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Blackpool
Championship
Dec 28, 2014 at 3pm UK
 
Rotherham logo

1-1

Telford (84')
FT(HT: 0-0)
Ledesma (57')

Preview: Blackpool vs. Rotherham United

Sports Mole previews the Championship clash between bottom-of-the-table Blackpool and Rotherham at Bloomfield Road.

Blackpool will be looking to end a miserable 2014 on a high note when they host Rotherham United at Bloomfield Road on Sunday.

The Tangerines appeared to have turned a corner with a four-match unbeaten streak at the end of November and start of December - their best run of results since October 2013.

However, that came to an abrupt end courtesy of a 6-1 home defeat at the hands of leaders Bournemouth, while a 1-0 loss to Sheffield Wednesday on Boxing Day left them 10 points adrift of safety.

As if matters on the field were not worrying enough, chairman Karl Oyston has been in the news for the wrong reasons recently, having called a supporter a "retard" in a text message.

A number of people, including club president Valeri Belokon, have called for Oyston to stand down from his role, while a petition has been signed by more than 1,000 fans supporting his removal as chairman.

It has certainly not been an easy ride for the Seasiders, who have also been without Nile Ranger for the past couple of weeks after the striker went AWOL.

Manager Lee Clark has a number of selection issues to deal with this weekend, with Ishmael Miller suspended following his late red card against Wednesday, and Steven Davies, Darren O'Dea and Donervon Daniels all being forced off in that match through injuries.

Nyron Nosworthy could return having missed the Boxing Day defeat, but Jose Miguel Cubero, Gary MacKenzie and Tom Barkhuizen are all still sidelined.

No side has amassed fewer home points than Blackpool this season, but they are coming up against a team that has only managed eight away goals in the Championship so far.

The Millers have only won one of their last 11 matches, but seven draws in that time have given them a fairly regular stream of points to keep them clear of the bottom three.

The latest of those draws came in dramatic fashion on Boxing Day as Rotherham scored twice in the final two minutes to rescue a point against Huddersfield Town.

Despite grabbing a draw from the jaws of defeat, Steve Evans is likely to end his run of naming four unchanged sides in a row due to the disappointing level of performance against the Terriers.

Jonson Clarke-Harris and Lee Frecklington got the goals for his side having come off the bench, and they should have done enough to earn starts this weekend.

Blackpool:

Recent form: DDWDLL

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

Rotherham:

Recent form: LDDDWD

Possible starting lineup: Collin; Wootton, Morgan, Arnason, James; Frecklington, Green, Smallwood, Pringle, Lawrence; Clarke-Harris

Sports Mole says: 0-1


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Written by
Barney Corkhill
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Blackpool Manager Lee Clark looks on prior to the Sky Bet Championship match between Fulham and Blackpool at Craven Cottage on November 5, 2014
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