Croatia
Indonesia
Nigeria
South Africa

Blackpoolvs.Lincoln

sportsmole.co.uk, 29 September 2024, 20:37
In a top-of-the-table clash, fourth-placed Blackpool will host third-placed Lincoln City in League One on Tuesday at Bloomfield Road.

The home side have 14 points after eight games and have won their last four league fixtures, while the visitors have 14 points after seven games and beat Cambridge United 2-0 on Saturday in their most recent match.

Match preview

Blackpool began their 2024-25 league campaign poorly, losing their first two fixtures before drawing their subsequent two.

Neil Critchley was sacked after just two league games, with the club having appointed Richard Keogh as interim head coach, and he oversaw the previously mentioned draws.

During those four games, they conceded 11 goals and scored seven times, with the Seasiders drawing 4-4 against Cambridge United on August 24 despite leading 4-1 after 53 minutes.

Steve Bruce was eventually appointed manager on a two-year deal on September 3, and the hosts have since won all four league games with Bruce in charge, scoring nine goals and conceding just twice.

In their last game, Blackpool won 3-0 against Burton Albion on Saturday, and boss Bruce became the first ever Pool manager to win their first four league games.

Since being relegated to League One in 2023-24, Bruce's side have won 16, drawn seven and lost just four times in their last 27 home matches in the division.

Opponents Lincoln City come into the clash having beaten Cambridge United 2-0 last time out, a match in which they had just 39% possession but were able to create four big chances and limit Cambridge to just one.

The visitors have in fact averaged the lowest possession figure of any of the 24 teams in the division, but they have still averaged the seventh most goals per match.

Manager Michael Skubala said on September 25 that his side have had a good start to the season, but emphasised that he thought there were moments his team could have shown more consistency.

Skubala's team are unbeaten in their last five league games, winning three and drawing two, and in that time they have kept four clean sheets and scored seven goals.

Lincoln's away form in League One has been outstanding for several months, with the club having won nine, drawn four and lost no games on the road since January 13.

Blackpool League One form:

D

D

W

W

W

W

Blackpool form (all competitions):

W

W

L

W

W

W

Lincoln City League One form:

L

W

W

D

D

W

Lincoln City form (all competitions):

W

W

L

D

D

W

Team News

Blackpool will be without Andy Lyons, who has been sidelined since February due to an anterior cruciate ligament injury.

Elkan Baggott and Oliver Norburn may miss another month as a result of respective ankle and hamstring injuries, while Dom Ballard could require surgery on a shoulder issue.

More positively, James Husband should be fit enough to feature on Tuesday at left-back, and he could be accompanied in defence by Oliver Casey, Odeluga Offiah and Jordan Lawrence-Gabriel.

Lincoln City striker Ben House was forced off in his side's most recent game after just six minutes, and he could be replaced in the starting XI by Freddie Draper, who scored his team's first goal against Cambridge United.

Bailey Cadamarteri may start alongside Draper given he was brought on at half time and scored.

Ethan Erhahon could start at the base of a midfield three, accompanied by Conor McGrandles and Jack Moylan.

Blackpool possible starting lineup:

Tyrer; Lawrence-Gabriel, Offiah, Casey, Husband; Apter, Evans, Morgan, Hamilton; Rhodes, Joseph

Lincoln City possible starting lineup:

Wickens; Jackson, O'Connor, Roughan; Darikwa, Moylan, Erhahon, McGrandles, Ring; Draper, Cadamarteri

We say: Blackpool 1-1 Lincoln City

Tuesday's clash will no doubt be fiercely contested, but it is difficult to see either side coming out on top given Blackpool's recent good form and Lincoln's strong away record.

Previews by email

Top News

22 December 2024 sportsmole.co.uk Manchester United have reportedly earmarked Leeds United shot-stopper Illan Meslier as one of two goalkeeper targets ahead of the January transfer window. 22 December 2024 sportsmole.co.uk Tottenham Hotspur have reportedly identified Burnley's James Trafford as their top transfer target for the January transfer window. 22 December 2024 sportsmole.co.uk Paris Saint-Germain defender Nuno Mendes has reportedly indicated he will take time to consider his future before he commits to a new contract. 22 December 2024 talksport.com Eddie Howe will be nervous about holding onto star striker Alexander Isak at Newcastle as his fine goalscoring form continues. 22 December 2024 sportsmole.co.uk Manchester United head coach Ruben Amorim has named his starting side for Sunday's Premier League clash with Bournemouth at Old Trafford. 22 December 2024 sportsmole.co.uk Enzo Maresca has opted to use Levi Colwill as a replacement for the suspended Marc Cucurella for Sunday's Premier League game at Everton. 22 December 2024 sportsmole.co.uk Arsenal broke an English football record in their 5-1 Premier League thrashing of Crystal Palace on Saturday, but it came at a significant cost, as Bukayo Saka was taken off with a suspected hamstring problem in the first half. 22 December 2024 sportsmole.co.uk Chelsea forward Christopher Nkunku is allegedly generating interest from at least five clubs. 22 December 2024 sportsmole.co.uk Barcelona reportedly remain fully behind head coach Hansi Flick despite the team's latest title setback against Atletico Madrid on Saturday night. 22 December 2024 talksport.com Southampton's new head coach Ivan Juric is one not to be messed with as his physical scrap with Torino's sporting director showed. 22 December 2024 sportsmole.co.uk Seeking to pick up a third straight home win in the Primeira Liga, Vitoria de Guimaraes play host to Nacional at the Estadio Dom Afonso Henriques on Monday. 22 December 2024 sportsmole.co.uk Manchester United head coach Ruben Amorim is reportedly looking for the Red Devils to build a new scouting team in Portugal in a bid to unearth the next Cristiano Ronaldo. 22 December 2024 sportsmole.co.uk Barcelona head coach Hansi Flick is reportedly not interested in signing Manchester United attacker Alejandro Garnacho during next summer's transfer window. 22 December 2024 sportsmole.co.uk Liverpool must take advantage of Tottenham Hotspur's considerable weaknesses and will be confident of victory on Sunday according to Reds expert David Lynch. 22 December 2024 sportsmole.co.uk The January transfer window is almost here and clubs around the UK and Europe are lining up moves as they look to take advantage of the opportunity to strengthen. 22 December 2024 sportsmole.co.uk Union Saint-Jean vs. Monaco (Sunday, 1.45pm) On Sunday, in a David vs. Goliath affair, Union Saint-Jean can pull off one of the biggest upsets in Coupe de France history when they take on Monaco in the round of 64 at Stadium de Toulouse. 22 December 2024 sportsmole.co.uk Gaziantep vs. Antalyaspor (Sunday, 10.30am) After their Turkish Cup victory in midweek, Gaziantep will now turn their attention to the Turkish Super Lig, with Antalyaspor visiting the Kalyon Stadyumu in Sunday's gameweek 17 encounter. 22 December 2024 sportsmole.co.uk Santa Clara vs. Braga (Sunday, 5.00pm) Still reeling from crashing out of the Taca de Portugal, Santa Clara return to action in the Primeira Liga when they play host to Braga at the Estadio de Sao Miguel on Sunday. 22 December 2024 sportsmole.co.uk Sparta vs. Ajax (Sunday, 11.15am) Ajax will be looking to end the year on a high when they travel to Sparta-Stadion Het Kasteel to take on a stuttering Sparta Rotterdam in the Eredivisie on Sunday. 22 December 2024 sportsmole.co.uk Valencia vs. Alaves (Sunday, 1.00pm) Valencia will attempt to claim their third league when they welcome relegation rivals Alaves to Mestalla for Sunday's crucial La Liga encounter. 22 December 2024 sportsmole.co.uk Roma vs. Parma (Sunday, 11.30am) Both struggling in the bottom half of the Serie A standings, Roma and Parma will hope for an early Christmas gift when they meet at Stadio Olimpico on Sunday. 22 December 2024 sportsmole.co.uk VfL Bochum vs. Heidenheim (Sunday, 2.30pm) In a relegation six-pointer, VfL Bochum will hope to defeat Heidenheim when they welcome them to Vonovia Ruhrstadion on Sunday in their 15th Bundesliga game of the season. 22 December 2024 sportsmole.co.uk Dundee Utd vs. Celtic (Sunday, 12.00pm) Celtic, looking to maintain their unbeaten run in the Scottish Premiership, will travel to Tannadice Park on Sunday afternoon to face Dundee United. 22 December 2024 sportsmole.co.uk Everton vs. Chelsea (Sunday, 2.00pm) Chelsea have the chance to go top of the Premier League for a brief time at least when they travel to Goodison Park to face Everton on Sunday. 22 December 2024 sportsmole.co.uk South American giants Palmeiras have reportedly sent an 'initial proposal' to Fulham for midfielder Andreas Pereira. 22 December 2024 talksport.com Nuno Espirito Santo will rival Arne Slot to win the Premier League's Manager of the Year award. 22 December 2024 sportsmole.co.uk Barcelona want to sever ties with attacker Ansu Fati at the earliest opportunity in the January transfer window but the player is rebelling against a move, according to a report. 21 December 2024 sportsmole.co.uk Bayern Munich winger Leroy Sane has confirmed that he wants to remain at the Allianz Arena despite links with a return to the Premier League next year. 21 December 2024 sportsmole.co.uk Serie A powerhouses Napoli have supposedly expressed an interest in signing Manchester United defender Harry Maguire on a free transfer next summer. 21 December 2024 sportsmole.co.uk Alexander Sorloth scored a last-gasp winner as Atletico Madrid defeated Barcelona 2-1 at Estadi Olimpic Lluis Companys to go top of the La Liga table.