Blackpool have been dropping like a stone

The big win against Doncaster last time out for AFCB will only be seen as a turning point if they can back it up with a good performance away at Bloomfield Road. Blackpool have been driving in reverse for several weeks and Barry Ferguson will still be looking for first gear when the Cherries arrive for this seaside clash. Blackpool's defence has been anything but rock solid and the Cherries will fancy their chances of coming away with the points if Blackpool are not on their game.

It was bad enough for Blackpool when Paul Ince went on a non-winning run, but the pressure has continued to mount on Barry Ferguson since he took over in January with the Tangerines just having picked up just three points in their last 10 games and they are now sitting in 19th place, eight points above the relegation spaces. With Charlton having three games in hand it is possible that Blackpool could be even closer to the danger area in coming weeks especially if they slip up against AFCB.

So Blackpool will be playing for their lives on Saturday and the Cherries will have to be aware of the threat and to manage it while looking to put away another Championship side with some talented players. Blackpool may have lost Tom Ince in January but they still have the experienced Ricardo Fuller leading the line, while Michael Chopra is warming the bench. AFCB won't have to face Nathan Tyson though who has been loaned out to Notts County for a month.

Ricardo Fuller is likely to lead the line for Blackpool as he
did when the teams met last at Dean Court.

Such names might have worried this Bournemouth side in the past, but they are a different outfit now. It is exciting for them to go away to such ground and to get a result. Watford beat Blackpool 4-0 last weekend and the onus for Ferguson will be firstly to try and keep a clean sheet against a Bournemouth side that have found their cutting edge. He needs some help, so it is no surprise that he has enlisted the services of Eric Black as an advisor.

While Blackpool have earned credible draws against Forest and Ipswich they have been beaten by the likes of Birmingham, Barnsley and Middlesbrough in recent months and that kind of form is spelling danger signs. Only Yeovil, Charlton and Doncaster have scored less goals than Blackpool. Their last win was back in November, some 17 games ago against Sheffield Wednesday! It hasn't been a pleasant time for Blackpool fans and with Barry Ferguson not plying his trade on the pitch I think they are in real danger, despite being only four points behind the Cherries.

It is important though that AFCB play with as much passion and fight as a Blackpool side looking to find their lost form. Nothing is ever given to you and AFCB have to match the opposition in every area before they can try and win the game. UTCIAD!

You can back the team and win by placing a bet on Free Bet Negotiator.

Blackpool Home Form:
LLDDL

AFCB Away Form:
WDLDL

Catch up on the Rival Lines tab to hear John Campbell of Blackpool FC Blog give his thoughts ahead of the Blackpool v AFCB match. Find out what he puts Blackpool's current slide in form down to.

Match Preview: Cherry Chimes talks to Blackpool FC Blog

Match Preview
Blogger Interview - Blackpool FC Blog

Blackpool v AFCB

Cherry Chimes has been talking with John Campbell ahead of the big seaside clash between Blackpool and AFCB. John is the editor of the excellent Blackpool FC Blog which is a really strong read and always full of news on one of the Championship clubs that always seems to make headlines. At the moment things have not been going so well for the team and it sounds like the fans are starting to ask a lot of questions about why the team is not performing. 

CC: Did you feel it was only a matter of time before Paul Ince was given his marching orders?

BFCB: Yes, the writing was on the wall as they said, if he turned it around he could have stayed however there was never any plan B or drastic change to try and make a difference.

CC: Ever since Tom Ince has gone to Palace Blackpool seem to have struggled or did the problems stem before that?

BFCB: Before, pretty much after the the Millwall game in September you could tell we were going to have problems, the turning point was the defeat to Yeovil where we had three sent off which started a really bad run which we've never got out off.

CC: How well suited do you think Barry Ferguson is to the managerial job at Blackpool?

BFCB: At the moment, not very well. He's not been able to turn it around but to be fair to him its not the ideal first managerial appointment. It would be very disappointing to have this spell as Blackpool manager as his first job post playing career. We really needed an experienced manager to come in and turn things around.

CC: How much of a player rebuilding project needs to take place at Blackpool?

BFCB: The entire squad and club needs changing, but while Karl Oyston remains in charge of the club there will be no change.

CC: Did you bring any quality into the team in January?

BFCB: No.... which is why we are in the current situation. Andy Keogh looks the best of the bunch.

CC: Was the 5-1 Reading defeat the low point of your season?

BFCB: No, Saturday 4-0 against Watford, a low point for maybe the last 10-15 years...

CC: Blackpool have had some good draws against Ipswich and Forest, but Blackpool's last win was against Sheffield Wednesday in November so has the team been poor or just unlucky?

BFCB: Poor, very poor. We've not deserved to win so can't put it down to bad luck. The players haven't been good enough or motivated.

CC: AFCB have also struggled to get wins so do you see this as a good chance for Blackpool to get three points at home?

BFCB: No, we are really at rock bottom and at the moment it's very hard to see where a win could come from.

CC: It looks like there are lots of stanchion posts at Bloomfield Road so what is the view like at the ground for away fans, comfy seats too?

BFCB: It's not the worst away view you'll get this season. It's pretty good for temporary stand.

CC: What is the parking like around the stadium and is it far from the sea front (some AFCB fans might want to see the donkeys but hopefully there's none on the pitch)?

BFCB: Loads of it, on street for free if you get there early enough, if not there's a huge car park running along the sea side of the ground.

CC: What are you aspirations for the rest of the season?

BFCB: To stay up, pretty bad considering we were top of the league the last time we met.

CC: That has to be about the most difficult set of questions and answers that we have seen on Rival Lines. No fan likes to see their team having such a hard time of things as John and other Blackpool fans are going through. But one win can make a big difference and Bloomfield Road is never an easy place to visit. For Bournemouth fans it will be a bit of an adventure and I expect there will be a good number of Bournemouth fans visiting despite the distance. If you are keen to hear a further examination of John's views on Blackpool FC and his recent reports including their last game against Watford, take a trip to his Blackpool FC Blog.