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

sportsmole.co.uk, 17 December 2023, 10:14
League One outfit Blackpool will be bidding to book their spot in the third round of the FA Cup when they welcome League Two team Forest Green Rovers to Bloomfield Road on Tuesday night.

Blackpool beat Bromley in the first round of the competition at the start of November, while Forest Green overcame Scarborough Athletic to advance to this stage.

Match preview

Blackpool were 2-0 winners over Bromley in the first round of this season's FA Cup, with first-half goals from Shayne Lavery and Karamoko Dembele making it a comfortable contest for the Seasiders.

Neil Critchley's side will enter this match off the back of a disappointing result, though, losing 2-1 at Cambridge United in League One on Saturday afternoon, which left them in eighth position in the table.

Blackpool are four points behind sixth-placed Derby County, with the team bidding to return to the Championship following their relegation in 23rd position last season.

The Tangerines famously won the FA Cup back in 1953, beating Bolton Wanderers 4-3 in the final of the competition, with Stan Mortensen netting a hat-trick at Wembley Stadium.

Blackpool have won four of their last five home games in all competitions, and they will be the heavy favourites to overcome a Forest Green outfit that are struggling towards the bottom of the League Two table.

Tuesday's second-round FA Cup contest will be played to a finish, with extra-time and penalties if required, as this match is behind schedule.

Forest Green were forced to replay their first-round game against Scarborough Athletic after fielding an ineligible player in their first match, which finished 5-2 to the fourth-tier outfit, and they triumphed 4-2 last week to secure their spot in the second round.

The winner of this contest will take on Premier League side Nottingham Forest in the third round of the competition on January 7.

David Horseman's side will enter the match off the back of a 2-0 loss to MK Dons on Saturday, with the result leaving them down in 23rd position in the table, boasting just 15 points from their opening 20 matches.

Forest Green were relegated from League One last season and are facing back-to-back demotions, with the team currently five points from safety in the fourth tier, managing just four league wins this term.

Blackpool FA Cup form:

W

Blackpool form (all competitions):

W

W

L

W

W

L

Forest Green Rovers FA Cup form:

Forest Green Rovers form (all competitions):

D

L

L

W

D

L

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Team News

Blackpool boss Critchley will make changes to the side that started against Cambridge United in the league on Saturday afternoon.

Jordan Rhodes has been in excellent form this season, scoring 14 times in 18 appearances, but the 33-year-old is likely to drop down to the bench for this fixture.

Lavery has netted five times in all competitions this season and is likely to feature in the final third, while there should also be a start for Dembele, with Critchley expected to keep faith with the players that overcame Bromley in the last round of the tournament.

Forest Green head coach Horseman could name the same side that took to the field for the first whistle against Scarborough Athletic in the competition last week.

Tyrese Omotoye has scored five times in all competitions this season, and the 21-year-old is again expected to feature in an attacking position for the League Two side.

Callum Morton has four goals to his name, meanwhile, and the 23-year-old should also start, with Troy Deeney among those likely to drop out from Saturday's league clash with MK Dons.

Blackpool possible starting lineup:

O'Donnell; Connolly, Ekpiteta, Husband; Lyons, Morgan, Dougall, Dale; Dembele, Kouassi, Lavery

Forest Green Rovers possible starting lineup:

Belshaw; Bunker, Johnson, Welch; Robertson, Jens, McCann, Robson; Dabo, Morton, Omotoye

We say: Blackpool 2-0 Forest Green Rovers

Blackpool are the huge favourites on home soil, and we are expecting them to have too much for Forest Green on Tuesday night. This match will go to extra-time and penalties if required, but Blackpool should be able to secure their spot in the next round in normal time.

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