Fleetwood Town welcome Bristol Rovers to Highbury Stadium in their final Sky Bet League One game of 2019, and we have all you need to know in our match preview.
Fixture: Fleetwood Town v Bristol Rovers
Competition: Sky Bet League One
Date: Sunday 29 December 2019
Kick-off: 15:00
Venue: Highbury Stadium, Park Avenue, Fleetwood, FY7 6TX.
Match officials: Paul Marsden (Referee) Conor Brown & Richard Woodward (Assistants) Barry Gordon (Fourth Official)
Paul Marsden has officiated 18 matches this season, with four of those being in Sky Bet League One. In those four matches, he has handed out 13 yellow cards and no red cards.
His last match was on December 1 2019 when he took charge of Northampton Town’s 3-1 victory over Notts County.
FLEETWOOD TOWN
Fleetwood picked up all three points in their last match, which saw the Cod Army come out 3-2 winners against Rochdale on Boxing Day.
Goals from Paddy Madden, Kyle Dempsey and Wes Burns cancelled out two Aaron Wilbraham’s goals – meaning Town are only one point outside the Play-Off places with a game or two in hand over teams in and around them.
With only one loss at home since February 2019, Joey Barton’s side will be looking to keep that run going against a side who are a place above them in the league standings.
Billy Crellin could be a doubt after picking up a knock against Rochdale at the Crown Oil Arena, meaning Alex Cairns could get the nod ahead of the young English keeper. Jordan Rossiter is still out after picking up an injury in the tie against Tranmere Rovers.
BRISTOL ROVERS
The visitors on Sunday afternoon currently sit 6th in the league, just one point above Fleetwood after playing 21 matches. Their last match saw them lose 2-1 at home to AFC Wimbledon.
The blue half of Bristol have won their last five away matches in all competitions, with three of those being in the league – so they will be coming to the Fylde Coast full of confidence with another three points on offer.
ONE TO WATCH – JONSON CLARKE-HARRIS
One for Town fans to keep an eye out for on Sunday is Jonson Clarke-Harris. The forward has featured in 20 matches this season, scoring 11 goals in the process – with his latest being on Boxing Day against The Wombles.
The Englishman joined Bristol Rovers from Coventry City at the start of 2019 for an undisclosed fee, and since then has netted 22 goals in 35 appearances.
Clarke-Harris did begin his career at The Sky Blues back in 2010 before moving to Peterborough United on a free transfer. With loan spells at Southend and Bury, it was up to the North West to join Oldham in 2013.
Fellow Sky Bet League One side Rotherham paid £350,000 for the striker back in 2014, but was sent out on loan 6 months after signing for The Millers.
WATCH THE GAME LIVE ON iFOLLOW
If you can’t make Sunday’s game, then we’ve got you covered as you can watch and listen to full match commentary on iFollow.
To get your Video Match Pass, click HERE and pay just £10 to keep up to date with all the action from Highbury Stadium – this option is available for both U.K. and overseas fans!
If you want to know more about iFollow, and find out ways to support the Cod Army, click HERE. (terms and conditions)
Any further questions on iFollow Fleetwood, please contact sam.fielding@fleetwoodtownfc.com.
WHAT JOEY BARTON HAD TO SAY…
On preparation for Bristol Rovers…
“We are heading into a recovery phase now. This is probably the busiest part of the season with the fixture build up, but the lads know that our Christmas and New Year isn’t until the end of the season.
“It would be nice to finish of the year on a high with a win against Bristol Rovers. Our fans deserve it – we know it will be a tough fixture.
“I know they [Bristol Rovers] have changed manager, and Graham [Coughlan] did a good job there, but we know the new guy will come in and get them organised.”
“On the game v Rochdale
“Boxing day always throws up a wonderful ray of results, and performances.
“This was a cracker, you couldn’t take your eyes off the game. We didn’t think it would be the game that we envisioned, but thankfully, we have come out on the right side of it.
“I am very happy with the three points and it builds off a very good performance at Rotherham, last time out as well. In the first half, we just camped in their half, and we played lots of the best stuff. We thought that we had an absolute stonewall penalty which wasn’t given.
“We showed a different side of how to win. We had to come from behind a couple of times in the game, and showed great character and endeavour to win a game.
“Thankfully for us we get to go back to Highbury with three points before a tough run of fixtures for us.”
BETTING ODDS
You can get a price of 8/11 for Town to pick up all three points on Sunday, or a draw at 12/5.
If you think Joey Barton’s side will win, but both teams to score, you can get odds of 3/1.
For Fleetwood to win 1-0, 2-0 or 2-1, the odds are 13/8.
Here are some odds of players to score first:
Paddy Madden: 2/1
Ched Evans: 7/2
Josh Morris: 9/2
Wes Burns: 13/2
For more odds on SkyBet, click HERE. Please remember to bet and gamble responsibly.
