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Preview: Blackpool vs. Birmingham City

Preview: Blackpool vs. Birmingham
© PA Photos
Blackpool have the home advantage for the first leg of the playoff semi-final against Birmingham City this evening.

Blackpool host Birmingham City at Bloomfield Road tonight for the first leg of the crucial playoff semi-finals.

Both clubs have recent Premier League experience and will be determined to reach Wembley for the final against either Cardiff City or West Ham United.

Ian Holloway is expected to add striker Roman Bednar to the bench after the frontman completed a reserve match following a knee injury, while Matt Phillips, Tom Ince and Gary Taylor-Fletcher could be positioned in attack for the Seasiders.

Craig Cathcart will remain out of contention as the defender continues to be treated after suffering heart palpitations.

Meanwhile, Chris Hughton is likely to line up with a standard 4-4-2 formation, with Nikola Zigic retaining his spot up front, despite suffering a knee injury during the Blues' 2-0 win over Reading last weekend.

Current form:

Blackpool: WDDWWD
Birmingham: WDDDDW

Possible lineups:

Blackpool: Gilks; Eardley, Baptiste, Evatt, Crainey; Ferguson, Angel, Dobbie; Ince, Taylor-Fletcher, M Phillips

Birmingham: Doyle, Murphy, Pablo, Davies, Ramage; Burke, Huseklepp, Mutch, Redmond; King, Zigic

Sports Mole says: 1-0

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Written by
Danielle Joynson

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Tables header RHS
TeamPWDLFAGDPTS
1Birmingham CityBirmingham35257358233582
2Wycombe WanderersWycombe351911561332868
3Wrexham36208850302068
4Charlton AthleticCharlton36189947311663
5Stockport CountyStockport361711852341862
6Bolton WanderersBolton36186125954560
7Huddersfield TownHuddersfield361771247331458
8Reading361610105145658
9Leyton Orient361651551371453
10Barnsley36157145051-152
11Blackpool36121595448651
12Stevenage36139143437-348
13Lincoln CityLincoln361210144845346
14Rotherham UnitedRotherham35128153941-244
15Wigan AthleticWigan351110143234-243
16Exeter CityExeter35127163950-1143
17Bristol Rovers36126183955-1642
18Mansfield TownMansfield36118174150-941
19Northampton TownNorthampton361011153653-1741
20Peterborough UnitedPeterborough35109165260-839
21Burton Albion36712173653-1733
22Crawley TownCrawley3679203866-2830
23Cambridge UnitedCambridge3678213560-2529
24Shrewsbury TownShrewsbury3677223460-2628


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