The New Year begins with a relegation six-pointer for both Blackpool and Millwall as the struggling clubs face each other at Bloomfield Road this Saturday.

The hosts could close the gap between themselves and safety to six points with a victory, while defeat could leave them nine points adrift at the bottom.

Expectations of pulling off a great escape won't be high amongst Blackpool fans, however, following a dreadful 2014 that saw them win just six of their 49 matches in all competitions.

Whether 2015 will be any kinder to the Tangerines remains to be seen, but it certainly hasn't started smoothly, with the club's owner and chairman deciding to sue a supporter.

There appeared to be slightly positive signs on the pitch as they frustrated Aston Villa in the third round of the FA Cup, but the Premier League outfit eventually found a late breakthrough to progress.

It is likely to be another busy transfer window for Blackpool as they look to replace their departing loanees, and Grant Hall is one of those to have arrived on a temporary basis already.

He is unlikely to start this weekend, however, while the game also comes too soon for Jose Cubero despite his recent return to training.

If the Seasiders are looking for a glimmer of hope, they have only lost one of their last four home games, although they have not scored more than one in a game in front of their own fans since November 2013.

They will be glad, then, that they are coming up against a Millwall side who have only managed a goal per game in the league this season.

The Lions ended the year with three consecutive defeats to slump into the relegation zone, and their poor goal difference means that they are effectively a point behind 21st-placed Brighton & Hove Albion.

The defence was again leaky in the third round of the FA Cup as League One side Bradford City forced a replay with a topsy-turvy 3-3 thriller.

They will view this match as a good chance to return to winning ways against one of their fellow strugglers, however, and should Brighton not manage victory away to Charlton Athletic then maximum points would be enough to lift Ian Holloway's side out of the bottom three.

Holloway has also lost a few players already in January, including Scott Malone, who should be replaced in the side by Dan Harding.

Ricardo Fuller is pushing for a start following his brace last weekend, although Lee Gregory could return to the starting XI instead.

Blackpool:

Form in Championship: DWDLLD
Form in all competitions: WDLLDL

Possible starting lineup: Lewis; Dunne, Clarke, Nosworthy, Kennedy; Perkins, McMahon, O'Hara, Eagles; Davies; Delfouneso

Millwall:

Form in Championship: DLWLLL
Form in all competitions: LWLLLD

Possible starting lineup: Forde; Dunne, Nelson, Shittu, Harding; Upson, Williams, Martin, McDonald, Woolford; Gregory

Sports Mole says: 1-1

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