Match preview: Fleetwood Town v Blackpool

1 November 2023

Fleetwood Town host local rivals Blackpool FC in Sky Bet League One action on Wednesday night, and in this preview, we have everything you need to know about this highly-anticipated clash.

Fixture: Fleetwood Town v Blackpool FC

Competition: Sky Bet League One

Date: Wednesday 1 November 2023

Kick-Off: 19:45 (BST)

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

BLACKPOOL FC

Neil Critchley is in his second spell in charge of the Tangerines since leaving in 2022 for Aston Villa and most recently, Queens Park Rangers. The former Liverpool Academy coach is now looking for his second promotion with the Seasiders after beating Lincoln 2-1 at Wembley back in May 2021.

His side have a higher points per match average [ppm] of 1.68 in comparison to his first stint in charge of a 1.55 ppm - in Critchley’s first spell, promotion was on the cards for Fleetwood’s Fylde Coast neighbours.

The Tangerines were enjoying a decent spell of form in October as they turned their fortunes around after their 3-1 loss to Derby County at the start of the month. With three wins, two draws and the month ended with a 4-2 loss at home to Peterborough United last time out, the Seasiders currently sit in a healthy 7th, three points behind Stevenage who occupy the final Play-Off place.

Jordan Rhodes is the one to watch for Blackpool as the on-loan Huddersfield Town man is the joint-second highest goal scorer in the division with nine goals, two via the penalty spot. Critchley will have to switch up at the other end of the pitch however, as centre-back Oliver Casey faces suspension after being sent off last weekend.

THOSE WHO HAVE PLAYED FOR BOTH

There has been a few players that have kept themselves in the Fylde Coast playing for both Fleetwood and Blackpool at different levels of their respected careers, here we look at the overview of a select few.

Jamie Milligan: Town great Milligan is fondly remembered at Highbury as he was the composer of some great memories for the Cod Army in more then 200 appearances for the club over nine years: that ‘goal’ that never stood against Farsley Celtic, the late penalty against Yeovil and ‘Milly’ was integral in Fleetwood’s promotions from the North West Counties and upwards in the pyramid. Milligan spent two years at Blackpool after being a product of Everton’s academy but will always be associated with his Town at Highbury.

Bobby Grant: With a lethal left foot, Grant gained cult-hero status at Fleetwood since signing from Blackpool on a permanent signing (after being loaned originally). Grant only made seven appearances for Blackpool, but 139 appearances later for the Cods with 24 goals scored - the Liverpool-born midfielder has a fine catalogue of goals for Fleetwood with many emphatic strikes from outside the box his trademark, including one from his own half against Southport in 2016.

Ben Heneghan: Current Cod Heneghan has only played six games for Town so far since signing in September of this year, but some impressive performances so far has earned the ex-Blackpool man the nickname ‘Big Ben’ at Highbury - Heneghan played 80 times down the road at Bloomfield and in that time played for the Seasiders at Highbury in a 0-0 draw - here’s hoping Heneghan is on the winning side this side for Town.

There are many others who have played for both Clubs... Can you name them all?

THE GAFFER’S THOUGHTS AHEAD OF THE GAME

“I think the team will firstly need to have the emotional control it’s so important because we know Blackpool are a good side but for us it’s about what we do at home as we’ll need to control as much as the tempo as we can and start positively, that means not taking the first punch on the nose and conceding first, we have done that on too many occasions at home.

“Blackpool are similar to Barnsley who we last played in the sense where you expect them to be up there and in and around the top but for us it’s just an opportunity to get three points and we’re going to fight them really, really hard.

“We’re going to have a good atmosphere, the fans will be frustrated with our home form but certainly no-one has turned against us, we need to make that ground a fortress, this game is a perfect opportunity, a catalyst almost to do that.”

WATCH THE FULL PRE-MATCH PRESS CONFERENCE WITH LEE JOHNSON HERE!

IFOLLOW PASSES AVAILABLE FOR WEDNESDAY NIGHT

If you can’t make it to Highbury on the off chance on Wednesday evening, you can watch – or listen to - the game on our iFollow, with two matchday packages available for our UK-based and overseas supporters:

Video Match Pass - £10.00 (available for all)

Audio Match Pass - £2.50 (available for all)

CLICK HERE TO BUY YOUR PASS TODAY!

Those who choose the Video Match Pass option will get access to the commentary and the full match, which will be provided by our partners, BBC Radio Lancashire, with the Audio Match Pass including just the commentary of the whole game.

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.

FULL TICKETING DETAILS

With firework night on the horizon, the first show in November will be at Highbury on Wednesday night against the Seasiders.

Lee Johnson’s side ready to take on another big boy in the division, the Cods need you, the Cod Army, in the stands or supporting elsewhere for this one.

The club will like to remind supporters that tickets will ONLY be available for supporters who already have an account on our Ticketmaster site.

If you have already purchased a season ticket this season, you will already have an account on our new ticketing system on there.

Match Previews

Match Reports

Report: Town and Blackpool play out a score draw in their derby

1 November 2023

Fleetwood Town played out a 3-3 draw in their Fylde Coast Derby against Blackpool on Wednesday evening at Highbury Stadium.

First-half goals from Promise Omochere and Jack Marriott had Town in the lead, before a second-half brace from Sonny Carey and a Shayne Lavery strike completed a turnaround, only for Jack Marriott to draw the game level with a moment of magic.

Both sides came out flying in true derby day fashion, as first Jordan Rhodes struck a curling effort onto the crossbar before Shaun Rooney forced Blackpool keeper Dan Grimshaw to make a low save from close range.

But it wasn’t long before the deadlock was broken, as when Omochere found space on the edge of the area, he curled a beautiful low strike into the far corner and sent the Cod Army into sheer pandemonium.

That feeling would only get better because minutes later, it was two-nil. Omochere struck again from close range, but this time saw his effort parried into the path of Jack Marriott, who fired in the rebound to extend Town’s advantage.

After a blistering start from Fleetwood, it should’ve been three, but Grimshaw produced a brilliant save with his trailing left foot to deny Rooney from point-blank range. At the other end, a heroic block from Ben Heneghan stopped Carey’s low strike from reducing the deficit.

Spirit, togetherness, and defence organisation ensured Lee Johnson’s side was able to limit Blackpool to virtually no other clear-cut chances in the first half, as his side took their well-deserved two-goal lead into half-time.

But two minutes into the second half, Blackpool had a goal back, when Carey’s curling strike took an unfortunate deflection past an unsighted Jay Lynch to reduce the deficit.

From that moment, Blackpool were naturally in the ascendancy and dug out an equaliser three minutes later. Carey fired again from the edge of the area, this time hitting a brilliant low strike past Lynch to level the score.

Just as both sides began to settle down and come to terms with the hectic start to the second half, Blackpool completed the turnaround, as substitute Lavery raced through on goal before squeezing past Lynch at the near post.

Despite falling behind, Fleetwood continued to search for a response, and it came when Jack Marriott produced a moment of magic, hitting a sensational 25-yard strike into the top corner to level the scores again.

With ten minutes of added time signalled, both sides searched for a winner, and some heroic goalkeeping from Lynch and a spectacular goal-line intervention denied Blackpool a winner right at the death, as the spoils were shared.

Town XI: Lynch (GK), Wiredu, Lawal, Vela (C) (Graydon 88’), Mayor, Marriott, Heneghan, Omochere (Teale 53’), Rooney (Broom 88’), Earl, Patterson (Tshimanga 53’).

Subs not used: McMullan (GK), Robertson, Simons.

Blackpool XI: Grimshaw (GK), Husband (C), Pennington, Dale (Morgan 81’), Carey, Douglas, Rhodes (Connolly 81’), Ekpiteta, Hamilton, Kouassi (Dembele 46’), Oakley-Boothe (Lavery 46’).

Subs not used: O’Donnell (GK), Weir, Thompson.

Match Reports

Ticket News

Get your Fylde Coast Derby day tickets sorted before Wednesday!

30 October 2023

We are only days away from the Fylde Coast Derby as Fleetwood Town will play host to local rivals Blackpool on Wednesday 1 November at Highbury Stadium!

We’re all ready for a Halloween special in League One as it will be the first time the two sides have met at Highbury since 2020.

Get behind Lee Johnson and the squad as they look to replicate the result from 2018 when Town beat the Seasiders 3-2 on the Fylde Coast and we want as many of you in the stands as possible cheering on the lads!

Tickets for this fixture are expected to sell fast so we would recommend purchasing yours as soon as possible – you can do this by clicking HERE, by ringing the club shop on 01253 775080, or by calling in the club shop at the stadium.

The Club would like to remind supporters that tickets will ONLY be available online for those supporters who already have an account on our Ticketmaster site.

If you have already purchased a season ticket this season, you will already have an account on our new ticketing system on there. Click HERE to activate your account for use online - you will need your Fan number located on your season card.

Please note, that any accounts that are made from now until the game at the start of November will not be granted access to the fixture. All new ticket purchases will be cross-referenced with the visiting clubs, if you are found to be on their database, the ticket will be cancelled with no refund.

Anybody who has bought a ticket for the original fixture, and cannot make the rearranged one, can call up the club shop, or see the staff in person, today and arrange a refund.

If you would like any more information regarding the ticket sales dates, prices, or any other general enquiries, you can contact our ticket office at Highbury Stadium by ringing 01253 775080 or you can email info@fleetwoodtownfc.com.