Preview: Blackpool vs. Bristol Rovers - prediction, team news, lineups

Bristol Rovers, meanwhile, have put together an unbeaten run of three games in League One.

Match preview

Having been relegated from the Championship last season, Blackpool have perhaps not performed to the levels they may have expected under Neil Critchley so far this season. The former Liverpool Under-23s manager has an excellent reputation at Bloomfield Road after guiding them to promotion via the play-offs in a previous spell.

However, they are a little off the pace in terms of pushing for a top six position after losing two of their last three matches. Away to Cambridge United last weekend, the club's top goalscorer Jordan Rhodes bagged his 14th league goal in 18 matches since joining the Tangerines in August, but Elias Kachunga and Gassan Ahadme turned things around for the hosts.

Blackpool did secure their place in the third round of the FA Cup by dispatching League Two outfit Forest Green 3-0 on Tuesday, with a difficult trip to Nottingham Forest awaiting them in the New Year. Critchley will be far more concerned about trimming the gap to the top six.

In that regard, anything less than claiming all three points against Bristol Rovers would be a major disappointment in their last match before Christmas. With Rhodes on such a hot streak, they are capable of beating any team on their day.

However, Bristol Rovers will travel to the North West with plenty of confidence having lost just one of their last eight league games. Following the sacking of Joey Barton in late October, caretaker boss Andy Mangan steadied the ship superbly by taking eight points from five games, with Matt Taylor drawing one and winning one of his opening two games in charge.

The former Exeter City and Rotherham United boss would have been delighted by his side's 2-1 win away to Bolton Wanderers, who are heavily fancied to earn promotion to the Championship this season. The Gas had already led 1-0 prior to Ricardo Santos's dismissal in the 33rd minute, with Antony Evans making the hosts pay by doubling his side's lead before half-time.

Given that they will find themselves at least nine points behind the play-off places before kicking-off against Blackpool on Saturday, pushing for a return to the second tier for the first time in more than 30 years appears unlikely. Having fallen outside of the Football League altogether less than decade ago, though, a prolonged period at this level would be no bad thing.

Taylor and his players will be confident of causing another upset away to a team tipped to compete for promotion, in what would be the best possible Christmas present for the club's fanbase.

Blackpool League One form:

L

W

W

L

W

L

Blackpool form (all competitions):

W

L

W

W

L

W

Bristol Rovers League One form:

D

W

L

D

D

W

Bristol Rovers form (all competitions):

L

D

L

D

W

W

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Team News

Strikers Kylian Kouassi and Shayne Lavery are expected to remain unavailable for Blackpool on Saturday. The pair are unlikely to return until the New Year due to their respective injuries.

Critchley made nine changes for his side's win against Forest Green in the FA Cup in midweek, with Jordan Lawrence-Gabriel, Owen Dale and Marvin Ekpiteta all pushing for starts after scoring in the victory. Rhodes should be fine to start despite taking a knock on Tuesday.

Bristol Rovers, meanwhile, are likely to travel without Luke McCormick due to his ongoing ankle issue. However, Luca Hoole is available once more after returning from injury to appear from the bench against Bolton. The right-back was forced to wear a protective boot during his recent rehabilitation.

Lewis Gordon and George Friend are both still sidelined, leaving Taylor short of options at left-back. He is likely to name the same starting XI that impressively defeated Bolton last time out.

Blackpool possible starting lineup:

Grimshaw; Pennington, Connolly, Husband; Hamilton, Dembele, Norburn, Carey, Lyons; Rhodes, Beesley

Bristol Rovers possible starting lineup:

Cox; Wilson, Taylor, Crama; Thomas, Ward, Finley, Vale; Evans, Collins; Marquis

We say: Blackpool 1-1 Bristol Rovers

Although Blackpool rested several players in midweek, the visitors should be fresher here. Bristol Rovers will also be full of confidence after beating Bolton away from home last weekend.

As such, we can envisage them claiming another positive result away from home. The Gas have proven tough to beat recently, while Blackpool remain inconsistent in relation to their collective ability.

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