Both sides will be looking to extend their significant unbeaten runs when Fleetwood Town host Charlton Athletic in League One on Saturday.
Fleetwood drew for the fourth time in their last five games against Bristol Rovers in midweek, while Charlton secured successive victories against Carlisle United last weekend.
Match preview
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Despite improving under the management of former Liverpool midfielder Charlie Adam in recent weeks, the odds are seriously stacked against Fleetwood in terms of surviving relegation this season.
The Fishermen have been involved in back-to-back goalless draws within the past week, with Stevenage Town and Bristol Rovers both proving unable to breach Fleetwood's defence. However, unfortunately for Adam's side, they could not find a goal themselves in either game.
The point gained away to playoff-chasing Stevenage was undoubtedly a valuable one considering that Harrison Holgate was dismissed with more than 20 minutes of normal time remaining, with Fleetwood only having four shots in total. But with both sides posting 14 shots apiece when Fleetwood hosted Bristol Rovers, both goalkeepers had to be in good form to keep clean sheets.
Adam's side will head into the weekend six points behind Reading, Burton Albion and Cambridge United in safety, with the latter two sides both having a game in hand on them. Put simply, time is running out for Fleetwood if they are to pull off a similarly great escape to their one two seasons ago, when they survived on goal difference on the final day of the campaign.
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Charlton, on the other hand, have pulled away from the relegation zone in recent weeks by mounting a seven-match unbeaten streak. Former Luton Town boss Nathan Jones lost his first game in charge away to Reading, but is yet to taste defeat in the league since.
Ten points from a possible 12 in their last four matches - including a hugely impressive 2-1 win away to automatic promotion contenders Derby County - has seen the Addicks climb to 15th in the table, and a healthy 10 points clear of Cheltenham Town in the first relegation spot.
Late goals from Tyreeq Bakinson and Alfie May helped Charlton defeat Cheltenham 3-1 away from home, before they secured another dramatic victory against another relegation-threatened side last weekend. Carlisle took a surprise lead at The Valley, before equalising after May and Daniel Kanu had put Charlton ahead, but May was on target once again to help his side to another crucial win.
If they can make it three straight victories against teams sitting in League One's relegation zone when they travel to Fleetwood on Saturday, Jones can surely begin planning for next season in England's third tier already, which would represent a huge achievement considering that they had failed to win any of their last 12 league games prior to his appointment in early February.
Team News
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Fleetwood will welcome Holgate back to their matchday squad after he missed out against Bristol Rovers due to suspension, with Adam likely to throw the 23-year-old back into the heart of his back three.
Promise Omochere was handed an opportunity from the outset at Highbury Stadium in midweek, and despite the hosts blanking once again, Adam may retain faith in the 23-year-old alongside Jayden Stockley and Danny Mayor in attack.
Charlton, meanwhile, will travel without Miles Leaburn due to a hamstring injury, but otherwise Jones appears to have a fully-fit squad at his disposal.
Former Ipswich Town players Connor Wickham, Freddie Ladapo and Bakinson all came off the substitutes' bench against Carlisle last weekend, but only Bakinson may force his way into the visitors' starting XI in place of Karoy Anderson.
Fleetwood Town possible starting lineup:
Lynch; Sarpong-Wiredu, Holgate, Heneghan; Broom, Kilkenny, Lawal, Mayor, Patterson; Omochere, Stockley
Charlton Athletic possible starting lineup:
Isted; Edmonds-Green, Thomas, Gillesphey; Watson, Bakinson, Coventry, Dobson, Small; Kanu, May
We say: Fleetwood Town 1-1 Charlton Athletic
Both teams have proven very difficult to beat under their new managers in recent weeks, but Charlton have crucially managed to rack up some wins to move away from the danger zone.
Fleetwood, on the other hand, need wins sooner rather than later if they are to preserve their status in League One, but we can envisage them being held to another draw on Saturday by Jones' increasingly confident outfit.
For data analysis of the most likely results, scorelines and more for this match please click here.
Brett Curtis
