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Preview: Blackpool vs. Birmingham City

Preview: Blackpool vs. Birmingham
© PA Photos
Blackpool have the home advantage for the first leg of the playoff semi-final against Birmingham City this evening.

Blackpool host Birmingham City at Bloomfield Road tonight for the first leg of the crucial playoff semi-finals.

Both clubs have recent Premier League experience and will be determined to reach Wembley for the final against either Cardiff City or West Ham United.

Ian Holloway is expected to add striker Roman Bednar to the bench after the frontman completed a reserve match following a knee injury, while Matt Phillips, Tom Ince and Gary Taylor-Fletcher could be positioned in attack for the Seasiders.

Craig Cathcart will remain out of contention as the defender continues to be treated after suffering heart palpitations.

Meanwhile, Chris Hughton is likely to line up with a standard 4-4-2 formation, with Nikola Zigic retaining his spot up front, despite suffering a knee injury during the Blues' 2-0 win over Reading last weekend.

Current form:

Blackpool: WDDWWD
Birmingham: WDDDDW

Possible lineups:

Blackpool: Gilks; Eardley, Baptiste, Evatt, Crainey; Ferguson, Angel, Dobbie; Ince, Taylor-Fletcher, M Phillips

Birmingham: Doyle, Murphy, Pablo, Davies, Ramage; Burke, Huseklepp, Mutch, Redmond; King, Zigic

Sports Mole says: 1-0

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Tables header RHS
TeamPWDLFAGDPTS
1Birmingham CityBirmingham8710178922
2Wrexham9522147717
3Mansfield TownMansfield85211511417
4Stockport CountyStockport8431137615
5Lincoln CityLincoln8431137615
6Blackpool94321714315
7Barnsley94321513215
8Wycombe WanderersWycombe84221613314
9Stevenage942375214
10Exeter CityExeter841396313
11Bolton WanderersBolton84131313013
12Reading84131212013
13Charlton AthleticCharlton941499013
14Wigan AthleticWigan933395412
15Huddersfield TownHuddersfield94051211112
16Peterborough UnitedPeterborough93241417-311
17Rotherham UnitedRotherham9243710-310
18Bristol Rovers93151015-510
19Northampton TownNorthampton82241013-38
20Leyton Orient9225912-38
21Crawley TownCrawley8215512-77
22Burton Albion8044916-74
23Shrewsbury TownShrewsbury9117615-94
24Cambridge UnitedCambridge8017616-101


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