Match Preview

Preview: Blackpool v Doncaster

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Blackpool look to bounce back from Saturday’s mauling at the hands of West Ham with a home game against Doncaster tonight.

Rovers are in the bottom three, but are a different proposition since Dean Saunders took over from Sean O’Driscoll.

That said, the Seasiders will still be expected to get back to winning ways in front of the Bloomfield Road faithful.

And if they don’t, then the pressure will only mount on Ian Holloway.

Even though the reaction to the West Ham defeat is verging on hysteria in some quarters, a lot of valid points about the direction that the club is heading in have been made; from the chairman’s lack of backing for Ollie in the transfer market to Ollie’s questionable tactics.

Whilst there’s no doubt that Ollie’s done great things for the club, the bar of expectation has been set a little higher now and at present he’s failing to meet it. Fortunately, he’s got plenty of time to turn things around, starting tonight!

Vital Quotes: Ian Holloway

‘Who do I blame (for what happened at West Ham)?

‘Are there scapegoats or do we have a good look at freshening everything up because that was a very poor performance from my point of view.’

Blackpool Team News:

Craig Cathcart is expected to return to the heart of the defence following the shambles we saw against West Ham. Expect Matt Hill to be dropped.

New loan signing Callum McManaman is also pushing to be included.

Player to watch: All of them

We need a response from the weekend.

Doncaster Team News:

James O’Connor is an injury doubt, so Pascal Chimbonda may start.

Midfielder Ryan Mason may also miss out with a stomach bug.

Player to watch: Billy Sharp

Nearly always scores against us.

Match Facts & Stats

Blackpool boast a 50% winning league record against Doncaster, with 16 wins from 32 meetings. Doncaster have won seven, with nine drawn.

Doncaster have won one of their last nine league matches with the Seasiders; 3-2 at Bloomfield Road in February 2009.

That was also Rovers’ only away victory over Blackpool in their history.

Mid-table Blackpool have failed to win four of their last five; the exception being a 5-0 thrashing of Bristol City, in their most recent game at Bloomfield Road. It was their highest scoring league victory in 19 months.

The Seasiders have scored an unrivalled six Championship goals in the last 10 minutes; half of which were netted against Bristol City on 1 October.

Doncaster lost for the first time under Dean Saunders, home to Leeds on Friday.

Still in the relegation zone on goal difference, Rovers are hunting a third win in five outings, while eager to avoid their second back-to-back defeats in just over a month.

Rovers own the weakest attack in the division, with just six goals scored in their 11 matches, equating to 0.55 goals per game.

Next Fixtures:

Blackpool v Forest on Saturday @ 3

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1 comment

  • Jeffers_Blackpool says:

    dear admin once again i like to say can you email me back i email you on your address that you put on the forum under your details thank you.

    Blackpool i hope there can pick up 3 points tonight.

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