The transfer window has slammed shut and attentions must now turn back to Sky Bet League One, as Scunthorpe United are the visitors to Highbury on Saturday.
Fleetwood will be looking to return to winning ways after two consecutive 2-1 defeats in the league, while the Irons will also aim to pick up their first win in five games.
Uwe Rosler's thoughts...
“I see the game very much like the one last season, but we want to win this time and with trying to set out a game plan, I expect it to be close tomorrow. They are different to us in terms of having more experienced players, where we have more of a younger squad. It will be an interesting game and I am really looking forward to it. We drew 1-1 earlier in the season, in a game where I thought we had some really good chances.”
Graham Alexander’s thoughts…
“I know of their qualities. It is the same with every club, I don’t focus on them until the week we are playing them because I want to concentrate on my team and the direct opponents. We have done our usual work this week. We know they have good players, but we also know where we can do well. I say it regularly, but our performance is the most important thing on Saturday. If we perform to the levels we can, then we give ourselves the best chance of winning the game.”
Deadline Day
Fleetwood were a busy club on deadline day, bringing two players in, while three left for other clubs. Devante Cole signed for Wigan, with Harvey Rodgers joining. Accrington Stanley and striker Ashley Nadesan heading north to join Carlisle United on loan until the end of the season. Uwe Rosler did vring in Charlie Oliver on loan from Manchester City, and Brazilian striker Joao Morelli from Middlesbrough.
It was a case of one in, one out for United, as defender Marnick Vermijl signed on loan from Preston, while Sam Mantom left Glanford Park for Southend United.
The Form Guide
Fleetwood have lost their last three games in all competitions, to Gillingham, Blackburn and Leicester City respectively, but they had picked up four wins from six before that.
Scunthorpe haven’t won any of their last four games, picking up two wins and two draws, but are comfortably within the league play-off places.
Fleetwood Last Five: WWLLL
Scunthorpe Last Five: WDLDL
We’ve Met Before
The last time the two sides met saw a 1-1 draw at Glanford Park, as Jordy Hiwula's late equaliser cancelled out Lee Novak’s first half goal.
In the previous eight encounters before that, there had been three draws, three Fleetwood wins and two Scunthorpe. The most memorable of those wins came in last season's run to the play-offs as Devante Cole and Bobby Grant sealed an important 2-0 win.
One to Watch
Midfielder Duane Holmes is one players who Fleetwood should be wary of this weekend. A native of Columbus, Georgia in the USA, he started his career withHuddersfield Town having moved to the UK aged four, and blossomed for the youth team, eventually being handed first team football in 2013. After loan spells at Yeovil and Bury, he signed for the Irons on a permanent deal in 2016 and made his debut at Highbury in the 2-2 draw last season. He has scored seven times this season, including a brace in a 3-0 away win at Northampton Town.
Fancy a Flutter?
Sky Bet have released their odds for Saturday’s game.
Fleetwood are priced at 9/5 to beat Scunthorpe this weekend, while the visitors are 6/4. A draw can be backed at 9/2.
A repeat of the score line last time the two met, 1-1, is also available at 9/2, while 2-2, the same score as the last meeting at Highbury, is 14/1.
Paddy Madden has scored on his first two Fleetwood Town appearances and is 9/4 to make it three in a row and bag against his former club.
A 2-1 home in can be selected at 9/1.