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[monks data]
Blackpool
Championship
Mar 21, 2015 at 3pm UK
 
Leeds logo

1-1

Madine (44')
FT(HT: 1-0)
Antenucci (62')

Preview: Blackpool vs. Leeds United

Sports Mole looks ahead to Saturday's Championship clash between rock-bottom Blackpool and in-form Leeds United at Bloomfield Road.

Doomed Blackpool welcome Leeds United to Bloomfield Road this weekend looking to stave off the inevitability of relegation for another week at least.

The Tangerines have endured a torrid season and find themselves now 10 points adrift at the bottom of the Championship table and 18 points from safety.

Just 24 points remain up for grabs this season, and another defeat for Lee Clark's side this weekend, coupled with victories for the trio directly above the relegation zone, would leave them teetering on the brink of mathematical relegation.

Goal difference would be the only saviour should that be the case, but the Seasiders are 28 goals worse off in that respect than the closest team above the dotted line, so it won't bring much solace to fans.

They will at least want a final rally to perhaps signify that they are capable of bouncing straight back into the second tier, but a dismal season looks like ending in fitting fashion following a run of six straight defeats in which they have scored just one goal.

For all of their recent troubles, Blackpool have not lost seven on the spin since 1994, and far from there being any light at the end of the tunnel, it appears as though the nadir is yet to come for the beleaguered club.

They have lost four and picked up just one point from their last five matches in front of their own fans, although their home record is still significantly better than their away one this season.

The latest of those defeats came on Tuesday evening as they slumped to a 3-0 loss against Charlton Athletic at Bloomfield Road, with even manager Clark having now abandoned any hope of salvaging something from the campaign.

He will once again be without Tony McMahon this weekend as the defender serves the second of his two-match ban, while Miles Addison and Jamie O'Hara remain doubts through injury.

Charles Dunne is expected to be available for selection again, however, having missed the midweek loss due to a late bout of illness.

As for Leeds, for some time it looked like they may be joining Blackpool on the way to League One, but they have turned their season around and are now sitting pretty in the top half of the table.

They extended their unbeaten streak to four matches with a 3-0 win away to 10-man Fulham on Wednesday night, although the scoreline did flatter Neil Redfearn's side, who were forced to ride their luck at times in West London.

Even so, it kept up the club's fine recent form, and only league leaders Watford can boast a higher points haul than Leeds over the last 12 games.

They have improved defensively too, keeping clean sheets in their last three matches. They will be confident of making it four in a row for the first time since March-April 2008 against a team who have gone four without scoring.

Things have also turned round dramatically away from home, where Leeds have won five of their last six matches, having only won one of their 15 before that this season.

Redfearn only made one change for the midweek win at Craven Cottage and could keep faith with much of the same team again on Saturday, although Steve Morison is pushing for a recall.

Leeds cruised to victory in the reverse fixture at Elland Road back in November, racing into a three-goal lead before half time before seeing off a 3-1 triumph.

Blackpool:

Recent form: LLLLLL

Possible starting lineup: Lewis; Barkhuizen, Clarke, Hall, Dunne; Orlandi, Telford, Perkins, Addison, Jacobs; Madine

Leeds:

Recent form: LLWWDW

Possible starting lineup: Silvestri; Wootton, Bellusci, Bamba, Berardi; Mowatt, Murphy, Byram, Taylor, Cook; Sharp

Sports Mole says: 0-2


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Matt Ritchie of Bournemouth (30) celebrates with team mates as he scores their second goal during the Sky Bet Championship match between Fulham and AFC Bournemouth at Craven Cottage on March 6, 2015
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