Is it a good time to play Blackpool?

There are always some teams that finish the end of the season strongly. Of course we hope that AFCB are one of those sides and I get the feeling that Blackpool fans are already on their knees praying for something akin to a miracle or at least three points before the clocks go forward. Time has stood still for them and the points have been particularly hard to come by. But does this make it a good time to play Blackpool?

It's been an up and down season for Blackpool and of late it's more of a down.

On paper you would have to say so, but we have seen how over confidence usually leads to a spectacular fall in the Championship. All the teams outside the top 12 are probably feeling that they need to get more points as quickly as they can now. Whether that means that their managers take more risks or look to defend more stoutly is a matter of choice, but form tends to dictate matters when you can't last remember a home win. 

Something needs to change at Bloomfield Road if Blackpool are to halt their slide down the table and that makes them more unpredictable than teams enjoying a good spell. Eddie Howe may find that there are some surprises in their team line up and their formation. But we know AFCB will be looking to assert their game on Blackpool and to get the home crowd frustrated. They can only do that by playing well and concentrating on what they have been told to try and do during the week, but every game takes on its own structure and AFCB will hope that the key moments and decisions go for them. 

Eddie himself has some big decisions to make himself. Does he keep with Grabban up front on his own away from home and flood the midfield? Or does he keep hat-trick Yann in the starting 11? This may mean that Eunan is rested again and Rantie is given time to recover from his mid-week travelling, while Pugh may come in for the hard working Fraser who will have played for Scotland's U-21s. Whatever the team it will be one that must fancy their chances against a Blackpool team that has not won since November.

So far Leicester and Derby have done the double over AFCB, let's hope that Blackpool don't add to that. I believe the Cherries need four more wins this season and this can be won of them. I'm going for a 0-2 scoreline. UTCIAD!

You can back the team and win by placing a bet on Free Bet Negotiator. Also have a read of the Blackpool FC Blog where you can get the views of John Campbell who also has something to say on Rival Lines.

Finally, Shwan Jalal's loan period at Leyton Orient came to an end yesterday so look out next week to see if he goes straight back out on loan and if so to which club.