Pressley disappointed Town did not get opening day home fixture

Fleetwood Town boss Steven Pressley is disappointed Town will not start the new 2016/17 campaign at home.
Fleetwood fans  Photographer Bethany Hankey/CameraSportFleetwood fans  Photographer Bethany Hankey/CameraSport
Fleetwood fans Photographer Bethany Hankey/CameraSport

The League One fixtures were unveiled yesterday and Pressley’s men will head to Northampton Town on August 6.

But he sees it as an opportunity to start their away campaign positively after the club finished second- bottom of last season’s away form table after picking up only three wins on the road.

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The ex-Scotland defender said: “I did want an opening home game.

“We didn’t get that but including the (EFL Cup) Leeds game, we then have three consecutive home games which gives us an opportunity.

“With our away form last year being poor, I think that it’s certainly an opportunity to put down a marker.

“It will be a great game as well and they will have a terrific home support.

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“Northampton are newly promoted and it will be their first game of the season in a new league, and I imagine there will be a really good crowd. I think it is going to be a challenging fixture.”

The following Saturday ex-Town boss Graham Alexander will make his first return to Highbury with his new club Scunthorpe United.

Alexander was sacked in September last year and Pressley took over the reins.

The ex-Preston and Burnley defender spent six months out of the game before taking over at Scunthorpe in March, and Town’s first home clash on August 13 is set to be the first time he will have faced Fleetwood since his departure.

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Sandwiched between the first two league games is an EFL Cup first-round clash against Championship side Leeds United.

It will be the first time the two sides have ever met in any competition.

Town have a home festive double header as they host Bury on Boxing Day and Oldham on New Year’s Eve.

Pressley’s men travel to Peterborough United on Easter Saturday (April 15) and host Millwall on Easter Monday (April 17).

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Just like last term, when they beat Crewe 2-0 at Highbury to beat the drop to League Two, Town will be at home on the final day. This time they host Port Vale on April 30.

This season’s Football League climax will be split over two weekends. The final matches in League One will be played on Sunday April 30, with a noon kick-off.

The following Saturday will see the League Two clubs finish their campaign, with the Championship then taking centre stage for the final set of matches on Sunday May 7, again at noon.

Clubs now have 10 days to request any minor changes to match dates or to kick-off times – for example, if they wish to move the first of their Easter weekend games from the Saturday to Good Friday.

It is not known whether Fleetwood have requested any changes.