Preview: Blackpool vs. Fleetwood Town

Sports Mole previews Tuesday’s League One clash between Blackpool and Fleetwood Town, including predictions, team news and possible lineups.

Blackpool will go head-to-head with local rivals Fleetwood Town in Tuesday’s crucial League One encounter at Bloomfield Road.

The hosts are still hoping to achieve a playoff finish, while the Cod Army will be desperate to claim all three points to boost their dwindling survival hopes.

Match preview

Blackpool recently saw their playoff hopes dented by a three-game winless run made up of consecutive away defeats and a goalless home draw against Wycombe Wanderers.

Fortunately for the Tangerines, they managed to get back on track in Saturday’s outing against Cambridge United, with Sonny Carey scoring the decisive goal in a 1-0 win, extending Blackpool’s unbeaten home run to 10 league matches.

Although they may have enjoyed a successful weekend, Blackpool are still sitting six points adrift of sixth-placed Oxford United with just four games remaining.

As a result, the Tangerines will feel they need to claim 12 points to have any real hope of securing a playoff finish in their first season since being relegated from the Championship.

Having kept clean sheets in five of their last seven matches, Neil Critchley’s side will be looking to produce another strong defensive display in Tuesday’s contest.

Fleetwood boss Charlie Adam is preparing to face a club where he made nearly 100 appearances as a player and helped secure promotion to the Premier League.

Adam will be determined to get the better of his former side, with his current employers languishing in 23rd place and six points from safety.

Since beating Wigan Athletic at the start of March, the Cod Army have gone on to play out three straight draws before suffering consecutive defeats to Cheltenham Town and Oxford United.

Fleetwood experienced a disastrous first half in Saturday’s trip to the Kassam Stadium, conceding three goals before the interval in a 4-0 defeat to the U’s.

The Cod Army will have to quickly pick themselves up for Tuesday’s clash at Bloomfield Road, where they will attempt to claim their first competitive away win over Blackpool.

Blackpool League One form:

Fleetwood Town League One form:

Team News
© Reuters

Blackpool are unable to call upon the services of Andy Lyons and Jordan Rhodes due to their respective knee injuries.

Midfielder Albie Morgan is closing in on a return to fitness, but it remains to be seen whether he will be ready for Tuesday’s contest.

Shayne Lavery will be hoping to get a recall after the forward dropped down to the bench for Saturday’s win over Cambridge.

As for the visitors, Shaun Rooney and Carl Johnston could be brought into the side to operate as the two wing-backs after the pair featured as half-time substitutes at the weekend.

Jayden Stockley dropped out of the starting XI for Saturday’s defeat to Oxford, but Fleetwood’s top scorer could be restored to the lineup for Tuesday’s crucial fixture.

Blackpool possible starting lineup:
Grimshaw; Pennington, Ekpiteta, Casey; Hamilton, Dembele, Byers, Carey, Coulson; Beesley, Lavery

Fleetwood Town possible starting lineup:
Lynch; Wiredu, Heneghan, Campbell; Rooney, Lawal, Kilkenny, Johnston; Omochere, Graydon, Stockley

We say: Blackpool 3-1 Fleetwood Town
Blackpool have managed to avoid defeat in each of their last 10 home league games, and we think they will extend that run by claiming a relatively comfortable win over their relegation-threatened opponents.

For data analysis of the most likely results, scorelines and more for this match please click here.

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