In focus: Blackpool match preview

28 December 2020

Take a closer look at the latest stats and facts in our match preview ahead of Town's Sky Bet League One clash with Blackpool.

Blackpool Football Club have enjoyed a solid first half to their Sky Bet League One campaign and currently sit in 12th position - five points away from a play-off spot. However, Neil Critchley's men arent known for their goals and currently have a -1 goal-difference leading into their journey to Shropshire.

With three wins and two draws in their last five league fixtures, the away side will prove to be a stern test for Salop as Steve Cotterill's men look to extend their unbeaten run to eight league fixtures. Take a closer look at the away side's latest stats as Town prepare to take on the Seasiders.

Name: Blackpool Football Club

Nickname: The Seasiders, The Pool, The Tangerines

Founded: 1887 (133 years ago)

Stadium: Bloomfield Road

Capacity: 16,616

Chairman/owner: Simon Sadler

Biggest win: 7-0 v Sunderland, Division One, 5th October 1957

Biggest loss: 1-10 v Huddersfield Town, Division One, 13th December 1930

Highest league finish: Division One runners-up: 1955-56

Read Steve Cotterill's thoughts ahead of the Sky Bet League One clash...

Interviews 28 December 2020

Steve Cotterill previews Town's Blackpool fixture

The Manager - New Critchley

Former Crewe Alexandra midfielder, Critchley is in his first stint as a first-team manager having taken the reigns at Bloomfield Road in March 2020. The 42-year-old signed a three-and-a-half-year contract with the Seasiders.

Critchley's first senior coaching role came in 2013 when the former youth coach took charge of Liverpool's under-18 set-up. Five years later, a promotion came when the 'UEFA Elite' coach took charge of the under-23's.

Goalkeeper -Chris Maxwell

The current Blackpool captain joined the Seasiders in January 2020 on an initial short-term deal until the end of the season.

The goalkeeper impressed during his short time between the sticks, and earned a contract extension with the Club in June 2020 - keeping him at Bloomfield Road until the summer of 2022.

No stranger to the Fylde Coast, Maxwell achieved promotion with Fleetwood Town in 2014 and went on to be named Player of the Season a year later. He has also represented Hibernian, Wrexham and Preston North End.

Defender - James Husband

Left-back James Husband initially joined Blackpool on a season-long loan from Norwich City in July 2019.

However, the Seasiders moved to make that switch permanent in January 2020, with the former Canary penning an initial 18-month deal.

The defender has racked up more than 160 senior games in his career to date, playing for the likes of Doncaster Rovers, Middlesbrough, Fulham and Huddersfield Town. Husband is no stranger to the referee having picked up five yellow cards so far this season.

Midfielder - Sullay Kaikai

Former Town loanee and Blackpool number 10, Sullay Kaikai moved to Bloomfield Road on a free transfer from Dutch side NAC Breda in the summer of 2019.

The exciting winger started his career with Crystal Palace, where he made 11 appearances for the first-team and won the club's Young Player of the Year award. While at Selhurst Park, he spent time out on loan in The EFL and had very successful stints with Salop and Brentford.

So far this season, Kaikai has contributed to five goals for his team with three assists and two goals.

Forward - Jerry Yates

Jerry Yates signed for Blackpool on a two year deal from Rotherham United in the summer of 2020.

Yates, who was assigned the Club's number 9 shirt on his arrival, enjoyed a hugely succesful loan spell at Swindon Town in 2019/20, scoring 20+ goals to help the Robins on their way to the League Two title.

His form has continued this season as the striker is a joint top goal-scorer with Christopher Hamilton who are both on five goals.

League stats:

Results: P18 W8 D3 L7

Last five results: WWDWD

Win percentage: 44%

Average points per game: 1.50

Average goals scored per game: 1.06

Average goals per game: 2.17

Average shots per match: 13

Average possession: 50%

Fouls per match: 7.39

Offsides per match: 4

Top goal-scorer: Jerry Yates / Christopher Hamilton - 5

Top Assists: Sullay Kaikai

Most cards: James Husband - 5

Most frequent FT score: 1-0 (5 times)

Officials:

Referee: Neil Hair

Assistants: Mark Cunliffe & Richard Woodward

Fourth Official: TBC

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Match Reports

Match report: Shrewsbury Town 1 Blackpool 0

29 December 2020

Shrewsbury Town earn all three points over Blackpool at Montgomery Waters Meadow.

Shrewsbury earned their first home league win of the season against Blackpool thanks to a Dan Udoh first half goal.

With an unbeaten league record under Steve Cotterill, Shrewsbury Town began the game full of confidence pressing Blackpool’s backline and forcing the away side to look long.

It was the visitors who had the first effort on goal. A driving run by Kenneth Dougall sprung Blackpool forward, the ball fell to right back Jordan Lawrence-Gabriel but his shot was comfortably caught by Matija Sarkic.

It was Shaun Whalley who had the home side's first effort on goal. The frontman backed up his marker and turned away using the weight on the ball from Ollie Norburn but his shot was wide of the mark leaving the game goalless.

The Shrews looked the most likely as the half wore on. Whalley brought down a nice ball played to him down the line and cut the ball back for Josh Vela who fired his effort over the bar. Moments later, Whalley was involved again this time the ball fell to him in the area and his shot forced a smart save from the seasider’s keeper Sam Walker.

With ten left to play in the half, Town were awarded a penalty after the ball was played through the Blackpool backline and Whalley was cynically down in the area. Ollie Norburn stepped up but Walker made a smart save down to his right. Whalley then followed in but he couldn’t convert. The ball then found the feet of Udoh who made no mistake on the third time of asking for Shrewsbury giving them the lead.

The Seasiders had the first effort of the second half, Luke Garbutt curled a free kick over the wall forcing Sarkic into a diving save to keep Town ahead.

Shrewsbury grew into the second half soaking up the pressure, they eventually broke with Charlie Daniels who switched the play to Udoh, some nice play between Josh Vela and Jan Zamburek freed the later, his cross found Daniels who continued his run into the box but Walker denied the wingback from making it two-nil.

With 15 left to play, it was the men in the white and tangerine shirts who had the lion’s share of possession but Salop did well to soak up the pressure and threaten on the counter-attack.

Second half substitute Leon Clarke showed his experience as he held the play up. Town eventually worked the ball down left only for Vela to be bundled over winning the home side a free kick side deep in the opposing half.

Despite five additional minutes added, Shrewsbury showed their resilience to deny the home side an equaliser and take all three points in their final game of 2020.

The teams:

Shrewsbury Team: Matija Sarkic (GK), Aaron Pierre, Ro-Shaun Williams, Shaun Whalley, Ollie Norburn, Josh Vela, Jan Zamburek, Charlie Daniels, Josh Daniels, Dan Udoh, Ethan Ebanks-Landell.

Bench: Harry Burgoyne, Scott Golbourne, Dave Edwards, Leon Clarke, Shilow Tracey, Marc Pugh, Jason Cummings.

Blackpool Team: Sam Walker, Jordan Lawrence-Gabriel, Ethan Robson, Keshi Anderson, Sullay Kaikai, Kenneth Dougall, Gary Madine, Daniel Kemp, Marvin Ekpiteta, Danny Ballard, Luke Garbutt.

Bench: Jack Sims, James Husband, Jerry Yates, Demetri Mitchell, Grant Ward, Ollie Turton, Bez Lubala.

Ticket News

Match passes: Blackpool

29 December 2020

Match passes are available to purchase for Town's home Sky Bet League One clash with Blackpool.

iFollow passes are now available for supporters who are wanting to watch Town's Sky Bet League One fixture against Blackpool!

Purchase your match pass here!

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