Preview: Ipswich Town v Fleetwood Town

2 December 2022

Fleetwood Town are set to face Ipswich Town at Portman Road on Friday 2 December, and we have all the information you need to know ahead of the 7:45pm kick-off in our match preview.

Fixture: Ipswich Town v Fleetwood Town

Competition: Sky Bet League One

Date: Friday 2 December 2022

Kick-off: 19:45

Venue: Portman Road, Ipswich, Suffolk, IP1 2DA

FLEETWOOD TOWN

Scott Brown’s side head over to Ipswich in good spirits after securing their spot in the Third Round of the Emirates FA Cup in their last outing after beating National League South side Ebbsfleet United 1-0 at the Kuflink Stadium last Sunday afternoon.

In the televised fixture, it was Town that came out on top as a swift counter attack midway through the second half saw Ged Garner drive into acres of space before picking out the bottom right corner, scoring the only goal of the tie.

In the game before, Fleetwood suffered a cruel last-minute defeat to Bolton Wanderers at Highbury in mid-November. A magic moment mid-way through the first half from Carlos Mendes Gomes wasn’t enough to earn Town anything on the day against the Wanderers, as the fixture ended in a 2-1 win for the visitor’s courtesy of late goals by Conor Bradley and Oladapo Afolayan.

IPSWICH TOWN

It’s fair to say the Tractor Boys are flying high in the division this season as they find themselves in second position, only behind Plymouth Argyle, and are on a five-game unbeaten streak in the league beating Derby County, Port Vale, and Exeter City in that run.

Much like Town, it was FA Cup action last time out for Kieran McKenna’s men and they put on a show for the crowd at Portman Road that day as they managed to overcome non-league side Buxton 4-0 that day with Conor Chaplin bagging a brace - Gassan Ahadme and Kayden Jackson also got on the score sheet in that comfortable win.

Before this, a home tie in the Papa Johns Trophy was on the cards and they had to host Portsmouth, which didn’t turn out the way Ipswich would have wanted. A goal before the half-time break by Dane Scarlett put the tie in Pompey’s favour, with Zak Swanson putting a nail in the coffin ahead of full-time, meaning McKenna and his side would drop out of the competition.

WHAT SCOTT BROWN SAID AHEAD OF THE GAME

Head coach Scott Brown spoke to the press on Wednesday afternoon ahead of his sides under the lights clash against Ipswich Town at Portman Road - here’s what he had to say.

“We’ve had five days, which is miles better than playing Saturday-Tuesday to try and get things organised, but we’ve had enough time. It’s going to be a hard game for us, but we have to understand our game plan and stick to the structure that we are going to end up playing – we’ve gone away from home and picked up some good results this season.

“We’ve watched Ipswich quite regularly and I like the way they play; they press the ball high up the park and are possession-based, with three centre-halves who are calm on the ball. Their midfielders want to support and help score goals, with their strikers and wingers also wanting to cause problems in any game.

“I spoke to Kieran [McKenna] at the start of the season about a couple of players and you can tell by the way he speaks about football, that he’s got a great understanding of the game. He’s a young coach who wants to learn and strives to be the best he can and that’s shown as he’s had a fantastic start so far.”

IFOLLOW DETAILS

Keep up to date with the match on iFollow! On the day of the game, there will be two matchday packages available for our UK-based and overseas supporters: Audio Match Pass - £2.50 and Video Match Pass - £10.00.

Those who choose the Audio Match Pass option will get access to just the commentary, which will be provided by our partners, BBC Radio Lancashire.

Season passes are available with audio passes for only £45 for the season, for all UK-based members of the Cod Army! You can find more details by heading over to our iFollow page.

iFollow Graphic (Website).jpg

Match Previews

Match Reports

Report: Town fight back and secure a point right at the death

2 December 2022

Fleetwood Town came back to earn a point deep into stoppage time as Cian Hayes' goal meant the game would end one apiece at Portman Road.

It was a goal right at the start and the last attack before the final whistle that decided the Friday night fixture in Suffolk as Hayes' wild strike from range in injury time cancelled out Luke Woolfenden's opener, which was scored in the second minute of the game.

It wasn’t the start to the game that Town had in mind as a set-piece routine from a corner saw the hosts gain the lead just two minutes in. Freddie Ladapo got on the end of the corner, whose shot was brilliantly saved by Jay Lynch, but the follow up from Woolfenden found the back of the net.

The Cods started to get into the game soon after with Paddy Lane picking out Callum Morton, as he tried to break the defensive line of Ipswich, which he did before feeding the ball to Promise Omochere, whose effort on goal went wayward from the edge of the box.

Lynch was called into action two more times 11 minutes in as Conor Chaplin and Kyle Edwards both tried their luck from 18 yards and were comfortably denied by Town’s number 13 between the sticks. A couple of minutes later, Lynch also stopped Ladapo’s effort at his near post.

Even after Fleetwood were struck with an injury to Lane in the 19^th minute, the game looked to be more on level terms around the half-hour mark as both teams were looking for the next goal.

Former-Cod Wes Burns nodded over for the hosts, with Woolfenden having to get in the way of Omochere’s cross a couple of minutes later, which looked destined to set Morton off on a one-on-one situation inside the Ipswich area.

It was Town who had the last good chance of the half in the 38^th minute as Shaun Rooney found himself in an advanced position and played a perfect through ball to Morton, who was in on goal, but his strike was stopped by Christian Walton.

Chances were at a premium in the second half as there were only two in the first 30 minutes of the period. Both fell to Chaplin and the home side, with the first forcing a diving save from Lynch, and the second flying well off target from range.

With not long to go in the clash, former-Cod Janoi Donacien found himself in an unfamiliar position, around the Town box on an attack, and fizzed a cross into the area but Cameron Humphreys couldn’t quite guide his effort on target.

A couple of changes were made and Fleetwood looked to have done enough to level things up four minutes from time as substitute Joe Garner, who came on for Dan Batty, got on the end of Lewis Warrington’s cross and headed at goal, only for a cluster of defenders to clear it off the line.

What an ending it was for Town as Hayes, who picked up the ball on the right wing decided to let-fly, with his shot taking a massive deflection, meaning it was out the reach of Walton and went into the back of the net off the post meaning Fleetwood would take a point home.

Ipswich XI: Walton (GK), Davis (Leigh 87’), Morsy (C), Woolfenden, Burns (Vincent-Young 87’), Ladapo (Ahadme 78’), Chaplin, Burgess, Edwards (Jackson 67’), Humphreys, Donacien.

Unused subs: Hladky (GK), Keogh, Edmundson.

Town XI: Lynch (GK), Vela (C), Morton, Lane (Batty 19’) (J.Garner 85’), Warrington, Holgate, G.Garner, Omochere (Hayes 79’), Nsiala, Rooney, Earl.

Unused subs: Stolarczyk (GK), Wiredu, Johnston, Baggley.

Match Reports

Ticket News

Get your tickets sorted for Town's trip to Portman Road on Friday

1 December 2022

Not long to go now until Fleetwood Town makes the long trip down south to play Ipswich Town in their next Sky Bet League One fixture – make sure you’re there!

The Cods are back in league action in their first game of December as they travel down south for the second time in a week to face Kieran McKenna's side at Portman Road. After Town's 1-0 win in the Emirates FA Cup over Ebbsfleet United on Sunday afternoon, you will want to be in the crowd for this one!

Here are the full details you need to know to book your place!

TICKET PRICES

The Cod Army have been allocated seats in The Cobbold Stand Upper Tier, with prices as follows:

Adults: £27

Seniors (65+): £20

Under 23: £14

Under 19: £7

COACH TRAVEL

Coaches will be departing Highbury Stadium at 11am, costing only £5 for all Onward Card Holders and £25 for Non-Onward Card Holders. If you would like to know any further details, please contact the Ticket Office on 01253 775080.