Blackpool, languishing in the lower half of the League One table, are set to come up against relegation-battling Shrewsbury Town at Bloomfield Road on Wednesday afternoon.
The hosts are 15th in the table with 28 points from their first 22 matches, while the visitors are 23rd in the standings with just 16 points from their opening 22 fixtures.
Match preview
© Imago
Blackpool have had a disappointing past few seasons, from being relegated from the Championship in 2023-24 to missing out on a place in the League One playoffs in 2023-24, finishing in eighth and just three points shy of the top six.
Unfortunately for the Tangerines, their fortunes have only declined further in the opening half of the 2024-25 campaign, currently sitting 15th in the table with 28 points from the opening 22 games, after seven wins, seven draws and eight losses.
Those results mean they already trail the top six and playoff places by nine points, while they hold just an eight-point lead over the relegation zone, leaving them languishing around the middle of the table.
Blackpool are also heading into this one having failed to win any of their last four matches across all competitions, losing two and drawing two, including scoring just twice in that time.
Aiming to put that underwhelming run to an end, Steve Bruce's side will look to defeat a Shrewsbury Town side that are currently second from bottom in the League One standings.
Shrewsbury narrowly avoided relegation last season, finishing 19th with 48 points, just four points above the drop zone, but they now appear to be heading for a return to League Two for the first time since the 2014-15 campaign.
They are heading into this one sat 23rd in the table with a miserable 16 points from 22 outings, having recorded just four wins, four draws and 14 losses in that time, leaving them six points adrift of safety.
Their poor start to the season resulted in former manager Paul Hurst being sacked, with Gareth Ainsworth being appointed as his permanent successor, and Shrewsbury have enjoyed a slight upturn in form under the new boss.
Shrewsbury have won two, drawn two and lost three under Ainsworth, including remaining unbeaten in their last three matches, a run of results they will be hoping to extend as they search for a miraculous escape from the drop zone.
Team News
© Imago
Blackpool will be without Andrew Lyons, Elkan Baggott, CJ Hamilton, and Jake Beesley for this match, as ongoing injury issues have kept them sidelined for an extended period.
Elsewhere, the hosts may field a similar starting lineup to the one that held league leaders Birmingham City to a 0-0 draw in their most recent outing, a match in which Blackpool were arguably the more deserving side to win.
As for the visitors, Joshua Kayode remains out due to an injury, while Carl Winchester is also a doubt to feature having missed the last four fixtures with an injury issue.
Having impressive avoided defeat in their last three outings, with one win and two draws, Ainsworth could decide to name a similar starting side in this one.
Blackpool possible starting lineup:
Tyrer; Offiah, Pennington, Casey, Husband; Apter, Evans, Morgan, Coulson; Joseph, Fletcher
Shrewsbury Town possible starting lineup:
Blackman; M Feeney, J Feeney, Pierre; Hoole, Gilliead, Perry, Benning; Castledine; Lloyd, Marquis
We say: Blackpool 1-1 Shrewsbury Town
Blackpool have not won at home since September, while the visitors have won just once away from home all season, leading us to believe this one will end all square.
For data analysis of the most likely results, scorelines and more for this match please click here.
Ellis Stevens
