minute at Highbury, January signing Jack Marriott scored seven minutes from time meaning the points would be shared, and also open his account at Fleetwood.

Scott Brown's side will make the trip to Derbyshire on Saturday, but go into the clash at Pride Park on the back of two straight losses away from home. Town lost 2-0 away at Wycombe Wanderers last Tuesday and narrowly lost out to Cheltenham Town four days earlier.

Following five weeks of Saturday and Tuesday matches, this was the first week that the players had a full week's worth of training down at Poolfoot Farm. It has been good to see the lads at the races on the field this week with only ten games left of the Sky Bet League One season.

WHAT STEVEN WHITTAKER HAD TO SAY BEFORE THE GAME

Assistant head coach Steven Whittaker spoke to the press on Thursday afternoon ahead of Fleetwood Town’s initial trip to Pride Park to take on Derby County at the weekend - he had this to say in his pre-match press conference.

“If you look at the top end of the league, there are some big clubs in here and to be fair to the boys, when we’ve gone to these stadiums, we’ve performed well and picked up some valuable points along the way. We shouldn’t have any fears as we know we can put on a performance that can, hopefully, bring us the points back home.

“I think, maybe, the lads get a lift from the challenge as we all know that motivation is massive in this sport. If they are motivated by perhaps playing against a better calibre of player, bigger stadiums, or bigger crowds, we know that it’s great for us as we know that they can stand up in those situations and they have done so multiple times already.

“The aim is to be consistent across the season and that will push you up the league. We know we’ve been sloppy here and there, but the lads have gone to places like Plymouth and Ipswich away and picked up points as well as taking home all three against Peterborough so we have done well away from home, so let’s hope that can continue Saturday.”

CLICK THIS LINK TO WATCH THE FULL INTERVIEW ON IFOLLOW

DERBY COUNTY'S AWAY SUPPORTERS GUIDE

If you are making your way down to Pride Park, their Supporters Liaison Officer has provided the Cod Army with a full supporters guide. Click HERE to read!

iFOLLOW DETAILS

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

Video Match-Pass - £10 (Overseas Supporters only)

Audio Match-pass - £2.50 (Overseas & U.K based Supporters)

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.

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Match Previews

Match Reports

Report: Town's first trip to Derby ends in an impressive victory

18 March 2023

It was a performance to remember from Fleetwood Town on their first ever visit to Pride Park as they walked away winners after the 2-0 win over Derby County.

In a game that saw the Cod Army sing throughout, it was two first-half goals that secured the win for Town. First up was a barnstorming strike from Jayden Stockley, which rebounded into the goal of the back of the keeper, and that was backed up soon after by a stunning Carlos Mendes Gomes solo run.

With the first chance of the game, Scott Brown’s men put themselves into the lead as he was in a yard of space outside the Derby area and decided to strike the ball first time, with the shot hitting the underside of the bar before it came off Joe Wildsmith’s back and into the back of the net.

The hosts tried to come straight back into the game and take back the momentum as Nathaniel Mendez-Laing struck an effort into a crowd of players from the edge of the Town area, which deflected back to him – the follow-up effort went wide of the mark.

Town were very much in the ascendancy in the first half as Jack Marriott had a couple of half chances, with one of those coming from a Corrie Ndaba cross and forcing Wildsmith into a smart save. Mendes Gomes and Josh Vela were also active in the final third of the pitch throughout.

At the half-hour mark, Fleetwood doubled their lead as a brilliant example of transition play is shown as Shaun Rooney wins the ball back and Stockley plays a perfect ball down the wing for Mendes Gomes, who dribbled past the backline and fires straight into the near post to make it 2-0.

It should have been three not long before the break as the referee rules Stockley had fouled a Derby player in the build-up to assisting Marriott’s lob over Wildsmith, but the goal didn’t count, and Town’s advantage stayed at two goals to the good.

After a flurry of changes from Paul Warne, the Cods had to weather a storm of pressure from the home side in the opening stages of the second half with neither side creating a clear-cut chance until the 67^th minute when Marriott forced another save from the keeper after a venomous strike.

The first real effort on goal in the second half by the home side came in the last 20 minutes as Lewis Dobbin cut inside from the left, taking the ball past two men and firing it towards Jay Lynch’s goal, but the crowd in between the substitute and the goal stopped the shot.

In the 87^th minute, Derby had the last effort of the game as substitute Jason Knight decided to try his luck from range and test Lynch’s handling but, unfortunately for the home side, Town’s number 13 was a match and stopped the effort, meaning Fleetwood would walk away winners from this clash.

Derby XI: Wildsmith (GK), Forsyth (C), Hourihane (McGoldrick 44’), Cashin, Bird, Collins, Mendez-Laing (Dobbin 62’), Smith, Sibley (Barkhuizen 46’), Springett (Knight 44’), Davies (Roberts 46’).

Unused subs: McGee (GK), White.

Town XI: Lynch (GK), Wiredu, Ndaba (Nsiala 83’), Mendes Gomes (Macadam 75’), Vela (C), Stockley, Marriott (Hayes 88’), Warrington, Holgate, Rooney (Johnston 83’), Earl.

Unused subs: McMullan (GK), Patterson, Batty.

Match Reports

Ticket News

Last chance to pick up your Derby County tickets

17 March 2023

With the season only having 10 games left, Fleetwood Town will travel to Pride Park to face Derby County on Saturday - and we want you there to cheer us on!

Scott Brown and his side have finally had time to get some work done at Poolfoot Farm after playing 11 games in just five weeks.

The players have spent the week to planning ahead for the upcoming trip to Derbyshire, and they want as many members of the Cod Army behind them this weekend at Pride Park!

FANS CAN CLICK HERE TO READ THE DERBY COUNTY SUPPORTERS GUIDE!

The Cod Army have been allocated seats in The South East Corner Upper Block, with prices as follows:

Adults: £20

Seniors (65+): £15

18–21-Year-olds: £15

13–17-Year-olds: £10

6–12-Year-olds: £5

Under-5s: FREE

Coach travel is also available for purchase, with our coaches set to depart from Highbury at 10am on the morning of the game, costing only £5 for all Onward Card Holders and £15 for Non-Onward Card Holders.

Please be mindful that match tickets will go off sale at Fleetwood Town's Ticket Office at 4:30pm on Friday 17 March 2023. Tickets WILL NOT BE AVAILABLE on the day of the game at Pride Park.

You can buy your tickets online HERE, or in-store. If you have any questions, please contact the ticket office on 01253 775080 (option 1).