Fleetwood Town @ Deepdale 25/10/2014

**themaclad** · 23-10-2014, 19:11

Little did I realise in 1997 when watching a North West Counties Division Two match between Fleetwood and Blackpool Mechanics that 17 years later they would be arriving at Deepdale for a league game. Astonishing progress by the Cod although being bankrolled through the league is not my preferred way of going through the ranks.
Don't mind the Cod or their fans having watched them on and off over the last 15 years or so, they are a decent club with a very small fan base which begs the question how are they getting round the financial fair play rules?
Lots of connection between the two clubs, management duo Alexander and Lucketti are ex PNE as are goalkeeping coach Lucas and also Youl Mawene who works for them as well. Add that two ex Whites play for them McLaughlan and Procter will be a strange game for whites fans.
Having comeback with the three points North End I assume will make changes, hopefully Clarke will have recovered from his illness which will let King move possibly to right back to cover for the injured Wiseman.

The last eight times I have seen the Cod they have drawn, Saturday will be different a win is required for North End otherwise those of us who live in the Blackpool area will get some stick.

**St Charles Owl** · 23-10-2014, 21:05

Ah, that old chestnut - teams like Fleetwood and FFP!! Correct me if I am wrong but in League one isn't the FFP rule that no more than 65% of revenue is spent on wages?? If so they either have some really cheap players or are selling a ton of pies, shirts and programs!!!

**themaclad** · 24-10-2014, 16:56

SCO They are probably paying bigger wages than we are so your guess is as good as mine.

**themaclad** · (This post was last modified: 25-10-2014, 23:07 by themaclad.)

After 5 minutes it was looking like a bleak day for the home support as Fleetwood took a two goal lead against Preston in the first ever competitive meeting between the two sides, Jordan had headed the first from a corner in the first minute and a Laird own goal had made it two minutes later.
For those North Enders living in the Blackpool area i.e. me life was looking distinctly grim. To be fair to the visitors they deserved it as North End started off as they were still on the coach returning from Tuesdays game at Gillingham. They were faster to the ball and looked as if they wanted it more than us.
To say North End were pedestrian was an understatement, giving Fleetwood plenty of time to funnel back to defend en masse, as high hopeful balls were wellied into the Cod box. Apart from a couple of Gallagher efforts this was pretty ordinary fare from the Whites. After their initial burst Fleetwood did not really threaten the home goal and consensus at half time was the home side were up the creek without a paddle.
Credit to Grayson hooked Reid and Browne, on went Davies and Welsh went to 442 and it was amplifiers up to 11 as North End battered the black and red wall. Huntington had already had a header cleared of the line, when on the hour Garner headed home a right wing cross, three minutes later scores level as a free kick form the right was again nodded home by Garner. Game most definitely on, by now Fleetwood had gone to a 10-0-0 system, did not help them much, 11 minutes from time Davies header Garner volley North End in front, great finish by Garner.
Fleetwood had to change system and had to come out to play but apart from a couple of long distance Crainey efforts didn't remotely look like leveling.
As with last Saturday it was not the fact we had scored more goals than the visitors it was apparently the referees according to the Cod's manager Alexander. My take on that was if he had gone for the kill at two up they might have got something, he didn't and they didn't.

Preston North End 3 Fleetwood Town 2 Att 13280

**St Charles Owl** · 28-10-2014, 17:46

Nice comeback and keep the winning streak alive. Looking good sat in the top two at the moment but I expect a challenge or two from the teams below. Aside from Brizzle, this division seems to be about consistency, or more accurately lack of it, so as you have shown, an extended good run may just put some distance between you and the pack. Long way still to go of course!!

**themaclad** · 28-10-2014, 18:09

Given the next international break we won't be at home again until 13/12/2014, with trips to Swindon, Rochdale, Brizzle and Yeovil before the green pastures of Deepdale are seen again. With this run of games will be interesting to see where we are by the time MKD arrive.