Blackpool will welcome Swansea City to Bloomfield Road on Saturday in the third round of fixtures in the new Championship season, with kickoff at 5 pm.
After a largely positive first season back in the Championship, Blackpool suffered a setback last time, as promotion-winning manager Neil Critchley departed with Michael Appleton now at the helm.
Life as the Tangerines’ boss began well for Appleton, as they hosted Reading on an opening day and came away with all three points thanks to Callum Connolly’s early goal.
The Lancashire outfit then faced the tough test of a trip to Stoke City and would fall short, with goals from Harry Clarke and Jacob Brown either side of halftime condemning them to a 2-0 defeat.
Their attention was briefly taken off the new league campaign midweek as the EFL Cup began. In their first-round tie with Barrow, they eventually lost in a penalty shootout at Bloomfield Road after a goalless draw in normal time.
The Welsh outfit arrives hoping to score a first win of the new season, having endured a tough start. Having seen Chiedozie Ogbene put their hosts ahead early in their second season under the management of Russell Martin, they were only able to share the spoils thanks to Harry Darling’s long-range effort in the 38th minute.
Blackpool vs Swansea Head to Head
Both sides have six games against each other, with the hosts taking three wins while the visitors are winless. Here is a look at their previous encounters:
Home
- Blackpool 0-0 Barrow
- Stoke City 2-0 Blackpool
- Blackpool 1-0 Reading
- Blackpool 2-4 Everton
Away
- Oxford United 2-2 Swansea City
- Swansea 0-3 Blackburn Rovers
- Rotherham 1-1 Swansea
- Charlton Athletic 1-2 Swansea
Blackpool Team News
Blackpool rotated heavily for their EFL Cup tie, and manager Michael Appleton is likely to revert to a similar starting XI for Saturday’s Championship game against Bolton, with defender Rhys Williams, midfielder Matty Virtue, and goalkeeper Daniel Grimshaw all set to return from the outset.
Swansea Team News
Martin has made several changes for the game against Oxford, with Matt Grimes, Olivier Ntcham, Nathan Wood and Kyle Naughton all set to return. Joe Allen could be in line for his first start following his return to the Swans in the summer after leaving for Liverpool in 2012, although Jay Fulton has been preferred alongside Grimes thus far.
Prediction and Odds
Martin’s side has the tools to hurt their hosts but can leave themselves vulnerable as a result, and we back the Tangerines to take a point.
- Draw
- Double Chance
- Goals Under 2.5
