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Blackpool
Championship
Mar 22, 2014 at 3pm UK
 
Huddersfield logo

1-0

Fuller (4')
FT(HT: 1-0)

Preview: Blackpool vs. Huddersfield Town

Sports Mole looks ahead to Saturday's Championship clash between Blackpool and Huddersfield at Bloomfield Road.

Blackpool will be keen to ensure that their latest setback does not kick off another lengthy winless streak when they host Huddersfield Town at Bloomfield Road on Saturday.

The Seasiders finally recorded an elusive victory over Millwall earlier this month, ending a club-record barren run of 18 games without a win in all competitions.

It looked to be getting even better when they took the lead against Leicester City at the King Power Stadium on Saturday, but the Foxes fought back to win 3-1 and increase their stranglehold on the Championship title.

Barry Ferguson's side can ill afford another poor run of form to follow on from that defeat as they sit just six points clear of the relegation zone, with the teams below them beginning to pick up regular points.

The euphoria of getting that victory will have worn off by now, allowing the harsh reality of their current position to sink in. They are by no means safe and will most likely need to win a few more games yet if they are to remain in the division next season.

That is easier said than done for a side who have scored just 31 goals all season, while their top scorer, Thomas Ince, is now playing his football in the Premier League for Crystal Palace.

The goals need to start coming from somewhere, if only to improve their goal difference, which is currently almost as bad as those in the bottom three.

Ferguson will be hoping that his side can make something of a fortress out of Bloomfield Road in the final weeks of the season, however, having finally ended their eight-match winless streak in front of their own fans.

Very few people would have been expecting Blackpool to follow up the victory over Millwall with one over Leicester, but Saturday's game represents a much more realistic chance to pick up another three points.

Huddersfield will also be eyeing this match as a chance to change their recent fortunes, however, as Saturday's 4-2 defeat to Blackburn Rovers made it just one win in five for Mark Robins's side.

It was former striker Jordan Rhodes who terrorised Town in that match, netting a hat-trick, but they should welcome back current top scorer James Vaughan for this weekend's game, and he could start alongside record signing Nahki Wells.

The visitors are in no danger of being dragged into the relegation battle as they sit 12 points clear of the drop, although their inconsistency has ensured that anything more than a midtable finish is unlikely.

They will be looking to end the season on a high and finish in the top half, but their recent away record could hold them back in that respect. They have won just one of their last nine league games on the road and have failed to score in their last two.

Recent form

Blackpool: DLLLWL

Huddersfield: WLWLDL

Possible starting lineups

Blackpool: Gilks; Broadfoot, Mackenzie, Cathcart; McMahon, Perkins, Basham, Bishop, Halliday; Goodwillie, Dobbie

Huddersfield: Smithies; Dixon, Wallace, Gerrard, Woods; Hammill, Clayton, Southern, Norwood; Vaughan, Wells

Sports Mole says: 1-1


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Blackburn Rovers striker Jordan Rhodes in action against Crewe Alexandra in a pre-season friendly on July 16, 2013
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