Preview: Blackpool vs. Coventry City - prediction, team news, lineups

The Seasiders trashed Queens Park Rangers on Tuesday night to boost their survival chances, whereas the Sky Blues shared the spoils at the DW Stadium with Wigan Athletic on the same day.

Match preview

Blackpool recorded only their second Championship victory of the calendar year - and their first in five matches - on Tuesday night with a remarkable 6-1 success over Gareth Ainsworth's QPR side at Bloomfield Road.

Mick McCarthy's relegation-threatened men charged into a three-goal lead within the opening 15 minutes, with Jerry Yates, Andy Lyons and centre-back Curtis Nelson getting on the scoresheet early on.

Three more goals were added later in the contest for the hosts to make it six by the time the full-time whistle put the visiting R's out of their misery, meaning Blackpool had managed in 90 minutes the same number of goals they had scored in their previous 10 matches.

That resounding success moved the Tangerines up to 22nd in the Championship standings, with McCarthy's side now only four points behind Cardiff City as the fight for second-tier survival continues to intensify.

Supporters will not be expecting anything near the scoreline achieved on Tuesday this time out, but back-to-back wins will be on the agenda in order to further close the gap on those above the dotted line of the relegation zone.

Coventry extended their unbeaten run in the Championship to eight games with a point at struggling Wigan on Tuesday night, however it was the Sky Blues' inability to earn maximum points for a second game running that stole the headlines.

Viktor Gyokeres fired the visitors into a second-half lead in Lancashire, however a Kyle McFadzean own goal meant Mark Robins's side dropped two points and lost further ground on the playoff places.

The West Midlands outfit currently sit ninth in the league standings, with a sizeable six-point gap having opened up between themselves and sixth-placed Millwall - Coventry's promotion dreams are beginning to fade.

Coventry have been victorious on two of their last three visits to Bloomfield Road, with their Swedish talisman Gyokeres netting the only goal in the same fixture last campaign.

The Sky Blues are in the middle of a run of fixtures where they face six teams in the bottom half of the division consecutively, and it is clear Robins's men need to take advantage of these matchups if they are to continue to challenge for the playoffs.

Blackpool Championship form:

W

L

L

D

L

W

Coventry City Championship form:

W

W

D

W

D

D

Team News

Blackpool have suffered a severe injury blow in the past week, with striker Gary Madine sidelined for the remainder of the campaign with an ACL injury, and the player could even be out of action until 2024 due to the severity of the issue.

Keshi Anderson made his first appearance for the Seasiders since November after coming off the bench on Tuesday night, and the attacker will be pushing for a start in the upcoming matches.

Marvin Ekpiteta, Shayne Lavery and Tom Trybull all remain sidelined due to hamstring knocks, with the trio targeting a return to Championship action after the international break.

Coventry are hopeful topscorer Gyokeres will be available to start on Saturday after the striker injured his right shoulder in the process of scoring at Wigan on Tuesday - Irishman Sean Maguire will partner Matt Godden in attack if the Swede is unavailable.

Jamie Allen remains out with a calf strain sustained at Preston North End in the Sky Blues' final match of February, with the midfielder aiming to be back in training during the international break.

Both Jonathan Panzo and Ben Sheaf returned to the matchday squad against Wigan following their respective injuries, and the latter has a good chance of earning his first start for over a month at Bloomfield Road.

Blackpool possible starting lineup:

Maxwell; Nelson, Thorniley, Husband; Connolly, Lyons, Patino, Fiorini, Hamilton; Yates, Rogers

Coventry City possible starting lineup:

Wilson; McNally, McFadzean, Doyle; Norton-Cuffy, Eccles, Hamer, Bidwell, Sheaf; Godden, Gyokeres

We say: Blackpool 1-2 Coventry City

Blackpool will be full of confidence following their trashing of QPR on Tuesday, but it is often difficult to go again so quickly after an adrenaline-filled night.

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