Looking to extend their unbeaten run in the league, promotion-chasing Blackpool will welcome managerless Charlton Athletic to Bloomfield Road on Saturday afternoon in League One.
The Seasiders were narrow victors at Bristol Rovers in their last fixture, while the Addicks' loss at home to Northampton Town resulted in a change in the dugout.
Match preview
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Blackpool stretched their unbeaten run in League One at the beginning of 2024 to three matches last Saturday, beating Bristol Rovers 2-1 at the Memorial Stadium in the West Country, with all the goalscoring action occurring in a frenetic opening 25 minutes against the Pirates.
Starting amazingly on their travels, strikes in the first 20 minutes from CJ Hamilton and Karamoko Dembele put the Seasiders ahead before Chris Martin pulled a goal back for the Gas, but they were unable to breach the net of Richard O'Donnell further, meaning the visitors escaped with maximum points.
Three points last time out means that Neil Critchley's men currently occupy eighth place in the League One standings, four points behind Des Buckingham's Oxford United in sixth, meaning Blackpool have some work to do in order to escape this division at the first attempt.
The goalscoring antics of Jordan Rhodes between now and the conclusion of the campaign will be imperative if the Tangerines are to earn promotion to the Championship, with the striker netting 15 league goals in 24 appearances, 11 more than any of his teammates during 2023-24.
The Seasiders' record at their Bloomfield Road home is very intimidating for Saturday's visitors, with Critchley's charges collecting 32 of their 45 third-tier points at their Lancashire base so far - no side in the division is able to better that tally of home points.
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Charlton's winless run across all competitions extended to a sobering 12 matches on Tuesday night, when the Addicks came out on the wrong side of a five-goal thriller with Northampton at The Valley, where the hosts have not tasted victory since November 28 against relegation-threatened Cheltenham Town.
The Cobblers went ahead twice in the first period but an own goal from Aaron McGowan and Tennai Watson's first of the term levelled the scores at the interval, but the visitors snatched maximum points in the dying stages of the contest, with substitute Louis Appere netting an added-time winner.
After collecting just four points from their last 10 League One matches, the Addicks have slumped down to 16th in the third-tier standings, only four points ahead of Ruben Selles's Reading in 21st, and 19 points behind Oxford in sixth - a gap which appears all but unbridgeable.
A fourth loss in five from the first matches of 2024 signalled the end of Michael Appleton's time at Charlton, with the former Blackpool boss not surviving long enough in the Valley hotseat to face his former employers this weekend, managing just a 30% win rate after being appointed in September.
Only nine of Charlton's 30 League One points have been earned away from their London home this term - only Cambridge United, Reading and newly-promoted Carlisle United have won as few contests on the road so far.
Team News
Blackpool are expected to name a similar XI to the one which beat Bristol Rovers last time out, meaning James Husband, Marvin Ekpiteta and Oliver Casey will start as the back three.
Oliver Norburn plays the enforcer role in the Seasiders' engine room and should be joined by Albie Morgan and ex-Celtic youngster Dembele in the middle of the park.
Attackers Shayne Lavery and Owen Dale are pushing for starts following cameos last weekend, but leading marksman Rhodes and Scotsman Kyle Joseph should retain their places in the side.
Charlton will be without the services of winger Tayo Edun on Saturday, with the 25-year-old receiving his marching orders for two yellow cards against Northampton.
Lloyd Jones was replaced at the half-time break on Tuesday night, meaning Terell Thomas could be drafted in to start his 14th league match of the term.
Blackpool possible starting lineup:
O'Donnell; Casey, Ekpiteta, Husband; Hamilton, Dembele, Norburn, Morgan, Coulson; Joseph, Rhodes
Charlton Athletic possible starting lineup:
Maynard-Brewer; Edmonds-Green, Thomas, Gillesphey; Waston, Dobson, Coventry, Bakinson, Fiorini; May, Ladapo
We say: Blackpool 3-1 Charlton Athletic
Blackpool have been formidable at Bloomfield Road this term, and we see no reason why that trend will not continue against a managerless Charlton on Saturday.
The Addicks are sliding towards an unlikely relegation scrap, and we cannot imagine them earning anything from their trip to the seaside this weekend.
For data analysis of the most likely results, scorelines and more for this match please click here.
Carter White
