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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 CityBirmingham19143235161945
2Wycombe WanderersWycombe20135243222144
3Wrexham21126331141742
4Huddersfield TownHuddersfield20123534181639
5Stockport CountyStockport21106534221236
6Lincoln CityLincoln218762825331
7Reading209473030031
8Bolton WanderersBolton199462829-131
9Barnsley218672930-130
10Mansfield TownMansfield198472322128
11Charlton AthleticCharlton207672319427
12Blackpool207672931-227
13Exeter CityExeter208391922-327
14Stevenage197571517-226
15Leyton Orient207492320325
16Peterborough UnitedPeterborough2073103837124
17Wigan AthleticWigan206681918124
18Rotherham UnitedRotherham196581921-223
19Bristol Rovers2064101829-1122
20Northampton TownNorthampton2156102134-1321
21Crawley TownCrawley2054112033-1319
22Cambridge UnitedCambridge2045112035-1517
23Burton Albion2026121732-1512
24Shrewsbury TownShrewsbury2033142141-2012


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