Preview: Blackpool vs. Carlisle United - prediction, team news, lineups

The hosts are currently in eighth place in the league standings with 30 points after 20 matches, while the visitors have managed just 15 points to date and are firmly involved in the relegation scrap.

Match preview

After suffering relegation from the Championship last season, Blackpool managed just one win in their first five league games term, and it looked like it was shaping up to be a nightmare season for them.

However, they slowly got into stride but saw their three-match winning streak ended by Portsmouth in their last league outing, and with the league table still quite compact, they also shed a spot, with Barnsley leapfrogging them into seventh place.

Ironically, it was the Tykes that they were drawn against in the EFL Trophy just a few days later, and the hosts managed to better off them 2-1 to book their place in the third round.

Luton Town loanee John McAtee opened the scoring for the Tykes that day, but Owen Dale found the equaliser in the second half before Jake Beesley stuck away the winner just after the hour-mark.

The Seasiders will now look to go back-to-back against a Carlisle side that have not beaten them in their last three meetings dating back to 2006.

Meanwhile, Carlisle fought tooth and nail to secure promotion last season, but they have not been able to find their best form in League One and are at risk of heading straight back down this term.

The Tykes suffered a 5-1 hiding from Reading in their last league match, marking their third defeat in their last four, while the only point they earned in that time was in a 1-1 draw against Charlton at the end of last month.

Paul Simpson's side have recorded only three wins in 19 games this season, along with six draws and 10 losses, which leaves them three points behind Exeter City, who are the first side above the dotted line.

The visitors have managed just five points from a possible 27 on the road this season, which is the third-worst record of any side in the division, with only Cheltenham Town and Reading faring worse.

Blackpool League One form:

L

D

L

W

W

L

Blackpool form (all competitions):

L

W

W

W

L

W

Carlisle United League One form:

L

W

L

L

D

L

Carlisle United form (all competitions):

L

L

L

W

D

L

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Team News

Blackpool are restricted in attack, with Shayne Lavery and Kylian Kouassi both set to miss out on this match and possibly the rest of the year.

Ollie Norburn, Matty Virtue and Jordan Gabriel were cleared from injury before their last outing but failed to feature in the squad, and it remains to be seen if any of the trio will be ready for this week's home match.

Simpson recently added free agent Joshua Emmanuel to his squad, and the right-back did relatively well in his first match against Reading despite ending up on the wrong side of a big loss.

In terms of injuries, Fin Back and Jack Ellis are both ruled out of this match, which should see Dylan McGeouch continue down the right flank.

Blackpool possible starting lineup:

Grimshaw; Pennington, Ekpiteta, Husband; Hamilton, Dembele, Dougall, Carey, Dale; Rhodes, Beesley

Carlisle United possible starting lineup:

Holy; Emmanuel, Lavelle, Barclay, Armer; McGeouch, Moxon, Mellish, Robinson; Gibson, Garner

We say: Blackpool 2-1 Carlisle United

Barring that loss to Portsmouth last time out, Blackpool have found a bit of form of late and will fancy their chances of earning another three points here against an opponent that are winless in their last four. The Seasiders will also know that a victory could take them as high as the top six, which will be exactly where they want to be heading into the busy festive period.

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