Fleetwood Town story of the season: Town want wins for Christmas as December brings a tricky patch

Our month-by-month review of Fleetwood Town’s season reaches December and the start of the club’s winter sticky patch.
Fleetwood celebrate their late Boxing Day winner at Rochdale scored by Wes Burns (far right)Fleetwood celebrate their late Boxing Day winner at Rochdale scored by Wes Burns (far right)
Fleetwood celebrate their late Boxing Day winner at Rochdale scored by Wes Burns (far right)
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Cup wins in November but mixed fortunes in the league

Town’s 10 League One games in December and January yielded only one victory, though the points didn’t dry up as seven of those games were drawn.

December began well enough with a 2-1 victory at Crawley Town in the second round of the FA Cup. Paddy Madden netted the winner, the League Two club having equalised just before half-time.

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Six days later came a 3-1 defeat at Blackpool, who scored early through Liam Feeney and added a crucial second in the opening moments of the second half via Sullay Kaikai. It was three by the time Conor McAleny scored the late consolation and some crowd trouble completed a disappointing day from a Fleetwood viewpoint.

Hopes of bouncing back at home to Gillingham a week later were dashed by Alex Jakubiak’s late equaliser at a windswept Highbury.

Town couldn’t take their chances in the first half, then Madden’s 16th goal of the season from Josh Morris’ 56th-minute cross looked like being enough until Jakubiak curled a shot around keeper Billy Crellin with eight minutes left.

The Christmas rush of four league games in 12 days started at Rotherham, where Ched Evans twice gave Town the lead but they had to settle for a 2-2 draw.

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Town dominated the first half but were only a goal up at half-time, Evans converting Lewie Coyle’s low cross.

Freddie Ladapo equalised just past the hour only for Evans to seize on an underhit backpass and restore Town’s lead within a minute.

But again Fleetwood fell foul of a late leveller, Matt Crooks applying the final touch to keep the Millers a point above ninth-placed Fleetwood.

On Boxing Day it was Town’s turn to come from behind twice and to net a late goal, so grabbing a 3-2 win at Rochdale.

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Aaron Wilbraham put Dale in front just before the break but Madden equalised after Evans’ header was saved.

Wilbraham added his second on the hour, then deflected a rasping shot by substitute Kyle Dempsey as Town levelled again five minutes later.

Injuries forced the hosts to end the game with 10 men and Town took advantage as Wes Burns turned in the winner on 89 minutes.

This was a fifth successive league appearance for young keeper Crellin, who needed lengthy treatment for an injury during the game and has not played for the first-team since.

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The year went out with a whimper rather than a bang as Town were held 0-0 by Bristol Rovers at Highbury, though there were fireworks as Joey Barton was shown a red card for his protests following Evans’ disallowed goal.

It wasn’t Evans’ day, as several other chances came his way, while Town were grateful to recalled keeper Alex Cairns for a cracking save to deny Ed Upson.

It meant Town entered 2020 in eighth place, a point outside the play-off zone.