Blackpoolvs.Birmingham

The Seasiders returned to winning ways recently following a difficult run of form under new management, whilst Blues have also struggled with inconsistency of late.

Match preview

Following a 3-0 win at home to relegation-threatened Burton Albion at Bloomfield Road on September 28, Blackpool endured an eight-game winless run in League One recently, a streak that broken on Tuesday night, with the Seasiders securing a two-goal success at Bristol Rovers.

Steve Bruce's side were handed a slice of luck in the first period when Gasmen defender Bryant Bilongo netted an own goal, before midfielder Lee Evans held his nerve from the penalty spot to double the visitors' lead in the second half, ensuring maximum points.

Despite earning a much-needed victory last time out, Blackpool are still languishing down in 16th place in the League One standings, with many supporters and pundits alike expecting the club to challenge for at least a top-six finish this season under the stewardship of Bruce.

Focusing on FA Cup matters for the moment, the Tangerines enjoyed a relatively-comfortable first-round tie at the home of League Two Gillingham at the start of November, with 23-year-old midfielder Sonny Carey bagging a brilliant brace at Priestfield Stadium to earn a second-round clash with Birmingham.

After a run of three straight matches without victory in League One, third-tier title favourites Birmingham City produced a dogged display in a wet and windy Devon on Tuesday night, when goals either side of the break from Tomoki Iwata and Jay Stansfield were enough to beat Exeter City.

Despite earning maximum points against the Grecians, Blues remain out of the top-two places in the League One standings due to the exceptional form of Wycombe Wanderers and newly-promoted Wrexham, with the former managing a 10th straight win at home to Mansfield Town earlier in the week.

Participating in the first round of the FA Cup for the first time in three decades, Birmingham avoided a potential slip-up at the home of National League outfit Sutton United in front of the TV cameras in early November, when Willum Willumsson's fifth goal of the term was enough to secure safe passage into the second round.

Blues have not enjoyed fun trips to the seaside during their most recent matches at Bloomfield Road, with a 6-1 battering at the hands of the Tangerines during the 2021-22 season still fresh in the minds of the Bluenoses who received an apology from Troy Deeney after the game.

Blackpool FA Cup form:

W

Blackpool form (all competitions):

D

L

W

D

L

W

Birmingham City FA Cup form:

W

Birmingham City form (all competitions):

D

W

W

D

L

W

Team News

After keeping a clean sheet at Bristol Rovers earlier in the week, Blackpool boss Bruce could be tempted to continue with a centre-back pairing of Oliver Casey and Odel Offiah.

That being said, there should be a few alterations for the FA Cup tie for the hosts, with the likes of Ashley Fletcher and Jordan Rhodes looking for promotions from the bench.

Birmingham are expected to ring the changes for their trip to the North-West this weekend, meaning that Willumsson, Christoph Klarer and Paik Seung-ho should earn a much-deserved break.

Blues remain without the services of wingers Emil Hansson and Scott Wright, opening the door for 21-year-old Ayumu Yokoyama to start on the flanks.

Club-record signing Stansfield is set to drop to the bench for this one, with Scotland international Lyndon Dykes likely to be given an opportunity to impress up front.

Blackpool possible starting lineup:

O'Donnell; Offiah, Gabriel, Casey, Coulson; Finnigan, Evans, Carey, Embleton; Ballard, Rhodes

Birmingham City possible starting lineup:

Peacock-Farrell; Laird, Sanderson, Davies, Cochrane; Leonard, Gardner-Hickman; Yokoyama, Harris, May; Dykes

We say: Blackpool 1-2 Birmingham City

After a morale-boosting win at Bristol Rovers, Blackpool will be relatively confident of producing an upset to knock Birmingham out of the FA Cup.

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