Looking to further distance themselves from their poor early-season form, Fleetwood Town will welcome high-flying Stevenage to Highbury Stadium on Saturday afternoon in League One.
The Cod Army have recorded handsome victories in their last two matches prior to the international break, while Stevenage continue to mix it with the biggest names in the third tier.
Match preview
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Competing in their 10th successive campaign in League One, Fleetwood Town are aiming to return to the heights which saw them fight for promotion to the Championship in the 2019-20 season, and a severe upturn in form has afforded the Cod Army with a fighting chance of avoiding the drop.
Since the narrow 1-0 defeat at Highbury to Lincoln City on October 21, Lee Johnson's men have strung together a run of six games unbeaten across all competitions, including a 3-0 hammering of Exeter City prior to the international break courtesy of first-half goals from Ryan Broom, Brendan Wiredu and Phoenix Patterson.
Following the sacking of Celtic legend Scott Brown in September after a seven-game winless streak in all competitions, Fleetwood have started to show that they can be competitive at this level, meaning the Cod Army are only one point inside League One's relegation zone, with 13th-placed Burton Albion just four points better off.
Possessing a wealth of Championship experience during his time at Derby County, Jack Marriott is enjoying being the focal point of the Town attack this term, and the 29-year-old has returned a respectable tally of five goals from 14 third-tier appearances so far this season.
Despite the win over the Grecians at Highbury last time out, Fleetwood have struggled in front of their home supporters to date in 2023-24, collecting just seven points from eight league contests at their North-West home, with only Cheltenham Town picking up fewer points on familiar ground.
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Stevenage managed to extend their unbeaten run in all competitions to seven matches last Saturday with a 1-0 victory against a Lincoln side in transition, meaning the Boro have now won their last five matches in succession as they aim to battle on three domestic fronts this season.
With the Imps recently welcoming new head coach Michael Skubala, the visitors at the Lamex Stadium started brightly in the first period but could not gain an advantage on the scoreboard, and the second period saw Stevenage grow into the match, with leading marksman Jamie Reid bagging the winner in the 68th minute.
Former Mansfield Town man Reid earned a switch to the Football League after scoring 29 and 21 goals respectively in the sixth and fifth tiers for Torquay United, and now the 29-year-old is beginning to set League One alight, trailing only Charlton Athletic's Alfie May in the division's Golden Boot race.
Following a second-placed finish in League Two last campaign and subsequent automatic promotion, Stevenage have adapted to life in the third tier extremely well and currently occupy fourth position in the league standings, only three points behind Des Buckingham's Oxford United in second.
Despite the goalscoring antics of Reid taking most of the plaudits in the early stages of the season, Steve Evans's men have also been a formidable defensive force in 2023-24, with the Boro keeping nine clean sheets so far, more than any other side in England's top four divisions.
Team News
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Following a well-earned clean sheet last time out against Exeter, Fleetwood are expected to name the same back four in front of goalkeeper Jay Lynch, meaning Bosun Lawal will return from international duty with Ireland Under-21s to partner Ben Heneghan in the backline.
Danny Mayor was tipped to achieve great things for Plymouth Argyle in the Championship following their League One title in May, but the 33-year-old is now at Highbury and tasked with providing a creative spark for the hosts.
Although ex-Derby attacker Marriott is currently Johnson's first choice, the likes of Jayden Stockley and Kabongo Tshimanga will offer respectable options from the bench.
As for Stevenage, the introductions of midfielders Jake Forster-Caskey and Ben Thompson at half time during the win over Lincoln changed the complexion of the contest in Boro's favour, meaning the pair should be rewarded with starts this weekend.
Alex MacDonald and Nick Freeman are the most likely candidates to make way in the engine room, with Manchester City loanee Finley Burns set to retain his berth in the middle.
Apart from the highly-expected changes in midfield, Evans is set to retain the bulk of the side who started against the Imps, so Terence Vancooten and Carl Piergianni will feature in defence.
Fleetwood Town possible starting lineup:
Lynch; Rooney, Lawal, Heneghan, Earl; Wiredu, Omochere, Broom, Mayor, Patterson; Marriott
Stevenage possible starting lineup:
Ashby-Hammond; Wildin, Vancooten, Piergianni, Butler; Forster-Caskey, Burns, Thompson, Roberts; Hemmings, Reid
We say: Fleetwood Town 1-2 Stevenage
Following a woeful start to the season under Brown, Fleetwood have enjoyed a marked improvement in recent matches, but the visit of Stevenage will be their toughest test in a while.
Boro are displaying attacking quality and defensive solidity in equal measure so far this term, and we are expecting Evans's side to record another maximum this weekend.
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Top tip
Carter White
