Blackpool will be aiming to keep their faint survival dreams alive on Friday night when they welcome playoff contenders Millwall to Bloomfield Road in the Championship.

The Seasiders earned three valuable points on the road last time out, while Millwall suffered defeat during their trip to relegation-threatened Wigan Athletic.

Match preview

Having not won a Championship away match since October, Blackpool fans travelled to St Andrew's on Saturday in hope more than expectation of a result which would keep their survival scrap alive, and their side finally delivered on the road.

A mix-up at the back between Birmingham City's Neil Etheridge and Kevin Long allowed Ian Poveda to score into an empty net with just 15 minutes of the contest to go - the Leeds United loanee could barely believe his luck.

Stephen Dobbie's men held on in the Second City to record only their fourth away win of a difficult campaign - one in which a relegation to League One still looks likely.

The Seasiders are 23rd in the second-tier standings, three points behind Huddersfield Town in 22nd - although Neil Warnock's Terriers have played a game fewer.

Blackpool know only back-to-back wins in their final two games will give them any slither of hope in maintaining their Championship status for another year, and a home tie with Millwall is not exactly a favourable fixture.

Successive defeats over the past fortnight have seen Millwall relinquish their place in the playoffs heading into this weekend's round of fixtures, with their most recent loss being arguably the worst of the season.

Gary Rowett's Lions were turned over by Shaun Maloney's Latics last weekend at the DW Stadium, with goals from Will Keane and Thelo Aasgaard sandwiching George Saville's second of the term.

Having now won just one of their last seven, the London club are stuttering at the worst-possible time and could be set to narrowly miss out on a top-six finish for the fourth-straight season.

Millwall are seventh in the Championship table, level on points with sixth-placed Sunderland but possessing a worse goal difference than their North-East counterparts.

It is a Lancashire-based end to the campaign for Millwall as they face Blackpool and Blackburn Rovers in their final two - supporters will be hoping their side can experience an upturn in form when it truly matters.

Team News

Blackpool are down to the bare bones in terms of squad depth, and Dobbie will be hoping Jordan Thorniley is fit to feature on Friday after being forced off at St Andrew's due to a groin issue.

Goalscorer Poveda also hobbled off with a recurrence of a hamstring injury - the 23-year-old is unlikely to play against Millwall in this one.

Keshi Anderson and Jerry Yates both missed the trip to Birmingham and it is unclear whether either will be available on Friday, although considering their importance to the hosts, they may be rushed back into action.

Millwall midfielder Callum Styles made his first start since January in the defeat at Wigan on Saturday, with his replacement in the 70th minute Duncan Watmore pushing for a start at Bloomfield Road.

Scott Malone continues to fill in at left-back as Murray Wallace remains sidelined due to a muscle knock - the Lions have failed to keep a clean sheet in back-to-back games since the 30-year-old's injury.

Blackpool possible starting lineup:
Grimshaw; Gabriel, Nelson, Thorniley, Lyons; Fiorini, Patino, Bowler, Carey, Hamilton; Rogers

Millwall possible starting lineup:
Long; McNamara, Hutchinson, Cooper, Malone; Saville, Mitchell, Burke, Flemming, Watmore; Bradshaw

We say: Blackpool 0-1 Millwall

Blackpool recorded a much-needed win at Birmingham last time out but suffered more injury woes - their survival hopes are hanging by a thread despite winning two of their last three.

Millwall will be fired up after back-to-back defeats and should be able to earn three points that will take their fight for a top-six finish to the final day of the season.


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