Two sides separated by goal difference and aiming to crack the top six in the League One table will do battle at Bloomfield Road on Saturday, as Blackpool host Barnsley.
The two sides each suffered defeats before the recent international break, leaving them one point outside of the playoff places.
Match preview
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Blackpool will look to get back to winning ways on their return to League One action on Saturday, having endured a slight dip prior to the recent international break.
After the early departure of Neil Critchley, Steve Bruce arrived at Bloomfield Road in September with just two points on the board from four outings, and he has inspired a notable improvement in Lancashire.
Bruce's tenure began with four consecutive league victories over Exeter City, Charlton Athletic, Huddersfield Town and Burton Albion, with the Tangerines scoring nine goals and only conceding twice along the way.
That winning streak was then halted in agonising fashion at home to Lincoln City, having led 1-0 through Kyle Joseph heading into injury time only to be pegged back by a Tom Hamer leveller, before most recently visiting Mansfield Town before the break and suffering a third defeat of the third-tier campaign as a Will Evans brace sealed a 2-0 home win.
Still with plenty of positives to take from the start of life under their new boss, having moved within touching distance of the top six by earning 13 points from their last six matches, Blackpool will be keen to bounce back with another three-point haul at Bloomfield Road on Saturday.
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Their visitors will also bid to bounce back from a defeat prior to the break and move into the top six following a tough start to the season.
Aiming to seal their return to England's second tier at the third time of asking under the new management of Darrell Clarke, following back-to-back playoff exits, Barnsley currently sit 11th in League One having earned 15 points from their first 10 matches.
After picking up three wins and a draw in a four-match span between mid-August and early September, the Reds have added just five more points to their tally in the last five attempts, having followed up a 3-0 defeat to Stevenage by beating Burton Albion 2-1 away from home.
Draws with Stockport County and Wycombe Wanderers then followed, having been pegged back late on in the former and equalised in injury time in the latter, before most recently visiting Huddersfield Town in League One and EFL Trophy meetings and suffering a pair of 2-0 defeats before the international break.
Ben Wiles and David Kasumu condemned the Reds to their third league defeat of the season in the first of those contests, and having now dropped out of the top six as a result of their dip in form, Barnsley will be keen to bounce back with a three-point haul on the road on their return to action.
Team News
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Barnsley head into Saturday's trip without Josh Benson, who is sidelined after sustaining an injury in their 2-0 EFL Trophy defeat to Huddersfield Town prior to the international break.
Key man Adam Phillips, who has netted a team-high tally of five goals from an advanced midfield role so far this term, is in contention to return after his own layoff though, and he could join Davis Keillor-Dunn in support of front man Sam Cosgrove if deemed fit.
Elsewhere, Matthew Craig should again join Luca Connell in the engine room, while Mael de Gevigney, Marc Roberts and Josh Earl will hope to reform a back three despite competition from Donovan Pines.
Blackpool will remain without Dominic Thompson and Andy Lyons on Saturday, with the pair still confined to the treatment room.
Steve Bruce should deploy a similar starting XI to the one which enjoyed success before the international break, and Jake Beesley and Jordan Rhodes will both fight to come into the attack and join Kyle Joseph, who has netted four goals in his last eight league appearances.
Rob Apter and CJ Hamilton offer further attacking threat on the wings, while Albie Morgan and Lee Evans are bound to continue their partnership in the midfield.
Blackpool possible starting lineup:
Tyrer; Lawrence-Gabriel, Offiah, Casey, Husband; Apter, Morgan, Evans, Hamilton; Beesley, Joseph
Barnsley possible starting lineup:
Slonina; De Gevigney, Roberts, Earl; Cotter, Craig, Connell, Gent; Phillips, Keillor-Dunn; Cosgrove
We say: Blackpool 1-1 Barnsley
With both sides keen to come back from the international break with a return to winning ways, we anticipate a hard-fought contest on Saturday.
Both teams boast plenty of quality, and we see a share of the spoils as the most likely outcome at Bloomfield Road.
For data analysis of the most likely results, scorelines and more for this match please click here.
Sam Varley
