Fleetwood Town turn away from League 2 action this weekend to concentrate on the FA Cup, a competition which brings back many happy memories from last season.
By David MitchellFleetwood Town turn away from League 2 action this weekend to concentrate on the FA Cup, a competition which brings back many happy memories from last season.
Town defeated League One opposition, Wycombe and Yeovil, before losing out in the Third Round to neighbours Blackpool.
There have been a number of notable giant-killing acts by Town over the last few seasons in the world’s oldest competition but on Saturday the tables are turned as Blue Square South team Bromley look to be the David to Town’s Goliath. As ever, Town manager Micky Mellon’s preparation has left no stone unturned:
‘We can’t deny that we will be regarded as favourites on this occasion and with the tie being at home but we know that we have to be on top of our game to go through. We have prepared as we would for any other game and paid Bromley every respect by getting to know them well and we will pass that information on to the players. We had them watched two or three times so we know pretty much everything that we need to know and have identified potential threats.’
‘We have had plenty of good times in the FA Cup and that’s why we see it as a really important game for us. We are looking forward to the game but know that Bromley will have ambitions like us to get to Round Two of this marvellous competition. We come into the game in a good place League-wise but we need to focus on what lies ahead of us and that is Bromley.’
Midfielder Alex Marrow misses out through suspension following his red card at Rochdale last Saturday but fellow-midfielder Junior Brown is available once again after serving his time out. Three players on loan from other clubs, Tom Barkhuizen, Rob Edwards and Curtis Obeng, are all available after the parent-clubs gave permission for them to play.
The injury situation shows little change although club captain, Steve McNulty, is fit again after missing four games:
‘Steve only trained the day before the Rochdale game,’ said Mellon, ‘and his presence on the bench was more a precaution to cover the other two centre halves. He’s got a good week under his belt and can now be considered for a return to the first eleven.’
Last season saw the Greater London team lose 3-0 at Leyton Orient in the First Round. The bulk of that team have moved on. The Ravens have never beaten a Football League side in their 120 year history. They have not won in the First Round since 1945 and this is something that manager Mark Goldberg will be keen to put right. Goldberg has moved from the board room to the dug-out, having previously been linked with purchasing Crystal Palace some 15 years ago.
Bromley have defeated Sutton United, Dover Athletic away from home and Worcester City to reach this stage of the competition. They come into the game with a morale-boosting 3-2 league victory over Maidenhead United on Tuesday evening, a result which left them 16
th in the table, sixty places below Town. The Ravens have taken 16 points from 13 games, scoring 15 and conceding 17 goals. Top scorer is former Hayes and Yeading forward, Pierre Joseph-Dubois, with five goals. Another threat up front comes from much-travelled striker Richard Pacquette. The 29-year old signed at the start of the season and has appeared for over 20 teams since making his debut for QPR in April 2001. In 2008 he scored Havant and Waterlooville’s opening goal in their FA Cup Fourth Round clash at Anfield.
Assistant manager, Neil Smith, is looking forward to the challenge facing his home-town club, as he told the Kentish Football website:
‘We would have loved a home draw but hopefully the supporters can have a great trip to Blackpool. It’s going to be a really tough game but they were a non-league side so we can go there and give it a right go.’
Town have late loan signing Barry Ferguson available after joining the club from Blackpool.
