THE BIG MATCH PREVIEW FLEETWOOD

By Jon Harries

What a phenomenal performance last Saturday against Swindon Town. They travelled to Stadium MK knowing anything less than a win would relegate them back to League 2.

For the first 30 minutes they looked like 11 strangers thrown onto the pitch and one long ball behind led to the first goal, Surman finding Fraser who played the ball across the box and Grigg flicked the ball in.

It was 2-0 not long after that, a Jules volley from a corner was handled by former Don Matty Baudry, Fraser of course scored 9/9 from 12 yards for the season, and shortly after Baudry was subbed off, but in honesty you could have subbed anyone of their starting X1 off the pitch, they were so poor.

The only chance of the game created by the visitors was five minutes before the break. The ball was worked out wide to the right, Pittman dummied, and unmarked Tyler Smith blazed over and in doing so summed up their season in general. A third goal was scored at the end of the half, Jules again keeping a corner alive crossing for Grigg who turned and shot into the far corner. The second half started at a rapid pace for the hosts, right from the kick off we kept the ball and Kasumu found Fraser down the left and his ball across the box was slid in by Grigg who bagged his fourth goal of the game shortly after that, Sorinola down the left again who found Grigg on the penalty spot unmarked.

Grigg becomes the first MK Dons player to score four in a game, also Grigg has scored more goals for the Dons in three months (8) than in two years with Sunderland (7). Just goes to show if you play to his strengths then the ignition can be lit. Charlie Brown came on and had a couple of chances, but the damage was already done. Swindon relegated with nothing more than a whimper, and the dizzy heights of 9th was the reward for a dominant Dons performance.

We travel to Fleetwood in our final away day of the season looking to keep up the recent form, with the Cod Army looking for a reaction after a 5-2 defeat away at Burton. They were 2 down before half time, Akins and Powell with the goals, Sam Finley halved the deficit just after the break, the Brewers though regained their two goal advantage through Ben Hamer and Kane Hemmings. Jordan Rossiter again pulled a goal back, but Hemmings had the last word. A humbling defeat for a side expected to do much better than mid table.

The play off semi-finalists from last season were expected to be competing there again given the quality of the squad at Joey Barton’s disposal but It didn’t go to plan and up until his dismissal they were nervously looking over their shoulder. Simon Grayson was appointed and has turned around their fortunes making Fleetwood more defensively solid and keeping key players on for next season.

Alex Cairns was dropped by Barton but has regained his GK spot and is an ever reliable player. Captain Callum Connolly is a very promising central defender in a young defence, left back Danny Andrew is a very solid player at this level. Jordan Rossiter brings SPL experience from Rangers in midfield with Barrie McKay and Callum Camps providing the creativity, The fact Wes Burns, and Glenn Whelan are options on the bench shows the depth in quality that Fleetwood possess. It’s the strikers that they need to get in the summer to progress them further. Both Paddy Madden and Ched Evans have left for Stockport and Preston respectively after reports both fell out with Barton and they’ve badly missed the prolific duo.

Predicted Line Up

Fisher

Laird – Lewington – Darling – Jules – Sorinola

Kasumu – Surman

O’Riley – Fraser

Grigg

At the time of writing I believe both Jerome and Thompson are back in training this week but imagine both will be on the bench if they travel at all on Saturday. Otherwise why change a confident free flowing side.

I’m predicting a 2-0 away win. The confidence from last weekend and control we had will be more severely tested, but this team have hit form and going into next season things are looking very good.

COYD.