NO-ONE quite knew what to expect when Fleetwood hired rookie manager Charlie Adam on New Year’s Eve last year, and the jury is still out after a haphazard 2024.

He began with four straight defeats in League One, not ideal when Town were already on a run of two points from their previous seven games.

Then they only lost two of their next 12 under Adam to move within reach of safety, before four defeats in five finally condemned them to relegation.

And the contradictions continue for them in League Two.

For a player synonymous with flair, Adam’s team are surprisingly lacking in front of goal.

They have only scored three times in their last five league matches, but the game before that run?

Just a 6-2 thrashing of their now second-placed hosts Walsall on October 1.

Irish striker Ronan Coughlan netted twice that evening, and he is their biggest threat in front of goal, with his shot accuracy of 53 per cent this season better than anyone in the league’s top 20 goalscorers aside from Will Grigg.

Ronan Coughlan wheels away after scoring for Fleetwood earlier this season.Ronan Coughlan wheels away after scoring for Fleetwood earlier this season. (Image: Nick Potts/PA Wire.)

Fleetwood were fairly hopeless defensively last season, with their concession of 72 goals in League One a major factor in relegation.

But Adam and his coaching staff appear to have tightened up that leak.

They have already kept five clean sheets and they have only conceded 15 goals, the same as leaders Port Vale.

And despite being 15th, they have only lost three times in the league, less than Doncaster and the Bantams, both of whom sit inside the play-off places currently.

Key to Fleetwood’s solidity has been holding midfielder Matty Virtue, an ever-present in the league for them this season.

Matty Virtue is an absolutely vital cog in the Fleetwood midfield.Matty Virtue is an absolutely vital cog in the Fleetwood midfield. (Image: Nick Potts/PA Wire.)

Talented enough to spend nine years in Liverpool’s academy, Virtue then spent half-a-decade with Blackpool, helping them to promotion to the Championship in 2021.

Now seven miles up the coast with Fleetwood, he has also netted three times this season for Adam’s side, so provides an attacking threat as well as defensive solidity.

They may look like they are underperforming, but at just four points off the play-offs, Fleetwood will be a dangerous opponent for City tomorrow.