Preview: Blackpool vs. Morecambe - prediction, team news, lineups

Blackpool have six points from two matches in Group A of the Northern Section, which has seen them advance to the next stage, while Morecambe are currently third on three points from two games.

Match preview

Blackpool have been impressive in the EFL Trophy this season, opening their Group A campaign with a 2-0 success over Barrow on September 5 before beating Liverpool Under-21s 5-2 last time out.

Neil Critchley's side have already booked their spot in the next round of this competition, while they are still present in the FA Cup, beating Bromley in the first round earlier this month.

Blackpool will enter this match off the back of a 1-0 defeat to Bolton Wanderers in League One on Saturday, but the team are currently up in eighth position in the table, boasting 24 points from 17 matches.

The Seasiders were relegated from the Championship last season, and they are expected to be among the challengers for promotion from the third tier in 2023-24.

Blackpool will view their next League One match, which comes on November 18 against Shrewsbury Town, as much more important than this particular fixture, but it does provide them with the opportunity to return to winning ways following the one-goal reverse at Bolton.

Morecambe were also relegated last season, dropping from League One to League Two, but like Blackpool, they are pushing high up their division this term.

Indeed, a record of 27 points from 16 matches has left them in seventh position in the table, but Derek Adams's side will enter this match off the back of a 3-2 loss at Grimsby Town on Saturday afternoon.

Morecambe are through to the second round of the FA Cup, preparing to take on Wycombe Wanderers at the start of December, but their progression in this competition has not been secured.

The Shrimps opened their Group A campaign with a 3-0 defeat to Liverpool Under-21s on September 19 before recording a 3-1 victory over Barrow last time out to move onto three points.

Adams's side are third in the section on three points, level with Liverpool Under-21s, so they would advance to the second round if they are able to avoid defeat in this contest.

Blackpool EFL Trophy form:

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W

Blackpool form (all competitions):

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W

L

D

W

L

Morecambe EFL Trophy form:

L

W

Morecambe form (all competitions):

W

W

W

L

W

L

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Team News

Kylian Kouassi scored a hat-trick off the bench in Blackpool's 5-2 win over Liverpool Under-21s in their last match in the competition, and the forward is expected to come into the XI for this match.

There will be wholesale changes to the side that stated against Bolton in the league on Saturday, with Owen Dale expected to be among those to start.

Back-up goalkeeper Richard O'Donnell should also feature in the XI, while there is expected to be an opportunity to impress for Tashan Oakley-Boothe.

Morecambe boss Adams, meanwhile, could name the same side that took to the field for the 3-1 success over Barrow in the team's last match in this competition.

Farrend Rawson and Yann Songo'o were both introduced at the interval of the team's League Two clash with Grimsby on Saturday, and the pair are now likely to come into the side.

Cameron Rooney, 18, is also expected to be given another chance to impress for the first team.

Blackpool possible starting lineup:

O'Donnell; Tharme, Ekpiteta, Squires; Lyons, Weir, Morgan, Oakley-Boothe, Dale; Kouassi, Beesley

Morecambe possible starting lineup:

Smith; Connolly, Rawson, Stokes, Melbourne; Songo'o, Davenport; Walker, Rooney, Smith; Brown

We say: Blackpool 1-0 Morecambe

Morecambe need to avoid defeat in order to advance to the second round, but we are expecting Blackpool to win this match. The hosts will make wholesale changes to their usual side, but it should still be strong enough to pick up another victory in the competition.

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