By the time Blackpool welcome Reading to Bloomfield Road on Tuesday night, their relegation from the Championship may already be sealed.
Victory for Rotherham United in their match against Brighton & Hove Albion on Easter Monday would open up an unassailable gap for the Seasiders, while even if the Millers don't win, Blackpool would need to avoid defeat to postpone their fate.
Blackpool
© Getty Images
It has been a long time coming, but it always appeared likely that the Easter weekend would be the final nail in the coffin for Blackpool.
They could have been officially relegated had results gone against them on Saturday but, in fairness to Lee Clark's side, they continue to battle on despite all hope being lost on a great escape.
In a season containing many low points and few highs, Blackpool were dealt another cruel blow in the first game of their Easter double-header as Eidur Gudjohnsen's 94th-minute strike prevented the Tangerines from picking up a first away victory of the season.
The 1-1 draw was enough to keep them mathematically still in with a chance of survival, but in reality the 16-point gap to safety with just six games remaining is far too big an ask for a team that has only won four games all season.
Their winless streak now stretches to 12 games - their longest of the season - during which time they have picked up only four points from a possible 36.
There can be no complaints regarding their current position either. They have the worst attack and defence in the division, in addition to winning the fewest games and losing the most.
With the likes of Ipswich Town and Derby County still to come, Blackpool may even suffer the further embarrassment of being relegated with the lowest points tally since the second tier was rebranded as the Championship.
They are currently five points short of Rotherham United's haul of 29 from 2004-05, and hopes will not be high of picking up that many in their six remaining games.
If they are to avoid that ignominy then it is likely to be down to their home form, with 17 of their 24 points coming at Bloomfield Road this season. However, they are without a win in their last six in front of their own fans, managing only two points from a possible 18 in that time.
Recent form: LLLLDD
Reading
© Getty Images
Reading's position is a lot less perilous than that of their opponents on Tuesday, but the Royals are not yet clear of danger themselves going into the closing stages of the season.
Steve Clarke's side now sit nine points clear of the bottom three with 21 still up for grabs, although they do have the advantage of a game in hand that could prove to be vital in pushing them over the line.
In truth, the likelihood of them being dragged into the mire is fairly slim. It would take a surge in form from a couple of the teams below them in the table, but with four of Reading's remaining matches coming against teams in the top 10, Clarke will still want three points from games like this one to secure their safety as soon as possible.
Reading also have an FA Cup semi-final against Arsenal to look forward to later this month in what is a very busy April for the club. They will have played eight matches this month by the time all is said and done.
The first of those came on Saturday and, like Blackpool, the Royals were denied all three points by a late equaliser having taken the lead early in the match. Cardiff City were the team to peg them back, with Conor McAleny levelling in the 90th minute after Pavel Pogrebnyak's fourth-minute opener.
That made it just one win in seven league games for Reading and two in 10, managing just one clean sheet in that time.
They are also without a win in five away games in all competitions now, losing three of their last four in the league and conceding 11 goals in the process.
Recent form: LDWLLD
Recent form (all competitions): DWLWLD
Team News
© Getty Images
Clarke is expected to stick with a front two of Jamie Mackie and Pogrebnyak for this match, with the latter having notched three goals in his last couple of appearances.
That means that Kwesi Appiah, who made his debut off the bench against Cardiff, may be forced to settle for a place among the subs again, while fellow loanee Nathan Ake could make a second successive start.
Simon Cox and Nathaniel Chalobah remain doubts and may be targeting Saturday's match against Blackburn Rovers as a more likely return date, while Jure Travner, Anton Ferdinand and Stephen Kelly will play no part.
Daniel Williams is back available from suspension, but may be forced to start the match from the bench due the presence of Ake in midfield.
Blackpool, meanwhile, will monitor the likes of Jamie O'Hara and Jose Cubero following their recent returns from injury, but the small size of their squad means that Clarke's hands are tied to an extent.
Changes, therefore, could be kept to a minimum, with Michael Jacobs one of those expected to keep his place following his first goal for the club last time out.
Blackpool possible starting lineup:
Lewis; Hall, Clarke, O'Dea, Dunne; Cubero, O'Hara, Perkins; Orlandi, Madine, Jacobs
Reading possible starting lineup:
Federici; Gunter, Pearce, Hector, Obita; McCleary, Ake, Akpan, Robson-Kanu; Mackie, Pogrebnyak
Head To Head
Reading eased to a 3-0 triumph in the reverse fixture at the Madejski Stadium back in October, with Glenn Murray and Nick Blackman adding to a Peter Clarke own goal.
That made it eight goals in the last two meetings for the Royals, but they have not scored on their last three visits to Bloomfield Road, losing on each occasion.
Reading have won three of the last four editions of this fixture, but the away side has not emerged victorious since a League One meeting in 2001, when Reading picked up a 2-0 triumph.
We say: Blackpool 0-2 Reading
A lot may depend on events in the Rotherham game on Monday with regards to this match. Blackpool have shown a bit of fighting spirit in their last two matches but, should their relegation be confirmed prior to kickoff on Tuesday, there is likely to be a subdued atmosphere inside Bloomfield Road and confidence is sure to be as low as ever.
Barney Corkhill
