In their second group stage game of the EFL Trophy, fourth-tier side Fleetwood Town are set to host fellow League Two club Barrow at Highbury Stadium on Tuesday.
Both teams lost in 3-2 in their first game of the group stage and are joint third behind Bolton Wanderers and Aston Villa Academy, while the hosts are seventh with 16 points and the visitors are third with 19 points in League Two.
Match preview
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Fleetwood were beaten 3-2 by Aston Villa Academy on September 3, a match in which they trailed 2-0 after 40 minutes and fought back to level the scoreline by the 59th minute, before ultimately losing when Kyrie Pierre netted the winner with just two minutes of regulation time remaining.
Boss Charlie Adam said in the aftermath of his side’s defeat that he was surprised at the quality of Villa’s team given they had fielded internationals such as Emiliano Buendia and Ross Barkley, but he also added that he felt his team lost as a result of tiredness.
Since that defeat, the Fishermen have won three and drawn two matches, as well as losing once on penalties in the EFL Cup against Stoke City on September 17.
Adam’s side drew 0-0 last time out against Bromley on Saturday in League Two, though they had won the prior game 6-2 against Walsall on October 1.
Fleetwood have played nine fixtures in League Two, scoring 16 times and conceding on nine occasions in that period, and this makes them the division’s fourth-best offensive and joint fourth-best defensive team.
The Fishermen have failed to win their last three home matches, drawing two and losing one, though they have only lost one of their last nine fixtures at Highbury Stadium.
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As for the visitors, they come into Tuesday’s game having lost 3-2 against Bolton Wanderers on September 3 after conceding three times between the 68th and the 79th minute.
Manager Stephen Clemence chose to focus on the positives after his side’s defeat against Bolton and highlighted the fact he had made seven changes to the team that played three days earlier against Harrogate Town.
Barrow have since won three times, drawn twice and lost on three occasions, including two of their last three fixtures.
Last time out, the Bluebirds came from behind to beat Cheltenham Town 2-1 on Saturday in League Two, with striker Andrew Dallas completing the turnaround in the 86th minute when he prodded home left-back Ben Jackson‘s low-driven cross.
The visitors have played 10 games in League Two and of the 24 teams in the division, they have averaged the joint second-fewest goals conceded per match but only created the 19th most big chances.
Barrow are in poor away form and have been for some time considering they have lost 10, drawn four and won just two of their last 16 matches on the road.
Fleetwood Town EFL Trophy form:
Fleetwood Town form (all competitions):
Barrow EFL Trophy form:
Barrow form (all competitions):
Team News
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The hosts will be without defender Zech Medley for some time given he had surgery on his Achilles following his injury against Gillingham in late August.
 
Fleetwood could name a similar XI to the side that lost against Villa, so expect Rhys Bennett, James Bolton and Finley Potter to start as centre-backs.
Pele Smith could feature at the base of midfield, and Ryan Broom and Mark Helm could also be selected in midfield.
Meanwhile, the visitors will likely be without goalkeeper Paul Farman, defender Niall Canavan and attacker Connor Mahoney on Tuesday.
Clemence could make several changes to the side that beat Cheltenham, and he could revert to using the three-man defence he deployed against Bolton.
Goalkeeper Wyll Stanway may be shielded by centre-backs Sam Foley, Theo Vassell and Ben Jackson, while Dean Campbell and Charlie Weston could start as a double pivot in midfield.
Fleetwood Town possible starting lineup:
Lynch; Bennett, Bolton, Potter; Patterson, Broom, Smith, Helm, Roberts; Coughlan, Lonergan
Barrow possible starting lineup:
Stanway; Foley, Vassell, Jackson; Worrall, Weston, Campbell, Tiensia; Dallas, Telford, Kouyate
Considering Barrow’s poor away record, it is difficult to see how they can avoid defeat on Tuesday.
Additionally, it would not be surprising if Fleetwood managed to keep a clean sheet given their opponents have struggled to create many chances in the league.
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