Fleetwood are back in league action on Saturday as they welcome local rivals Blackpool to Highbury, in what will surely be an exciting encounter.
Fleetwood will look to return to winning ways after a harsh 4-2 defeat at Walsall on Tuesday evening thanks to two late goals from Daniel Agyei and Tyler Roberts, while The Tangerines will also look to put 90th minute heartbreak behind them after Gillingham’s last gasp equaliser at Bloomfield Road.
Town boss Uwe Rosler says…
"You always get a little bit extra from your players in derby games. It means a little bit more to everyone - the fans, the players and the staff.
"We have a lot of players in our squad that have never experienced the derby before. We have spoke a lot about it on the pitch and in the classrooms. They know what to expect tomorrow."
"Blackpool is a great club with a great team and stadium. They are a club to be reckoned with to eventually make it out of League One."
Blackpool gaffer Gary Bowyer says…
“We can’t wait. A local derby at any level is always exciting for players, fans and supporters. I’ve been educated this week on the importance of this derby and the history of it – it’s a bit of a new one.
“We’ll go there with a good backing. They were excellent last week at Peterborough and we’ll need them again to get us over the line against a good, young, organised and energetic Fleetwood side.
The Form Guide
Fleetwood are without a win in their last four Sky Bet League One games since beating Oxford United on the 28th October.
Blackpool have won just once in five, with their 1-0 victory at Peterborough United last Saturday ending a three match losing streak.
We’ve Met Before
The last Fylde Coast derby came in the 2015/16 season when the two games produced just one goal.
The game at Highbury finished 0-0 while a Nathan Pond own goal gave Blackpool at 1-0 win at Bloomfield Road in November 2015.
The only other competitive meeting came in 2012 when then Championship Blackpool ran out 5-1 winners at Highbury in the FA Cup 3rd Round. A hat trick from Matt Phillips had Blackpool on their way, with Kazenga LuaLua and Tom Ince also scored. A certain Jamie Vardy scored the Cod Army’s goal.
Played For Both
Saturday will be a big day for Fleetwood Town academy coach Stephen Crainey, who spent six years at Bloomfield Road between 2007-2013, as well as playing 28 games for the Cod Army between 2014-15.
One To Watch
With 8 goals so far this season, striker Kyle Vassell is leading the way on the Tangerines’ scoring chart. Three of those goals have come in his last three games, including that 1-1 draw with Gillingham, and Fleetwood will have to be at their best if they are to prevent the striker from making it four in four on Saturday.
After an initial career with Norwich City and Brentford’s youth teams, Vassell embarked on a nomadic career in non league football, notably for Sutton United and Chelmsford City amongst a series of loan spells, before signing for Bishops Stortford in 2013. After a successful season with the National League South side, Peterborough United plucked him away from Hertfordshire, before signing for Gary Bowyer’s side in 2016. He is a regular on the Blackpool team sheet and is closing in on 50 appearances.
Fancy a Flutter?
Uwe Rosler's men go into Saturday's match as favourites, with Sky Bet pricing them at 7/5 to take three points.
The Tangerines are 19/10 to grab an away victory, while you can get a draw at 23/10.
The two sides played out a goalless draw at Highbury when they last met in 2016, and a repeat of this score line is priced at 9/1.
Devante Cole is the top scorer for Rosler's side in League One with eight goals, and he is a 4/1 shot to score the first goal.
Blackpool's Kyle Vassell is also on eight goals, and he is 6/4 to score any time.
All odds are subject to change.