Fleetwood Town (A) League One, Tue 26 Jan 7.45pm

[Welsh_Saddler]

If you're planning on going to Fleetwood on Tuesday take your wellies with you...heavy and persistent rain is forecast, with a risk of localised flooding. Fleetwood's Highbury stadium is best described as "compact" with a capacity of 5,327 (2,672 seated), but there is no shortage of ambition for a club still new to the Football league - they bought a 57-bedroom hotel in Blackpool for the youth team in 2014 and last year opened a new £6m training facility with 18 football pitches in nearby Thornton. The availability of ready cash was no doubt helped by the transfer of a certain Jamie Vardy to Leicester City in 2012 for a bargain £1,700,000.

Fleetwood achieved their highest ever finish last season (10th in League One) but are hovering around the relegation area at the moment. A comparatively high management turnover probably hasn't helped - Micky Mellon was sacked just over three years ago to be replaced by Graham Alexander, and the current manager is Stephen Pressley (ex-Coventry City). Recent signings have included striker Devante Cole from Bradford City, and Alex Kiwomya on loan from Chelsea. Midfielder Bobby Grant is their top scorer so far this season, with 7 goals to his name. Recent results for Fleetwood:

26 Dec Shrewsbury Town (A) League One, Drew 1-1
28 Dec Wigan Athletic (H) League One, Lost 1-3
2 Jan Bury (H) League One, Won 2-0
9 Jan Barnsley (A) F.L. Trophy, Drew 1-1
19 Jan Colchester Utd (A) League One, Drew 1-1
23 Jan Doncaster Rovers (H) League One, Drew 0-0

On paper this is a game we should win. Our F.A. Cup run started back in November with a 2-0 win at home to Fleetwood, and our current away form in League One is still a source of wonder, certainly to me. League tables these days tend to lump all fixtures together, but on our travels so far the story is one of Played 13, Won 8, Drawn 4, Lost 1 with a goal tally of 25-12. Assuming Sean O'Driscoll gets Plans A and B activated we may well see a repeat of that 2-0 result but the other way round (0-2), with the proviso that possession isn't given away in the last two minutes of time added on............. :wink:

[Gripper]

Huge respect to anyone making the trip given the weather forecast and the very very early calling off in December.... hoping we can escape with some points from this...

[Barren Flak]

Heavy rain forecast again?

I'm only just getting over being water-in to the Weatherspoons somewhere between Blackpool and Fleetwood after it was originally called off.

Indeed kudos to those that travel to this one. Hopefully you'll see us bring some points home.

This has got Ford(e) written all over it.

[wednesburysaddler]

this match will be postponed nailed on

[SoccerHQ]

Hope not, they'd be a real backlog especially if Reading games goes to a replay aswell (would that have to be played on 5th round weekend or is their a free midweek beforehand?)

Winnable but I'd be happy with a point. I reckon that will be good enough to go back into automatic zone as think Burton will lose at Posh.

[Ancient Moaner]

Local weather forecast now saying that most of the heavy rain will be in the Cumbria region (for a change! :( ), and though wet throughout the day, it will ease off late afternoon, so, if they are right, provided the pitch does not get waterlogged, the match should be played.

So I presume only the most ardent 'usual' suspects will be brave enough to make the journey.
I will be there, so I will give 'em an extra cheer for those who do not make it.

As mentioned in other threads we have not been 'at our best' for a while now, so I'm hoping that our away from home form continues. Expect it will be more difficult than the table indicates (see Blackpool) so I'm going for a very nervy 1-0 win. The most important word in that sentence being 'win'. With very valuable points having been dropped on Saturday and against Rochdale, this is not a night for a poor display....at least Liam Dickinson won't be giving us nightmares again! :D

[JonnyOwen]

I'll be there, leaving earlier than a usual tuesday nighter so should be a pretty steady journey for a change, happy days. Lovely terrace too.

Bet it'll be fudge freezing though.

[gerryhatrick]

I'll be there, leaving earlier than a usual tuesday nighter so should be a pretty steady journey for a change, happy days. Lovely terrace too.

Bet it'll be fudge freezing though.

Yer dad's not driving, is he?

[JonnyOwen]

I'll be there, leaving earlier than a usual tuesday nighter so should be a pretty steady journey for a change, happy days. Lovely terrace too.

Bet it'll be fudge freezing though.

Yer dad's not driving, is he?

Not a chance, I want to get there this year!

[Derbyshire Saddler]

Can any NW based Saddlers give us a weather update? I'm undecided although really want to go. I just remember the same route to PNE last season wasn't much fun to be honest, cutting across the Peak District. Obviously the result made the trip back home much easier :D

[Ancient Moaner]

Can any NW based Saddlers give us a weather update? I'm undecided although really want to go. I just remember the same route to PNE last season wasn't much fun to be honest, cutting across the Peak District. Obviously the result made the trip back home much easier :D

See my post above mate! It's early morning here in Lancashire and the rain ain't hit us yet, but it IS VERY windy, which normally doesn't stop matches being played. Everything should be OK, wrap up warm though kids, it ain't Med temps! :wink:

[Derbyshire Saddler]

Can any NW based Saddlers give us a weather update? I'm undecided although really want to go. I just remember the same route to PNE last season wasn't much fun to be honest, cutting across the Peak District. Obviously the result made the trip back home much easier :D

See my post above mate! It's early morning here in Lancashire and the rain ain't hit us yet, but it IS VERY windy, which normally doesn't stop matches being played. Everything should be OK, wrap up warm though kids, it ain't Med temps! :wink:

Thanks AM, Fleetwood have just announced that there will be a pitch inspection at 3pm, thankfully this is early enough to prevent any wasted trips.

[Sadders]

Pitch inspection at 3pm...it's raining again.

Tinpot.

[scott_powell]

I think we'll win this 3-0 (if it's played obviously)

[Salop Saddler]

Got to be in doubt given the weather.

[chestersaddler]

Could be a good thing if it gets put back to mid / end Feb.

[Derbyshire Saddler]

Looks wet 8)

http://fleetwoodtowncouncil.org/webcam.php

[saddla]

Looks wet

http://fleetwoodtowncouncil.org/webcam.php

Can't see many saddlers on there walking along the seafront!
A few seagulls though :mrgreen:

[crodonilson]

Match is in grave danger.

Gutted for the minibus from the Bell who have already set-off.

[Ancient Moaner]

Looks wet 8)

http://fleetwoodtowncouncil.org/webcam.php

Don't worry folks...it always looks like that in Fleetwood, even in the heights of summer.

Incidentally, anyone going that might get there early and want a decent meal, head for the Café Royal opposite the North Euston Hotel at the sea front area, there you will get a home cooked meal fit for a king, that only the heartiest of you could manage, and all for only a few quid, honest it's spectacular, and a far better option than a stale gristle pie!

See ya all there!

UTS

[JonnyOwen]

Game off.

Thank fudge I hadn't left yet this time.

[crodonilson]

The Bell minibus are playing up and getting inebriated in Nantwich now the games been called off, glad I'm not a local.

:lol:

[chunkster]

Game off.

Thank fudge I hadn't left yet this time.

thank fudge we didn't either. the last called off match still cost me a few hundred spondula's wht with hotel meals beer show etc etc. mind you it was still a good weekend :mrgreen:

[Andy W Taylor]

this match will be postponed nailed on

Does that count as a correct prediction? :lol: