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Blackpool
Championship
Sep 13, 2014 at 3pm UK
 
Wolves logo

0-0

FT

Preview: Blackpool vs. Wolverhampton Wanderers

Sports Mole previews Saturday's Championship meeting between struggling Blackpool and in-form Wolves.

The circus around Blackpool continues to rumble on, and the wolves are at the door of manager Jose Riga in more ways than one this weekend.

In-form Wolverhampton Wanderers visit Bloomfield Road on Saturday, with no guarantee for the hosts that Riga will remain at the club for much longer.

Chairman Karl Oyston has already embarked on a public pursuit of a replacement for the Belgian, who went AWOL to his home country during the international break.

That drew the ire of Oyston, who labelled Riga unprofessional, leaving the relationship between the coach and the club's hierarchy in tatters.

The reputation of the club is quickly following the same path, and the fact that Gary Rowett opted to stay with League Two side Burton Albion rather than move up two divisions to the Championship speaks volumes about the state the Tangerines find themselves in right now.

On Riga's part, he felt that Oyston was not doing enough to recruit players, although a total of 17 new faces have arrived at the club during a tumultuous summer.

So farcical are the off-field matters at Bloomfield Road that they have almost overshadowed the club's worst ever start to a league season on the pitch.

They have lost six from six in all competitions so far in 2014-15 and remain one of just two sides in England's top four divisions yet to pick up a single point in the league.

Perhaps the only saving grace is that they have not been well beaten in any of their matches, losing by the odd goal in every game since the opening day, but that will be scant consolation for the beleaguered fans of the club.

Another glimmer of hope on the horizon is the impending debut for Costa Rica international Jose Miguel Cubero, but he won't be available this weekend as he is still with his national team for the Central America Cup final.

Wolves have suffered their fair share of troubled times in recent years too, but things are very much looking up for Kenny Jackett's side at the moment.

They have made a flying start to life back in the second tier having been promoted as League One champions last season, winning four of their opening five matches to move up to third in the early standings.

Indeed, they may feel as if they should have maximum points, with their only dropped points coming in a 1-0 defeat to Rotherham United - a match they really should have won.

What will be even more pleasing for Jackett is that his side have made a strong start despite such a tough fixture list. All three of last season's relegated Premier League sides have already been sent packing, while they cruised to a 3-1 win over playoff hopefuls Blackburn Rovers last time out.

A slight concern may be how they have fared against underdogs, with Rotherham and Northampton Town both shocking Wolves this season, and the visitors will be keen to ensure they don't suffer a similar fate against Blackpool this weekend.

The Seasiders will be seen as the easiest three points in the league on paper, and Wolves will be confident of making it four wins in a row as Jackett looks to build on a successful August that saw him pick up the Manager of the Month award.

He also has the luxury of a fully-fit squad to choose from, and he could opt to name an unchanged side from the one that dispatched of Blackburn.

Recent form

Blackpool: LLLLLL

Wolves: WLLWWW

Possible starting lineups

Blackpool: Lewis; McMahon, Clarke, Daniels, Oriol; Delfouneso, Lundstram, Perkins, Rentmeister, Orlandi; Ranger

Wolves: Ikeme; Doherty, Batth, Stearman, Golbourne; Evans, McDonald, Van La Parra, Edwards, Sako; Dicko

Sports Mole says: 0-2


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Manager Gary Rowett of Burton Albion shouts instructions during the Capital One Cup Second Round match between Burton Albion and Fulham at the Pirelli Stadium on August 27, 2013
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