T’Rovers v ‘Pool

Over 5,000 Blackpool fans will travel to Ewood Park tomorrow for a relegation six pointer against Blackburn.

‘Pool manager Ian Holloway may not be a fan of such terms as ‘six pointer’ or ‘must win game’, but the reality is that we’re at the business end of the season now and as captain Charlie Adam said on Goals on Sunday at the weekend, we’ve got nine cup finals to come.

Safety is still in the Seasiders’ hands, and a win tomorrow would go a long way to securing safety whilst plunging the hosts further into the relegation quagmire.

A defeat though, and the Seasiders could slip into the bottom three for the first time this season. It doesn’t even bear thinking about.

Vital Quotes:

Ian Holloway may ring the changes both in terms of personnel and system tomorrow:

‘I have been putting together another plan to see if I can get enough points in the next nine games.

‘I have loved the way we have played this year and the way we try to do certain things. But will that work long-term? I`m not sure. I think our long diagonal passes are readable and if I am without one or two players we don`t look as effective in that system.

‘Last year I could pick the same system all the way through but you have to keep evolving. So I will be doing something slightly different to help my team be a bit more solid.

‘I feel I have to come up with something a little bit different because of the results over the last couple of months. We are a tad predicable at times. If I think I have seen something, then I am not going to be scared to change.’

Blackburn Team News:

Ryan Nelson returns from suspension, but Gael Givet begins his ban.

David Dunn, Keith Andrews and Vince Grella are all doubts, but Mauro Formica and Phil Jones are expected to return.

Player to watch: Chris Samba

Imperious at the back and a threat from attacking set pieces, in many ways Samba is the lifeblood of Rovers.

Blackpool Team News:

DJ Campbell serves the second game of a three match ban, but captain Charlie Adam returns.

Richard Kingson, Craig Cathcart, Elliot Grandin and Gary Taylor-Fletcher are all fit, but Paul Rachubka and Matt Gilks miss out.

Player to watch: Charlie Adam

Nine cup finals and probably the last nine games of Charlie Adam’s Blackpool career – can the enigmatic Scot give us the perfect parting gift by helping to drag us to safety?

Match Facts & Stats

If Rovers win on Saturday, it will be their first ever league double against the Seasiders.

‘Pool have won three of their last four games at Ewood Park.

Rovers haven’t won in five.

‘Pool haven’t kept a clean sheet in twelve.