Fleetwood Town return to action on Saturday to take on Bristol Rovers, and we have all you need to know ahead of the Sky Bet League One clash at Highbury.
Fixture: Fleetwood Town v Bristol Rovers
Competition: Sky Bet League One
Date: Saturday 27th April 2019
Kick-Off: 15.00
Venue: Highbury Stadium, Park Avenue, Fleetwood, FY7 6TX
Match Officials: Jarred Gillett (Referee), Philip Dermott & Timothy Wood (Assistants), Garreth Rhodes (Fourth Official)
FLEETWOOD TOWN
Last five results in all competitions: L D L D W
League position: 12th on 57 points
Club’s top goal scorer: Paddy Madden and Ched Evans (18 goals in all competitions)
A last-gasp Nathan Delfouneso strike saw Joey Barton’s side on the wrong end of a 2-1 scoreline in the local derby against Blackpool on Easter Monday. Ched Evans struck for Town, taking him level with Paddy Madden in the race to be the club’s top scorer with 18 goals apiece.
The Cod Army will be looking for revenge when they face their West Country opponents on Saturday after suffering a 2-1 defeat when they last met at the Memorial Stadium in December. A victory for Town could see them rise as high as 10th in the League One standings, if other results go their way.
Following the visit of Rovers, Fleetwood host Sunderland before ending their season away at Wycombe next weekend.
BRISTOL ROVERS
Last five results in all competitions: L D W D L
League position: 16th on 50 points
Club’s top goal scorer: Jonson Clarke-Harris (11 goals in all competitions)
Bristol Rovers will be looking to bounce back following their 1-0 defeat at home to fellow relegation battlers Rochdale on Easter Monday.
Graham Coughlan’s side have stuttered in recent weeks, with just one victory in the last eight matches. However, they are a solid outfit away from home, tasting defeat only once in their last 12 trips in all competitions.
Rovers look to be safe from the threat of relegation for another season, standing four points clear of the League One drop zone. Following their visit to Highbury on Saturday the Gas finish their season at home to promotion-chasing Barnsley.
ONE TO WATCH
He may have only been a Rovers player since January, but Jonson Clarke-Harris has been instrumental to the West Country side’s push away from the dreaded relegation zone. The striker has hit 11 goals in just 16 appearances since making the move from Coventry City, including a hat-trick in the 4-0 thrashing of Blackpool.
The Leicester-born star has played for a range of clubs across the country, including League One rivals Southend United, Doncaster Rovers and Peterborough United.
JOEY BARTON
“They are a good physical side. When we went down there earlier in the season it was a good contest for the lads. It was a good, honest, physical contest and I expect it will be the same again on Saturday.
“They have had a great run of form since the new manager has come in, they have managed to get themselves away from the drop zone and put themselves into relatively safe position with a couple of games to go.
“During the second half of the season I think they were averaging two points per game at one point, so it is an enormous credit to Graham and the coaching staff down there because they took over a club that was in a tight bind and managed to get a really good tune out of some of the boys there.
“It is a huge credit to them for doing that and, as I say, we know how difficult the game will be for us on Saturday.”
GRAHAM COUGHLAN
“It has been a tough season round, we have missed an opportunity and a chance at Wimbledon and at Rochdale, but now another opportunity and chance presents itself this week away at Fleetwood.
“All you want to do, really, when those opportunities and chances present themselves in football is grab them. You just want to take them. In true, traditional Bristol Rovers style, it looks like we are doing things the hard way, and that is hard to take to be fair, because I would have liked to have been going up the road and maybe chucking some young lads in to give them game time and having a look at them and seeing where they are, but that is not the case.”
WE’VE MET BEFORE
Fleetwood clinched their first win over Rovers in October 2013 with an impressive 3-1 victory. Town looked to be heading for a draw until goals from Jamille Matt three minutes from time and Jon Parkin in the 94th minute sent Graham Alexander’s side up to second in the League Two standings.
TICKET INFORMATION
Town supporters can purchase tickets for the game online here and over the phone by calling 01253 775080. Tickets are also available in person at Highbury Stadium or Poolfoot Farm.
Ticket prices are below:
Adults – from £24
Senior (65+) / Young Adult (16-25) – from £19
Under 16 – from £9
Under 5 – FREE
BETTING ODDS
With the Cod Army some seven points ahead of Saturday’s rivals in Sky Bet League One, it is no surprise that they have been installed as 7/5 favourites for this clash.
Bristol Rovers have been backed at 9/5 to pick up a win on the road, with a draw priced at 21/10 by the bookies.
To find more odds on Sky Bet please click here. Please bet and gamble responsibly.