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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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Today's games header
Tables header RHS
TeamPWDLFAGDPTS
1Birmingham CityBirmingham27196246192763
2Wycombe WanderersWycombe29178455302559
3Wrexham29167643251855
4Stockport CountyStockport29148744281650
5Huddersfield TownHuddersfield28146841261548
6Leyton Orient281351040251544
7Charlton AthleticCharlton2812883628844
8Reading28135104341244
9Bolton WanderersBolton29135114343044
10Barnsley29127104139243
11Stevenage2711792725240
12Lincoln CityLincoln29109103534139
13Blackpool2891184140138
14Mansfield TownMansfield27114123534137
15Rotherham UnitedRotherham28107113333037
16Wigan AthleticWigan2897122728-134
17Exeter CityExeter2995153346-1332
18Bristol Rovers2894152844-1631
19Peterborough UnitedPeterborough2986154555-1030
20Northampton TownNorthampton2979132845-1730
21Burton Albion29510143044-1425
22Crawley TownCrawley2766152748-2124
23Shrewsbury TownShrewsbury2865172848-2023
24Cambridge UnitedCambridge2857162950-2122


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