Preview: Fleetwood Town v Bristol Rovers

9 April 2023

Fleetwood Town are looking to bounce back from their narrow defeat last time out as Bristol Rovers head to Highbury on Easter Monday.

Fixture: Fleetwood Town v Bristol Rovers

Competition: Sky Bet League One

Date (kick-off): Monday 10 April (3pm)

Venue: Highbury Stadium

General - Highbury Stadium (Mar 23) 1.jpg

Fleetwood Town

With six games left, and the Cods on a 50-point tally, they will want to make it the result they would have wanted at the Abbey Stadium on Friday this time out, with head coach Scott Brown coming out after the game and saying the performance wasn’t good enough against Cambridge United.

From start to finish, it wasn’t Fleetwood’s day down south as Jack Lankester converted the first effort on goal in the game just three minutes in, with Sam Smith slotting a controversial spot kick past Jay Lynch to double their lead, making Junior Quitirna’s debut goal just a consolation.

Before that, Fleetwood were on a four-game unbeaten streak, beating high-flyers Derby County at the first time of asking at Pride Park and Lincoln City at home in that time, and picking up draws against Port Vale and Exeter City as well during the run.

Bristol Rovers

It wouldn’t be a Rovers preview without mentioning the comeback of former head coach Joey Barton, who we’re sure will receive a positive reception from his time at the club, taking Town to the play-offs during the 2019/20 season.

Since the Pirates’ promotion last season to League One, they have been comfortable with the step up and currently find themselves in 15^th position in the table and safe for another season after their 1-0 win over Charlton Athletic on Good Friday, thanks to a John Marquis penalty kick.

It’s been an up-and-down couple of months for the Gas since the turn of the new year as, after winning the opening two games of 2023, they went on a seven-game winless streak, until they put three past Oxford United. Since then, they’ve registered two more wins and a draw in five outings.

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What the gaffer had to say…

Head coach Scott Brown spoke to the media after his side fell to a narrow 2-1 defeat to Cambridge United on Good Friday – here’s what he had to say:

“It was a disappointing start as after five minutes, we were one-nil down; it’s a mentality thing because we are safe, we don’t want to focus, do our jobs, and take responsibility which is a hard thing to take because the players have really started to express themselves.

“We’ve had three very disappointing performances away from home recently but, overall, they probably deserved the win as they wanted it more. I know they are in a relegation battle and we’re safe, but that still shouldn’t matter, we have to be bigger and better than that.

“Today, we were nowhere near good enough, not one person in that team will get passing marks and once Monday comes around, it’ll be a totally different team with a lot of changes. That’s judged on that performance there - there are plenty of players who want the chance to play.”

iFollow information ahead of the Gas clash

With the return of Joey Barton to Highbury, and the chance for the Cods to redeem themselves after their Cambridge performance on Friday, it’s set to be a brilliant fixture for supporters whether they’re at Highbury or watching from afar.

All supporters of the Cods will be able to purchase either a Video Match Pass for £10 or an Audio Match Pass for just £2.50 so you can get behind the lads online and from the comfort of your own home – buy your iFollow passes HERE!

Commentary for both streaming services will be provided by Phil Gittins from BBC Radio Lancashire, live from Highbury, as he will be watching the game next to the Club’s media team in the press box.

If you want to view these passes or even the seasonal ones which will run until our clash against Ipswich Town at the start of May, click HERE – make sure you don’t miss anything from Fleetwood Town from now until the end of the season!

Match Previews

Match Reports

Report: Fleetwood defeated by Bristol Rovers at Highbury

10 April 2023

An early goal by Jayden Stockley calmed the nerves, but two second half goals from Bristol Rovers gave the visitors the three points.

The game had a fast start, with Joey Barton’s Bristol Rovers getting on the ball more and the visitors were looking to create chances. Fleetwood’s first came in the 15^th minute, as Stockley rose highest from a corner kick, but his header was high off the target.

It didn’t take long for the Cods to get going though. Just seven minutes after Town’s first chance, Stockley was there again, and after latching onto a header across goal by Shaun Rooney, Phoenix Patterson’s excellent delivery was rewarded as Stockley nodded home.

The first half had very little to offer other than Fleetwood’s goal. Bristol Rovers couldn’t find an opening, nor a response to Town’s goal.

The second half picked up a bit, and there was a bit of tension in proceedings as the second 45 minutes got underway. Rovers substitute Ryan Loft clashed with Rooney, and the tension was raised further.

From that moment, both teams were flying in with tackles and both teams had chances of their own, but it was the visitors who claimed the second halves first goal in the 55^th minute. Lewis Gibson found himself on the end of a loose ball after a goal-mouth scramble.

The game’s tempo was turned up a notch and it was all to play for with half an hour to play. Fleetwood would have felt hard done by in the 60^th minute when they felt they should have had a penalty. The goal scorer Gibson bought down Rooney, but the referee pointed for a goal-kick.

The game certainly felt worlds apart from its first half, and it took another turn when Grant Ward scored a well-finished goal from a crossing position. The away side led 1-2, and after some controversial refereeing, Fleetwood were unfortunate to go behind.

Town tried to claw their way back into the game, and with just under ten minutes left, substitute Junior Quitirna tried his luck from far out and his shot wasn’t too far over.

It seemed though, that Bristol Rovers had the game under control in the closing stages. Scott Brown’s side did all they could to score the games equaliser, however every time the Cods broke forward, the Gas would be there to defend against any danger.

After taking the early lead, it was a defeat on Easter Monday for Fleetwood, but certainly, a performance that deserved much more.

Squads:

Cods XI: Lynch (GK), Wiredu, Ndaba, Vela (C), Stockley, Marriott (Omochere 69’), Warrington (Robertson 78’), Patterson, Rooney, Macadam (Batty 15’) (Quitirna 78’), Earl

Unused subs: McMullan (GK), Nsiala, Johnston

Gasheads XI: Belshaw (GK), Connolly, Gordon, Finley (C) (Anderson 89’), Ward, Marquis (Loft 46’), Collins (Gibbons 81’), Gibson, Evans (Coburn 46’), Bogarde, Hoole

Unused subs: Ward (GK), Sinclair, McCormick

Match Reports

Ticket News

Purchase your tickets now for Bristol Rovers at Highbury

10 April 2023

Fleetwood Town take on Bristol Rovers at Highbury Stadium on Easter Monday with tickets available to buy online or at the club's ticket office!

Joey Barton will return to the Fylde Coast for the first time since his departure in January 2021, and with Bristol Rovers winning on Good Friday, it sets up the tie nicely at Highbury.

BUY YOUR MATCH TICKETS HERE!