Fleetwood will be biggest test for City so far
Let’s be honest, as we made that hefty journey from East Yorkshire to Gillingham at the start of the league season, few would have thought that a month on, the Tigers would be sitting pretty inside the top two with four straight wins and as many clean sheets.
Such has been the club’s revival, Grant Mccann and midfield maestro George Honeyman were this week nominated for the League One Manager and Player of the Month – such things would have felt a world away just a few months ago.
City are a side reborn, and their confidence is high.
A dominant first half display against Plymouth at the KCOM Stadium last Saturday should have seen City three or four in front. As it was, just Hakeeb Adelakun’s goal on his home debut ensured a somewhat nervy finish to a game which should have been put to bed by half-time.
The ease at which City swarmed all over the Pilgrims has been a constant throughout the opening four games.
At times against the Gills, then Crewe, Northampton and Argyle, City have looked just far, far too good for their opponents.
The criticism you’d level at them on occasions is that they’re too profligate in front of goal and at times this season, that will cost them, of course it will.
Against Fleetwood, though, you’d have to say City will face their biggest test yet.
Up to now, they’ve played three promoted sides and a Gillingham outfit which resembled the Dog and Partridge, so bad were they.
You can only beat what’s in front of you and City have done that with some to spare.
Joey Barton’s Fleetwood are a different proposition, though, having made it to the play-off semifinal last term, only to be well beaten by eventual winners Wycombe.
They’re a good side, well organised and know how to perform at this level – Barton will also have his side playing with a bit of extra fire in their belly, given the size of the opposition and the fact it’s on the box.
Don’t be fooled by their less than impressive start to the campaign.
In Paddy Madden and Ched Evans, Town have threats City won’t have encountered up to now and if they’re to keep a recordequalling fifth clean sheet in a row, they’re going to have to have quite a night.
Unfortunately, if that’s the right word, I think City will have to settle for a point in what will be an entertaining and open draw.
Team news
Wes Burns and Madden both made their return from injury in last weekend’s defeat at Rochdale, while former Nottingham Forest and Rangers winger Barrie Mckay was handed his first start.
Barton used the midweek win over Aston Villa’s Under-23s as a chance to rest some of his key players for the City clash, and has therefore reported no new injury problems. Striker Mallik Wilks is almost certain to lead the line for the Tigers in the absence of Josh Magennis.
Wilks has missed the last couple of games through injury, while Magennis is away with the Northern Ireland squad for their Euro 2020 play-off in Bosnia.
Tom Eaves will not make the trip to the Fylde Coast, however, after he suffered an injury setback and it is unlikely Mccann will risk Richie Smallwood in the middle of the park
Callum Jones is available before he goes away to meet up with the Wales Under-19 squad for Tuesday’s game with England.
“Tom Eaves has had another little reaction,” said Mccann.
“Nothing serious, but it might keep him out of the game tonight and then again, with another full week’s training, he might be okay for Rochdale.
“Josh Magennis is with Northern Ireland. Richie Smallwood is touch and go,” Mccann said at his prematch press conference.
“Richie has had a full week training but possibly needs another before we put him back in.
“Mallik is in a good place and he has a full week’s training.”
The key battle Glenn Whelan v George Honeyman
Master against the apprentice. Glenn Whelan has enjoyed a fine career at the top level, playing in the Premier League for Stoke City and Aston Villa, as well as plenty of Ireland caps – and at the age of 36 remains a wily old fox.
Honeyman is ten years his junior, and will provide bags of energy in the middle of the park as he looks to continue a fine start to the campaign both for him and his team.
Whelan will likely use every bit of his experience to try and keep Honeyman quiet, so it makes for an interesting battle.
Fleetwood overview
Since securing a first promotion to the Football League in their history at the end of the 2011-12 season, Fleetwood have enjoyed quite a rise.
Three years after their arrival in League Two, the Cod Army were beating Burton Albion at Wembley Stadium to win promotion to League One. That was the club’s sixth promotion in just ten years and further proof of their meteoric rise.
After stabilising in the third tier with a few different managers, Town appointed the somewhat controversial. figure of Barton.
In his first season, Barton guided the club to an 11th place finish, before making it to the play-offs last season where the journey proved a step too far.
This term, Town have stuttered in the league losing their last three, despite starting well with a 1-0 victory over Blackpool.
Betting
Mccann’s side start as favourites for victory at Highbury, with The Pools offering 11/8 on City making it five wins from five League One games this season.
The hosts are priced at 9/5 with 12/5 for a draw.
City are yet to concede a goal in the league this season so a price of 3/1 to keep another clean sheet is an attractive bet, while you can get 4/5 on there being over 2.5 goals in the match.
The Tigers to win the match and keep a clean sheet is 3/1, with the same bet on Fleetwood priced at 15/4