Those who have not followed the fortunes of Fylde neighbours Blackpool and Fleetwood Town too closely over recent years will perhaps be surprised to see the two facing each other at Bloomfield Road on Saturday. After all, just five years ago, Blackpool was in the Premier League, Fleetwood Town finding their feet in the Conference. Contrasting fortunes since have brought the two clubs to this day, this fixture.
Since the heady days in the top flight under Ian Holloway and with quality of the likes of Charlie Adam, Blackpool have experienced problem after problem. Results on the pitch have been affected by unease off it as the fans have become increasingly disgruntled with the club’s owners, the Oyston family. Current manager, Neil McDonald is the sixth manager in that five-year period. There have been regular disruptions and protests and the patience of the loyal Seasiders has been sorely tested.
By contrast, Fleetwood’s recent past has seen them promoted to the Football League and on to further triumph with victory over Burton Albion in the League Two play-off final in 2014. Blackpool joined the Cods in League One after relegation from the Championship at the end of last season and it did not take long for Fleetwood to get ahead of the Seasiders for the first time. They currently lie five points and six places ahead of Blackpool who are level on points with bottom club Crewe Alexandra.
Form coming into the Blackpool v Fleetwood Town fixture sees Blackpool on a run of seven successive league and cup defeats. Defeat to Fleetwood would equal the club’s worst run of results. To make things worse, there hasn’t been a goal scored in six games.
Fleetwood have back to back wins over Swindon and Millwall, playing their best football since manager Steven Pressley’s arrival in October. Millwall had been on a nine-game unbeaten run but did not get a look in at Highbury Stadium on Tuesday evening. There is intensity, purpose and belief in Fleetwood’s play.
To add further interest to the day, Fleetwood Town chairman Andy Pilley, has been a lifelong supporter of Blackpool and could not have envisaged this day coming around so fast, if at all, when taking over at North West Counties Fleetwood.
Both sets of fans wait nervously as kick off approaches. Bragging rights are at stake in the businesses, pubs and homes across the Fylde. For Blackpool’s followers their team is lacking confidence and not in the best shape leading up to a match against the ‘upstarts’ from down the road while Fleetwood’s will be hoping dearly that their side can take recent performances on to the Bloomfield Road pitch and deliver three points in a game that they have eagerly waited for weeks, months, years indeed. Form points to Fleetwood Town but football doesn’t always work that way, does it?
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