Match preview: Fleetwood Town v Port Vale

10 March 2023

Fleetwood Town host Port Vale at Highbury on Saturday in their upcoming Sky Bet League One clash, and we have all the relevant information you need to know ahead of the 3pm kick-off.

Fixture: Fleetwood Town vs Port Vale

Competition: Sky Bet League One

Date: Saturday 11 March 2023

Kick-off: 15:00

Venue: Highbury Stadium

FLEETWOOD TOWN

The Cods will be looking to get back to winning ways as they are set to play at home for the first time this month, after three straight away fixtures against Championship side Burnley in the Emirates FA Cup, and two league clashes against Cheltenham Town and Wycombe Wanderers after that respectively.

Scott Brown’s side were one of the form teams last month, with five wins from seven in all competitions, but they have struggled a little bit with fatigue since them, as the game against the Valiants on Saturday will be their 11^th game in just five weeks. The three games so far in the month of March have all ended in defeats meaning a home game will be a welcome change.

The side will be hoping to bring some of their recent home momentum into this fixture as the last game at Highbury took place at the end of last month when Carlos Mendes Gomes' close-range strike was enough to beat Lancashire rivals Morecambe on the day.

PORT VALE

The Valiants have had a similar season to Fleetwood up to this date as both clubs are just separated by one point and a single place in the League One table. In their last outing, they came out victorious as they hosted Milton Keynes Dons with Aaron Donnelly’s goal in the first half being the only one of the contest almost a week ago at Vale Park.

With Fleetwood’s February form being one of the best in the league, the same can’t be said by the those at Vale as they won just one of their seven games, and that one ended as a 1-0 home win over Exeter City thanks to a William Forrester strike and a Rekeem Harper red card for the visiting side.

For those who remember, the Valiants were Town’s first test of the Sky Bet League One campaign back in July and they came out on top that day. Even though Dan Batty opened the scoring just six minutes into the game, two quickfire goals from Nathan Smith and Connor Hall flipped the game on its head meaning the points would head back down the M6 that day.

STEVEN WHITTAKER’S THOUGHTS AHEAD OF THE GAME

Assistant head coach Steven Whittaker sat down with the media on Thursday afternoon and previewed Fleetwood Town’s upcoming Sky Bet League One clash against Port Vale. Here’s what Steven had to say ahead of the game:

“It’s going to be a tough game; we’re coming off the back of a couple of better results at home so we are hoping we can keep a feel-good factor going into the game, they are off the back of a win so it’s going to be a challenge like every game is. We did a bit of work with the boys this morning, but we’ll continue to work and carry on planning.

“We’ve had a bit of inconsistency here and there; we’ve had games where we’ve drawn and have played well but, on the other hand, we’ve scored some goals in the final minutes of games that have secured us some points as well. There have been ups and downs with the good and the bad, but I think the boys need some credit.

“Every game we’ve been in whether we are winning or losing at the time and I don’t think there’s been a game that’s gotten away from us as we’ve been in them until the dying minutes, which is down to their endeavour to try and take something from each match – we’ll be trying to finish more towards the top than the bottom from now until the end of the season.”

IFOLLOW DETAILS

On the day of the game, there will be two matchday packages available for overseas supporters, and one for UK-based supporters - buy your iFollow pass HERE!

Video Match Pass - £10 (Overseas only)

Audio Match Pass - £2.50 (U.K and Overseas)

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!

If you want to view the packages availavle for the rest of the season, click HEREso you don't need to worry about much between now and the end of the season.

Match Previews

Match Reports

Report: Town come from behind to pick up a point against Vale

11 March 2023

Fleetwood Town came back from behind to pick up a valuable point in their 1-1 draw against Port Vale on Saturday afternoon at Highbury.

With the pressure mounting in the last 15 minutes of the game, Scott Brown’s side must have felt like they could have completed the comeback and taken all three points from the home clash, but they had to settle for a point as Jack Marriott’s first goal for the club cancelled out Matty Taylor’s opener.

Supporters had to wait until the 10^th minute for the first meaningful attack of the game when Marriott picked up the ball in a good position, but unfortunately couldn’t sort his feet out, with the attack dwindling out after the backline caught him up.

Seconds later, the visitors went on an attack of their own as David Worrall struck the ball towards the Town goal from a counter-attack, which was deflected meaning it was a tough stop for Jay Lynch, but one that the Cod Army have become accustomed to seeing from the number 13.

Fleetwood’s first chance of the game came not on goal, but after a lofted ball downfield from Josh Earl to Harvey Macadam, Town’s number 27 did win his side a corner. Nothing came from it but after sitting back for the opening quarter hour, the Cods showed some signs of attack.

Just shy of the half-hour mark, Port Vale’s dominance in the game began to show as they had a couple of flash chances, but one that should have been converted by Taylor - at the break it remained 0-0 as neither side could find an opening.

Just a few minutes after the second half got underway, you could instantly see the impact the tall figure of Jayden Stockley had for Town. His presence was helping get Fleetwood up the pitch. However, it was Vale who began the second half like they did the first.

The ball fell to Sammy Robinson and his shot trickled across the face of goal and just like midway through the first 45 minutes, Town were lucky not to be behind. The danger created by the visiting attack showed again when they took the lead in the 57^th minute through Taylor, who cleverly cut back to put the ball past Lynch.

After an off-the-ball incident where there was a bit of a to-do in the Fleetwood penalty area, Town’s Toto Nsiala, along with Vale’s Sammy Robinson and Taylor were all shown yellow cards. Town then had a chance which saw substitute Brendan Wiredu hit the ball on target but didn’t do enough to trouble Aidan Stone.

In search of an equaliser, Shaun Rooney found himself bursting forward, Josh Vela then played him through, and Rooney then delivered a great ball into the box, but Stockley couldn’t get on the end of it. The chances were at a premium for Town and that was their downfall in the game.

Town nearly had the equaliser eight minutes from time when Carlos Mendes Gomes took aim from just outside the box which drew a great save from Stone.

Moments later from the resulting corner, a scramble in Port Vale’s box saw the ball fall to Marriott who managed to squeeze it home to level the game.

Town XI: Lynch (GK), Wiredu, Mendes Gomes, Vela (C), Marriott, Warrington (Holgate 46’), Patterson (Ndaba 87’), Rooney, Macadam (Stockley 46’)

Unused subs: Fon Williams (GK), Batty, Johnston, McMillan.

Vale XI: Stone (GK), Donnelly, Smith, Worrall, Conlon (C), Ojo, Forrester, Taylor, Harrison (Proctor 71’), Pett, Robinson (Benning 73’)

Unused subs: Stevens (GK), Holden, Agyakwa, Butterworth, Politic.

Match Reports

Ticket News

Match tickets: Under-16s to gain entry for just £7

10 March 2023

Young Fleetwood Town fans who are under the age of 16 can gain entry to Highbury this weekend for just £7, with those 12 and under needed to be accompanied by a paying adult.

With Scott Brown's men back at Highbury on Saturday 11 March, and Port Vale the visitors to the Fylde Coast, we want to fill the stands and for those who are under the age of 16, you can gain entry for as little as £7!

This price also applies for those who are Under-12s. Please be aware that you will need to be supervised by a paying adult if 12 years-old or younger.

CLICK THIS LINK TO BUY YOUR MATCH TICKETS!

Here's a list of the full ticket prices for those under the age of 16:

SEATING (Parkside Stand & Highbury Stand)

Under-16s: £8

Under-5s: £1

STANDING (Memorial Stand)

Under-16s: £7

Under-5s: £1

Let's keep our home form going by getting a positive result against Darrell Clarke's Valiants!

If you require any further details, please don't hesitate to call the ticket office on 01253 775080. We will be open from 9am all week and on matchdays, so if you need to speak in person, pop down to Highbury Stadium.