Our rearranged match is tonight...
FLEETWOOD VS. WALSALL
Highbury Stadium
Tuesday, 15th March 2016 (Kick-off 7.45pm)
Sky Bet League One
Highbury Stadium
Tuesday, 15th March 2016 (Kick-off 7.45pm)
Sky Bet League One
OVERVIEW:
Walsall will be hoping it’ll be third time lucky when they travel to relegation-battlers Fleetwood for tonight’s rearranged League One clash. The fixture, which was originally scheduled for 12th December, has twice been postponed due to a waterlogged pitch. The Saddlers returned to winning ways on Saturday, thrashing Chesterfield 4-1, and are searching for an 11th away league victory of the campaign. Steven Pressley’s Fleetwood are just five points above the drop zone but are unbeaten in seven on home soil.
LEAGUE STANDINGS:
Fleetwood: 19th – P35 W10 D10 L15 F43 A45 PTS40
Walsall: 4th – P36 W17 D11 L7 F54 A37 PTS62
LAST FIVE LEAGUE MATCHES: (Most recent match first)
Fleetwood: LDWWL
Walsall: WLDDL
LAST TIME OUT:
12th March – Burton 2-1 Fleetwood – League One
Mark Duffy netted either side of half-time as leaders Burton overcame ten-man Fleetwood. Duffy fired the hosts ahead, Wes Burns levelled, before Duffy’s curler sealed victory. Bobby Grant was sent off for violent conduct.
Team:Maxwell, McLaughlin, Nilsson, Davis, Bell, Jonsson, Ryan, Ball (Burns 45’), Nirennold ( Grant 66’), Hunter, Ameobi (Cole 71’).
Subs not used: Deacon, Roscoe, Gogic, Grant.
12th March – Chesterfield 1-4 Walsall – League One
Sam Mantom scored twice as Walsall thrashed ten-man Chesterfield. Own goals from Jim O’Connor and Tom Anderson made it 1-1 at half-time. Mantom fired the Saddlers in front, and after Dion Donohue was sent off, further strikes from Jordy Hiwula and Mantom sealed victory.
Team:Etheridge, Downing, O'Connor, Taylor (Forde 79'), Chambers, Demetriou, Mantom (B Morris 88'), Sawyers, Henry, Hiwula, Bradshaw (Lalkovic 84').
Subs not used: MacGillivray, Preston, Kinsella, Flanagan.
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 on 20 minutes with a super low strike. 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 nine of his 29 league and cup matches since succeeding Graham Alexander as Fleetwood manager in October 2015. He spent two years in charge 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:
Shola Ameobi – The ex-Newcastle striker joined Fleetwood on a deal until the end of the season in February 2016. Capped ten times by Nigeria, Ameobi spent 14 years on Tyneside, scoring 79 goals in 397 competitive appearances for the Magpies. The 34-year-old, who has also played for Stoke, Crystal Palace and Bolton, notched his first Fleetwood goal in a 2-1 win over Gillingham earlier this month.
VIEW FROM THE FLEETWOOD CAMP:
Steven Pressley (on playing Walsall) – “I watched their game back and it wasn’t just the result that impressed me, it was the performance too. They’ve had a fantastic season so far so it’s going to be a really tough game for us. We’re at home though and it’s a place where we’ve had some really positive results. We can take a big step towards survival if we win this game in hand.”
WALSALL TEAM NEWS:
Striker Jordan Cook (hamstring) is a doubt. Midfielder Isaiah Osbourne (knee) is a long-term absentee.
REFEREE:
Christopher Kavanagh.
STAT OF THE DAY:
Walsall have never lost to Fleetwood Town in five competitive meetings between the two clubs (W4 D1).
TONIGHT’S LEAGUE ONE FIXTURES: (7.45pm unless stated)
Oldham vs. Blackpool