MX23RW : Tuesday, March 18 13:18:48| >> :120:67580:67580:

Preview: West Ham United vs. Blackpool

Preview: Playoff final - West Ham vs. Blackpool
© PA Photos
West Ham United and Blackpool go head to head in the vital Championship playoff final at Wembley on Saturday, with a spot in the Premier League up for grabs.

This weekend's Championship playoff final will determine the third club promoted to the Premier League with West Ham United and Blackpool fighting for a spot in the top flight.

The Hammers found their way to Wembley following a convincing semi-final two-leg triumph over Cardiff City, while Ian Holloway's side eased past Birmingham City to clinch a spot in the final.

West Ham were on course to earn automatic promotion in the earlier stages of the season but a slump in results meant that the London side would have to do it the hard way, which will make Sam Allardyce's side more determined to return to the Premier League.

The Hammers did the double over the Seasiders in the season courtesy of a 4-0 win at Upton Park and a 4-1 victory at Bloomfield Road, but Blackpool head into Saturday's clash on the back of a nine-game unbeaten run.

There are no fresh injuries for Holloway, which suggests that Barry Ferguson and Angel Martinez will line the midfield with Gary Taylor-Fletcher and Stephen Dobbie likely to start up front.

Meanwhile, West Ham's Jack Collison should be fit to play this weekend, despite being carried off in the second leg against Cardiff with a dislocated shoulder. Allardyce is likely to choose Carlton Cole and Ricardo Vaz Te to lead the line for the Hammers.

Current form:

West Ham: WDWWWW
Blackpool: DWWDWD

Possible lineups:

West Ham: Green; Demel, Tomkins, Reid, Taylor; O'Neill, Noble, Nolan, Collison; Cole, Vaz-Te

Blackpool: Gilks; Baptiste, Evatt, Eardley, Crainey; M.Phillips, Ferguson, Angel, Ince; Taylor-Fletcher, Dobbie

Sports Mole says: 3-2

ID:27855: cacheID:27855:1false2false3false:QQ:: from db desktop :LenBod:restore:3516:
Written by
Danielle Joynson

Previews by email

Click here to get Sports Mole's daily email of previews and predictions for every major game!


Restore Data
Share this article now:
Upton Park
Read Next:
O'Neil feared for his career
>
rhs 2.0
Today's games header
Tables header RHS
TeamPWDLFAGDPTS
1Liverpool29217169274270
2Arsenal291610353242958
3Nottingham ForestNott'm Forest29166749351454
4Chelsea29147853371649
5Manchester CityMan City29146955401548
6Newcastle UnitedNewcastle2814594738947
7Brighton & Hove AlbionBrighton29121164842647
8Fulham2912984338545
9Aston Villa2912984145-445
10Bournemouth29128948361244
11Brentford29125125045541
12Crystal Palace2810993633339
13Manchester UnitedMan Utd29107123740-337
14Tottenham HotspurSpurs291041555431234
15Everton2971393236-434
16West Ham UnitedWest Ham2997133349-1634
17Wolverhampton WanderersWolves2975174058-1826
18Ipswich TownIpswich2938182862-3417
19Leicester CityLeicester2945202565-4017
20Southampton2923242170-499


Sports Mole provides in-depth previews and predictions for every match from the biggest leagues and competitions in world football.
Argentina's Lionel Messi kisses the World Cup trophy after collecting the Golden Ball award on December 18, 2022Sign up for our FREE daily preview newsletter direct to your inbox!