Blackpoolvs.Cambridge

The Seasiders are currently ninth in the table, six points behind sixth-placed Lincoln City, while Cambridge occupy 19th spot, six points ahead of the relegation zone.

Match preview

Blackpool are bidding to secure an immediate return to the Championship, having been relegated in 23rd position last season, but they have work to do in order to make the playoffs in League One.

The Tangerines have only picked up a point from their last three matches during a poor run of form, with their last victory proving to be a 1-0 success at Northampton Town on March 12.

Neil Critchley's side lost at Wigan Athletic and Derby County before drawing 0-0 with Wycombe Wanderers on Monday afternoon, with the result leaving them ninth in the table, six points behind sixth-placed Lincoln with five games left, so they need to be putting wins on the board at this stage of the campaign.

Blackpool have a strong home record this season, picking up 39 points from 20 matches, and they will be welcoming a Cambridge outfit with the third-worst away record in League One this term.

Three of the team's next four league matches are at home, and there is certainly enough quality in the squad to sneak into the playoff positions before the regular season comes to a close.

Cambridge are also in need of the points but for very different reasons, with Garry Monk's side currently sitting 19th in the table, just six points ahead of 21st-placed Port Vale.

The visitors have managed to triumph in their last two games, though, beating Barnsley 2-0 on the road at the end of March before opening April with a 3-1 home success over Wigan Athletic.

Cambridge will therefore enter this match full of confidence, as the team bid to make it four straight campaigns at this level of football following their promotion from League Two in 2020-21.

Monk's team, as mentioned, have struggled on their travels this term, winning just four of their 20 matches away from their own stadium, but the success over Barnsley in their last away match was a standout result.

Cambridge also beat Blackpool 2-1 in the reverse clash between the two teams earlier this season, while they drew 1-1 with the Seasiders on their last visit to Bloomfield Road during the 2016-17 League Two campaign.

Blackpool League One form:

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D

W

L

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D

Cambridge United League One form:

L

D

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L

W

W

Team News

Jordan Rhodes is Blackpool's leading goalscorer this season with 15, all of which have come in League One, but the experienced striker recently headed back to parent club Huddersfield Town to receive treatment on a knee injury, and it is unclear if he will feature for the Seasiders before the end of the season.

Hayden Coulson is a doubt due to a knee ligament issue, but James Husband and Albie Morgan could both be back in the squad on Saturday after spells out.

Andy Lyons and Ryan Finnigan remain out, but Blackpool did not pick up any fresh problems against Wycombe last time out, and it is expected to be largely the same XI for the contest with Cambridge.

The visitors, meanwhile, will again be without the services of number one goalkeeper Jack Stevens, so Will Mannion will continue between the sticks on Saturday afternoon.

Harrison Dunk, Glenn McDonnell, George Thomas and Saikou Janneh are also on the sidelines for Cambridge.

Head coach Monk could decide to name the same XI that took to the field for the first whistle against Wigan on Monday, with Gassan Yahyai, who netted a brace against the Latics, featuring in the final third.

Blackpool possible starting lineup:

Grimshaw; Pennington, Ekpiteta, Casey; Lawrence-Gabriel, Virtue-Thick, Norburn, Carey, Hamilton; Joseph, Lavery

Cambridge United possible starting lineup:

Mannion; L Bennett, Jobe, R Bennett, Andrew; Kaikai, Digby, Cousins, Gibbons; Yahyai, Brophy

We say: Blackpool 1-1 Cambridge United

Blackpool desperately need victories at this stage of the season if they are to finish inside the playoff positions, but Cambridge have been excellent in their last two matches, and we can see the visitors frustrating the Seasiders in Saturday's contest at Bloomfield Road.

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