Blackpoolvs.Wrexham

The Seasiders are in strong form having won four of their last five games, while the Red Dragons have won just one of their last four.

Match preview

Steve Bruce's Blackpool have been one of the toughest teams to beat in the third tier in 2025, and with only three defeats from their 20 matches this year, they will be confident of denying their visitors a much-needed win.

Last time out, the Seasiders bounced back from a surprising 2-1 loss on the road to Rotherham United by beating Stevenage 3-1 thanks to a 12-minute second-half hat-trick from Rob Apter.

Three points against the Boro brought Bruce's side to 58 for the season, though they remain in 10th place and are six behind Leyton Orient in the playoff spots.

That being said, Monday's hosts do have a game in hand on almost all of the teams above them in the table, and considering that they have won three of their last four at Bloomfield Road, they could make up some ground on their rivals this matchday despite going up against one of the division's strongest clubs.

If Blackpool can seize yet another victory, then they may climb up to eighth by leapfrogging both Huddersfield Town and Bolton Wanderers, leaving them only three points from the playoffs with three games to play in a best-case scenario.

Meanwhile, Phil Parkinson's Wrexham looked on course for automatic promotion to the Championship as the season was drawing to a close, but a last-minute stumble has seen them drop six points in their last four matches.

Most recently, the Red Dragons were held to a 1-1 draw by relegation-threatened Bristol Rovers, and the manager will be disappointed that his team have failed to beat three of League One's lowest sides after similar stalemates against Cambridge United and Wigan Athletic earlier this month.

Drawing with the Gas saw Parkinson's men drop from second to third when Wycombe Wanderers beat Bolton on Friday, but with only one point between them and the Chairboys, the race is far from over despite each team only having three games remaining.

With their ambitions at stake, anything less than matching Wycombe's result could be disastrous for Monday's visitors, but given that they have only won two of their last five on the road, fans would be forgiven for being anxious about the trip to Blackpool.

Should Wrexham get back to winning ways this week, then they could go back up to second, but a point would leave them in third due to their inferior goal difference, while defeat may allow their rivals to open up a more problematic four-point gap.

Blackpool League One form:

L

W

W

W

L

W

Wrexham League One form:

W

W

D

W

D

D

Team News

Blackpool could be without striker Niall Ennis after he was taken off with an injury against Stevenage last time out, and Tom Bloxham is likely to join Ashley Fletcher up top if he is unavailable.

Elsewhere, hat-trick hero Rob Apter should start on the right flank, with Lee Evans and Albie Morgan in the centre of the park and Sonny Carey on the left.

As for Wrexham, captaining centre-back Eoghan O'Connell was withdrawn at half time against the Gas due to injury, so expect to see Dan Scarr line up alongside Max Cleworth and Lewis Brunt in Parkinson's back three on Monday.

In attack, the duo of Jay Rodriguez and Sam Smith should continue, while wing-backs Ryan Longman and Ryan Barnett provide width for the Red Dragons.

Blackpool possible starting lineup:

Tyrer; Offiah, Casey, Baggott, Coulson; Apter, Evans, Morgan, Carey; Bloxham, Fletcher

Wrexham possible starting lineup:

Okonkwo; Cleworth, Scarr, Brunt; Barnett, Lee, James, Rathbone, Longman; Rodriguez; Smith

We say: Blackpool 1-1 Wrexham

Blackpool have been in strong form in recent months, and have proven difficult to beat since before the turn of the year, so expect a close-fought contest.

Written by

Anthony Nolan

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