Preview: Blackpool vs. Bolton Wanderers - prediction, team news, lineups

Meanwhile, promotion-chasing Bolton Wanderers will have the chance to record a second straight victory after beating Cambridge United in midweek.

Match preview

After beating Peterborough United in the league last weekend, Blackpool were unable to produce a repeat of that 2-1 victory in Tuesday's EFL Trophy semi-final against Posh.

Malik Mothersille opened the scoring for Peterborough, before Harrison Burrows netted a brace to condemn Blackpool to a 3-0 defeat, ending their hopes of a Wembley appearance and the chance to win their first EFL Trophy since 2003-04.

Neil Critchley will have to pick his side up as they turn their attention back to league matters, with the Tangerines currently sitting in eighth place and six points adrift of the playoffs.

The Tangerines have relied heavily on their form at Bloomfield Road, having collected 34 of their 50 points from their 17 home matches - only Bolton and Portsmouth have picked up more points on home turf.

They have already enjoyed home success against Bolton this season after winning a penalty shootout in last month's EFL Trophy quarter-final.

After fighting back on two occasions to draw 3-3 with Charlton Athletic last weekend, Bolton were forced to come from behind again in Tuesday's away meeting with Cambridge United.

Paris Maghoma found the net in the opening stages of the second half to cancel out Eoin Toal's own goal, before Carlos Gomes scored his second goal of the season to guide the Trotters to a narrow 2-1 victory.

Bolton's midweek success moved them level on 66 points with Derby County, who remain in second spot due to their goal difference advantage.

While the Trotters will be targeting another victory on Saturday, their hopes of claiming all three points will be tempered by the fact that they have failed to win any of their last 17 away matches against Blackpool.

As a result of that record, Bolton are looking to claim their first away victory over the Tangerines since running out 2-0 winners in December 1977.

Blackpool League One form:

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D

L

D

L

W

Blackpool form (all competitions):

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L

D

L

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L

Bolton Wanderers League One form:

W

D

D

W

D

W

Bolton Wanderers form (all competitions):

L

D

D

W

D

W

Team News

Jordan Rhodes has been sidelined since the end of January with a rib injury, and the Blackpool forward is unlikely to return in time for Saturday's contest.

Daniel Grimshaw, Matthew Pennington and Shayne Lavery are expected to return to the side after dropping down to the bench for the semi-final defeat to Peterborough.

George Byers was also replaced in Tuesday's starting XI, but the Sheffield Wednesday loanee is set to come back into the lineup to make a third consecutive league start.

As for the visitors, they are still unable to call upon the injured trio of Randall Williams, Nathan Baxter and Dion Charles.

However, Ian Evatt has revealed that club captain Ricardo Santos should be fit after missing Bolton's last five matches due to injury.

George Thomason will also be available for selection following a three-match ban, but the midfielder may have to settle for a place on the bench for Saturday's encounter.

Blackpool possible starting lineup:

Grimshaw; Pennington, Ekpiteta, Husband; Gabriel, Byers, Norburn, Morgan, Coulson; Lavery, Joseph

Bolton Wanderers possible starting lineup:

Coleman; Jones, Santos, Toal; Dacres-Cogley, Maghoma, Sheehan, Dempsey, Ogbeta; Bodvarsson, Mendes

We say: Blackpool 1-1 Bolton Wanderers

Bolton will be determined to claim three points to help in the promotion push, but as they have gone over 46 years without a competitive away win over Blackpool, we think that the visitors will have to settle for a share of the spoils on Saturday.

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