Blackpoolvs.Rotherham

The hosts have moved into the top half with a pair of victories, while their visitors sit 18th thanks to a crucial return to winning ways.

Match preview

Blackpool head back to Bloomfield Road on Saturday aiming to record a third straight League One victory to continue their rise up the table.

Across spells under the management of Neil Critchley and current boss Steve Bruce, the Tangerines have experienced a mixed start to the third-tier season, earning 23 points from their first 18 outings to sit 12th.

After beginning life under Bruce with four straight victories, the Lancashire outfit went on to quickly drop down the table in the midst of an eight-match winless streak, but they have bounced back in impressive fashion since, recording a pair of away league wins on the bounce having firstly beaten Bristol Rovers 2-0 at the Memorial Stadium.

Then on the back of a home FA Cup defeat to Birmingham City, Bruce's side most recently visited strugglers Shrewsbury Town on Saturday and came from behind to put a sixth league win of the season on the board, as an Aaron Pierre own goal levelled the scores at 1-1 before Josh Onomah netted the decisive goal around the hour mark.

Now sitting back in the top half thanks to those away wins, but having failed to prevail in any of their last six outings at Bloomfield Road in all competitions, Blackpool will be keen to correct their home form and continue their climb towards the right end of the division with a third straight league victory.

Their visitors travel to the east coast also aiming to build on a crucial midweek win in their bid to climb the table after a disappointing start to the term.

Aiming to win an immediate promotion back to the Championship under the management from Steve Evans after last season's relegation, Rotherham United currently sit 18th having only earned 20 points from their first 17 outings, having won just five of those while suffering seven defeats.

Four of those losses came in a five-match span for the Millers between mid-October and mid-November, falling to Wrexham, Leyton orient, Barnsley and Crawley Town without scoring around a solitary win over Stevenage, leaving Evans under increasing pressure ahead of Tuesday's meeting with playoff-chasing Lincoln City.

Sam Nombe put them ahead at the New York Stadium, and after Jovon Makama levelled the scores early in the second half, Sean Raggett restored the Millers' lead and sealed all three points with the decisive goal 13 minutes from time.

Having moved up to 18th spot and within three points of the top half with that return to winning ways, Rotherham United will now be desperate to put a winning run together to quickly rise through the mid-table pack.

Blackpool League One form:

D

L

D

L

W

W

Blackpool form (all competitions):

W

D

L

W

L

W

Rotherham United League One form:

L

L

W

L

L

W

Rotherham United form (all competitions):

W

L

L

W

L

W

Team News

Blackpool continue to contend with several injury issues heading into the weekend, as Hayden Coulson, Elkan Baggott, CJ Hamilton, Andy Lyons, Jake Beesley and Jordan Rhodes could all remain confined to the treatment room.

Steve Bruce may opt to field an unchanged starting XI from their midweek win over Shrewsbury Town, although Oliver Casey and Oliver Norburn have claims to return to the defence and midfield respectively after serving yellow-card suspensions in that game.

Indeed, Norburn could rejoin key man Lee Evans in the engine room, while Kyle Joseph will continue to lead the line having netted a team-high tally of six goals so far this season.

After their return to winning ways against Lincoln City on Tuesday, Steve Evans should field an unchanged Rotherham United starting XI at Bloomfield Road with a relatively clean bill of health.

Jonson Clarke-Harris will continue to lead the line with support from Mallik Wilks and Sam Nombe, with the trio having scored a combined tally of 11 league goals this season.

Elsewhere, Sean Raggett and Zak Jules are bound to continue to their centre-back partnership, while Joe Powell, Christ Tiehi and Hakeem Odoffin should all keep their places in midfield.

Blackpool possible starting lineup:

Tyrer; Offiah, Pennington, Casey, Husband; Apter, Evans, Norburn, Onomah; Joseph, Fletcher

Rotherham United possible starting lineup:

Phillips; Rafferty, Raggett, Jules, James; Odoffin, Tiehi, Powell; Nombe, Clarke-Harris, Wilks

We say: Blackpool 1-1 Rotherham United

Both sides will be hoping to put tough starts to the season behind them and kick on after recent wins, while both possess plenty of quality in their ranks, making Saturday's meeting an intriguing one.

Written by

Sam Varley

Previews by email