After victory over Morecambe on Boxing Day, Fleetwood Town will be looking to complete a second league double on Saturday as York City cross the Pennines.
By David MitchellAfter victory over Morecambe on Boxing Day, Fleetwood Town will be looking to complete a second league double on Saturday as York City cross the Pennines.
A 2-0 win at Bootham Crescent at the beginning of October was Town's third away victory of the season and came courtesy of goals from Junior Brown and Steven Gillespie.
If selected, Jamie Milligan will make his 200th league start for Town and Scott Davies his 100th.
The Minstermen are familiar to Town manager Graham Alexander from his playing days and he has huge respect for the job that Gary Mills has done as manager, after a successful playing career. Alexander envisages a tough game:
'York are a very good team but we've done our homework on them. We need our players to give us what they did especially in the second half against Morecambe over 90 minutes. It's a short turnaround so we'll be looking to train and prepare right and go through the same approach as we did in our sessions on Christmas Eve and Christmas Day. Hopefully that will lead to another good show and three points.'
Apart from the current injury problems, Town's only concern from Boxing Day was midfielder Barry Nicholson whose back problem led to his replacement in the first half and his progress will be monitored.
York's decent away form was dented on Boxing Day when they went down 3-0 at Chesterfield, their biggest defeat on the road. The result left Gary Mills side in 15th place and the manager bemoaned his side's inability to perform over 90 minutes, as he told BBC Radio York:
'We have got to go and play the second half as we played the first. We were on the front foot in the first and made it difficult for them. We have to be able to play to our first half level to get a result out of this league. Forty-five is not enough.'
Mills will be concerned that his side have not kept a clean sheet since the end of October, with just two wins recorded in that period, and will be keen for them to bounce back following the sloppy defending that led to the second half goals being conceded at the Proact Stadium. Changes could be made. Centre back Chris Doig had to be substituted late in Wednesday's game and may not be available. Definitely out is top scorer Ashley Chambers and he joins fellow strikers Oli Johnson and Michael Coulson on the injured list.
The match marks York's third visit to Highbury. The last one was in August 2011, a 0-0 draw in front of the television cameras of Premier Sports.
Six places are available in the Parkside Suite for tomorrow's visit of York City. A three-course meal by Twelve of Thornton, first-class service and atmosphere plus seat on the executive balcony. Only £45 per person. Please call 07854846820.
