Let's go to Blackpool and make ourselves at home says Fleetwood boss Sheridan

Fleetwood boss John Sheridan wants Town's players and fans to treat derby day at Blackpool like a home game and is urging the Cod Army to roar their team to victory.
John SheridanJohn Sheridan
John Sheridan

Don’t miss the latest football news and gossip from leagues in England, Scotland and Europe with footballwire.co.ukFleetwood boss John Sheridan wants Town’s players and fans to treat derby day at Blackpool like a home game and is urging the Cod Army to roar their team to victory.

Town head to Blackpool tomorrow in search of a first win over their neighbours at the fifth attempt.

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A thousand Fleetwood fans are expected to make the trip down the road and Town’s biggest away following of the season could match the home support given the Blackpool fans’ boycott of their club.

And Sheridan wants Town’s fans to revel in the relief of League One safety, which is all but assured after Tuesday’s 1-0 win at Oxford.

He said: “We will have a good following and they will be vocal. I want them to enjoy the game and we will try to get a result for them.

“It is down the road, like a home game, and the relief that we are safe makes the supporters’ day a little bit easier. We go there hoping to beat our local rivals.

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“Hopefully we’ll treat it like a home game, the fans will be nice and loud and will get right behind us, and hopefully the performance is good enough to win.”

Sheridan says he does not know the details of the off-field Oyston saga at Blackpool but he praised opposite number Gary Bowyer for steering them to safety too.

Asked if he was surprised Bowyer had not been linked with clubs of higher standing given the job he has done under difficult circumstances at Bloomfield Road, Sheridan (left) laughed: “I’m not Gary’s agent! But I know Gary well and I do think he has done an excellent job.

“Whatever is going on around the club, I’m sure it is not as easy as it could be for him. What he has done there to keep them in the division is a good achievement for Blackpool.”

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Sheridan is wary of Pool’s threats, including a familiar foe in midfield maestro Jimmy Ryan, who swapped Highbury for Bloomfield Road last summer

He said: “Blackpool have got some good experienced players in midfield – Jimmy Ryan, Jay Spearing and I like Sean Longstaff. And they have lads up front with a bit of pace.

“They are a hard team to play against. The pitch will not be great but it is a pitch and I’m not going to make any excuses before I go there.

“They have scored eight and conceded none in two games and Gary has done a brilliant job. They will be in our face and are a powerful team, so it will be tough.

“But more than anything I want to concentrate on my team because if we play like we have done we have a good chance of winning.”