It’s Premier League match time at Bloomfield Road with Blackpool due to host Sunderland in a second leg encounter on January 22, in match week 24.
The first leg meeting between the sides, hosted by Sunderland, at the Stadium of Light, on December 29, was won by the Seasiders, 2-0. Ian Holloway’s squad were relatively well-rested, with two home matches having been called off owing to snow.
Steve Bruce’s men dominated a game they should have won, but they did not score on the »33″ chances they got, and Blackpool scored twice in the few opportunities that came their way. Campbell put Tangerines ahead on 50 minutes, and got a second goal in the ninetieth, to close out a famous win. Vaughan was outstanding in central midfield for Blackpool, on the day.
Steve Bruce opted to go with three strikers, Gyan, Bent and Wellbeck but to no avail as the first half saw a solitary shot on the Blackpool goal by Henderson. Blackpool showed a lot of imagination going forward and they were aided by some incisive passing. Steve Bruce tried everything he could to change the course of the game and his introduction of Malbranque nearly paid off. Kingson had an outstanding day between the Blackpool posts as he denied clear opportunities to Cattermole and Bent.
Head to head, the sides have met just once in the league, in their first leg meeting that Blackpool won.
Of their last 10 league games, Blackpool have won 3, while losing 4 and drawing the rest. Sunderland have won 4 of their last 10, while drawing and losing 3 each.
Tenth placed Blackpool have won 3 of 8 games hosted this season, while drawing 2 and losing 3. sixth placed Sunderland have won just 2 of their games on the road, while drawing 5 and losing 4.
Blackpool are coming off a 3-2 loss away at West Brom. Sunderland drew 1-1 with Newcastle in their home game in match week 23.
On current form, we can expect a hard-fought game, with the visitors holding a slight edge.
Blackpool’s starting eleven against West Brom comprised Kingson, Eardley, Cathcart, Evatt, Crainey, Vaughan, Adam, Grandin, Taylor-Fletcher, Campbell and Varney. Baptiste, Ormerod and Phillips played as substitutes.
Sunderland had the following men in their starting eleven against Newcastle: Gordon, Onuoha, Bramble, Ferdinand, Bardsley, Elmohamady, Henderson, Richardson, Malbranque, Gyan and Bent. Colback and Zenden were used as substitutes.