A trip to the Fylde Coast this weekend...
FLEETWOOD VS. WALSALL
Highbury Stadium
Saturday, 12th December 2015 (Kick-off 3.00pm)
Sky Bet League One
Highbury Stadium
Saturday, 12th December 2015 (Kick-off 3.00pm)
Sky Bet League One
OVERVIEW:
Coaches Jon Whitney, John Ward and Neil Cutler remain in temporary charge of the Saddlers for this weekend’s trip to the Fylde Coast. Walsall, who are targeting a third consecutive league win, are still unbeaten under their caretaker trio, having beaten local-rivals Shrewsbury and drawn with Chesterfield in the FA Cup. Steven Pressley’s Fleetwood reached the JPT Northern Area final in midweek but are currently in 18th position, two points above the relegation zone.
LEAGUE STANDINGS:
Fleetwood: 18th – P20 W6 D3 L11 F27 A29 PTS21
Walsall: 3rd – P20 W11 D6 L3 F35 A19 PTS39
LAST FIVE LEAGUE MATCHES: (Most recent match first)
Fleetwood: LWWLL
Walsall: WWLDW
LAST TIME OUT:
Tuesday, 8th December – Fleetwood 2-0 Morecambe - JPT
Second-half goals from David Ball and Jimmy Ryan booked Fleetwood’s place in the JPT Northern Area final, where they will face Barnsley.
Team:Maxwell, McLaughlin, Pond, Davis, Bell, Ryan (Haughton 86’), Jonsson, Sarcevic, Grant (Proctor 82’), Henen, Fosu-Henry (Ball 59’).
Subs not used: Gogic, Teixeira.
Saturday, 5th December – Chesterfield 1-1 Walsall – FA Cup
Walsall face a second-round replay after being held by Chesterfield. A Richard Wood own goal put the visitors ahead but Chesterfield’s Sam Morsy equalised in the 89th minute.
Team:Etheridge, Demetriou, O’Connor, Downing, Henry, Chambers, Evans (Mantom 77’), Lalkovic (Bakayoko 85’), Sawyers, Morris (Forde 61’), Cook.
Subs not used: MacGillivray, Taylor, Baxendale, Preston.
HEAD-TO-HEAD RECORD:
Fleetwood wins: 0
Walsall wins: 4
Draws: 1
LAST MEETING:
7th November 2015 – Walsall 2-0 Fleetwood – FA Cup First Round
George Evans scored his third goal in four matches as Walsall reached the FA Cup second round. The Manchester City loanee fired the Saddlers ahead with a crisp low strike on 20 minutes. Jamille Matt, Nathan Pond and Declan McManus each went close for Fleetwood but Anthony Forde sealed the win in added time.
FLEETWOOD MANAGER:
Steven Pressley – The 42-year-old has won five of his 12 matches in charge of Fleetwood since succeeding Graham Alexander in October 2015. He spent two years as manager of Coventry and won the Scottish Challenge Cup with Falkirk in his first managerial position. The former Scotland international played for Rangers, Celtic, Hearts and Dundee United.
FLEETWOOD STAR MAN:
Bobby Grant – The 25-year-old striker is Fleetwood’s leading scorer this season with seven goals in all competitions. He started his career with Accrington before moving to Scunthorpe for £260,000, and later joined Rochdale and Blackpool prior to signing for Fleetwood last summer.
VIEW FROM THE FLEETWOOD CAMP:
Midfielder Antoni Sarcevic (on Saturday’s match) – "Saturday will have a different feel to it than when we played them in the cup last month, and I think they'll have more respect for us this time. Our record is good at the moment but we just need to keep our impressive performances going and I'm sure we'll be okay." Via fleetwoodtownfc.com
WALSALL TEAM NEWS:
Top-scorer Tom Bradshaw (ankle) is a doubt. Midfielder Isaiah Osbourne (knee) is a long-term absentee.
REFEREE:
Scott Duncan (from Northumberland).
STAT OF THE DAY:
Walsall have the joint-best away record in English football’s top four divisions (W6 D3 L1). League Two Oxford have an identical record.
SATURDAY’S LEAGUE ONE FIXTURES: (3.00pm unless stated)
Bradford vs. Southend
Bury vs. Chesterfield
Colchester vs. Barnsley
Doncaster vs. Crewe
Gillingham vs. Burton
Oldham vs. Millwall
Peterborough vs. Shrewsbury
Port Vale vs. Scunthorpe
Swindon vs. Rochdale
Wigan vs. Blackpool