Blackpool are back in League One after a 2-1 Play-Off Final victory over Exeter, with Mark Cullen and Brad Potts combining for both goals. What have we learnt from the game? Blackpool’s strong start Blackpool started strongly with Kyle Vassell closing down quickly from the front. One sumptuous 60-yard ball from Jack Payne found Cullen,… Read more →
Gary Bowyer’s smart tactics helped Blackpool on their way to a 1-0 Easter Monday win at Doncaster. After Matty Blair was sent off for the hosts, he resisted assistant Richie Kyle’s suggestion of going from three to four at the back. Instead, he split the three centre-backs and replaced holding midfielder Jack Payne with the… Read more →
The Bolton-born centre-back’s reputation as one of the best defenders in League Two precedes this current campaign. Having struggled to settle at his first few clubs, Tom Aldred became a household name at Accrington Stanley. He started every game during their 13/14 campaign under James Beattie, before moving to Blackpool the year after. He only… Read more →
These teams last met in the second week of the season at the Globe. Pre-match, Gary Bowyer was given a positive reception from the away fans and after two wins in league and cup, his side went 1-0 ahead in a strong first half. One wondered if maybe, just maybe, this could be the start… Read more →
Here are The Football Lab’s betting tips for Tuesday night’s League Two clashes. For the acca Mansfield Town sit atop of the League Two form table having won five of their last six games, drawing the other at rivals Notts County. Steve Evans has injected fresh positivity into the team, evidenced by a build-up play that… Read more →
Here are The Football Lab’s predictions for three of the FA Cup’s Third Round ties. We discuss contrasting fortunes for Barnsley and Blackpool, Zola’s tough start at Birmingham, why Hayden could replace Shelvey for Newcastle and why Barrow could cause an upset this weekend… Barrow v Rochdale After the first 20 minutes, Rochdale put in… Read more →
Given the number of managers who have failed at Bloomfield Road since Ian Holloway’s exit, Gary Bowyer deserves credit for the job he has done. He has built a hardworking team. Tom Aldred, arguably Blackpool’s best player over the last 18 months, has been immense at centre-back. There is a combative edge in midfield with Danny… Read more →
Here are The Football Lab’s predictions for the FA Cup 2nd Round – upsets tipped at Brunton Park, the Proact Stadium and Kenilworth Road… Macclesfield v Oxford When Oxford travelled to leaders Scunthorpe last week, they would have been very happy with a point before the game and even more so when 1-0 down at half-time.… Read more →
Here is part three of the Football Lab’s FA Cup 1st Round Predictions. We start with an all non-league tie in which Whitehawk host Stourbridge. Whitehawk v Stourbridge Whitehawk scored two injury time equalizers in two Second Round matches with Dagenham & Redbridge last season, but could not secure the crucial Third Round tie. They… Read more →
Blackpool and Carlisle have won just two games each, but early-season performances suggest results will improve for both teams. In Experimental 361’s analysis of each League Two team’s attacking play (second graph down), Blackpool and Carlisle feature in the box labelled ‘energetically wasteful’. They both have a lot of shots but a relatively low proportion… Read more →