Don't underestimate Blackpool

Okay, Blackpool are top of the table. It may only be five games into the season but you have to have played well to be in top spot. The away form of Blackpool is what we should be interested in. They started the season with a comprehensive 1:3 away win at Doncaster, but since then lost to Preston away in the Capital One Cup and drew with Middlesbrough 1:1 away.

Now about that Carling Cup game they had with Preston. On the surface you might not have thought much about a narrow cup exit in a derby match, but it had quite an impact on the team with Tom Ince having to sit out two games and Paul Ince being reprimanded for his after match comments. A pitch invasion had angered Paul Ince, because his players were still on the pitch and there were horrific scenes with a steward being trampled by a police horse. Personally, I would say Paul Ince was only concerned for the safety of his players, but these days you are not allowed to speak out against the authorities. 

The Middlesbrough game could so easily resulted for a win for Blackpool but Emnes late goal really robbed Blackpool of two more points. What we can see is that Blackpool have not been scoring heavily away from home and they don't necessarily need many shots on goal to come away with the points. 

The players that AFCB are going to have to mark tightly include Ricardo Fuller who has seen plenty of top action with Stoke City and probably Tom Barkhuisen, although Michael Chopra will also be in contention for a striker spot having moved over the summer from Ipswich. Blackpool have also bought Nathan Tyson during the last window and he is perhaps likely to play a part in events. Their wild card is certainly Tom Ince who seems to be able to ride through challenges and score from just about anywhere on the pitch. Eddie will have to come up with some plan to keep him quiet, but it will  probably be down to the nearest player to him at the time to try and tackle him before he gets any momentum up. 

The Blackpool Supporters Association previews the AFCB v Blackpool tie and gives its opinion on past and present Blackpool managers and the current players at Blackpool FC who are about to taken on the Cherries this weekend, go to the Rival Lines tab.