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Apr 4, 2015 at 3pm UK
 
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Preview: Bolton Wanderers vs. Blackpool

:Headline: Preview: Bolton Wanderers vs. Blackpool: ID:214769: from db_amp
Sports Mole previews Saturday's Championship meeting between Bolton and Blackpool, a match that could see the visitors relegated from the second tier.

The Easter weekend looks set to have a telling impact at both ends of the Championship table, and for Blackpool it could see the inevitability of relegation finally confirmed.

Bolton Wanderers are the team who will look to put the final nail in the coffin of the Seasiders on Saturday when the two clubs meet at the Macron Stadium.



Bolton Wanderers

At one stage of the season, Bolton may have been looking ahead to matches like this one fearing that they could be relegation six-pointers in the final straight of the campaign.

However, Neil Lennon's arrival saw the Trotters fly up the table and they can go into the last seven matches safe in the knowledge that it would take an extraordinary set of results for them to be dragged back into danger.

They are a comfortable 10 points clear of the bottom three, and just four short of the 50-point total that Lennon believes will seal their place in the division for another season at least.

Indeed, they are closer to the top half as things stand, but Lennon will know that improvement is needed over the final stages of the campaign if they are to break into the top 12.

After a run of just three defeats in his first 17 matches at the helm, Lennon has seen his side lose eight and win just three of the last 15 to drop back down to 17th place in the standings.

They were seconds away from improving that record before the international break, leading struggling Wigan Athletic 1-0 deep into injury time at The DW Stadium, but Martyn Waghorn's 94th-minute equaliser left the Trotters with only a point against their local rivals.

Lennon insisted that he was "delighted" with the point, if not the performance, but he will be expecting nothing less than all three against the league's bottom club this weekend.

That is particularly true given their home advantage, with Bolton enjoying a fine season at the Macron so far. Only the league's current top eight have a better record in front of their own fans, while the only visiting teams to have beaten Bolton in their own back yard make up four of the top five.

They have only lost one at home in the league since October, winning eight of the 13 matches on their own turf since Lennon took over.

Recent form: WDLWLD



Blackpool

It would only be fitting on Easter weekend if Blackpool suddenly gave themselves a chance of coming back from the dead, but unfortunately for the Tangerines, their fate seems sealed.

Indeed, it has been eminently predictable throughout the entire campaign, and a victory for Rotherham United away to Birmingham City on Good Friday would leave Lee Clark's side needing a win themselves to postpone their relegation.

With 21 points still up for grabs, Blackpool sit 17 behind the Millers in 21st place with a goal difference that is substantially worse than any other team in the division.

The Seasiders have the worst attacking record and have conceded a league-high 78 goals on their way to a meagre points tally of 23 and, with so much turmoil surrounding the club, League One may not prove any less forgiving next season.

Clark has warned his side that they are playing for their futures, and they at least showed a little fight during a 1-1 draw with Leeds United at Bloomfield Road last time out.

That result ended a six-match losing streak, but they are still 11 games without a victory and have picked up just three points from a possible 33 in that time.

With just four away matches now remaining, Blackpool are still searching for their first win on the road this season, with eight defeats in their last nine and just six points picked up on their travels throughout the entire campaign.

They are the only team in the top four tiers of English football not to have won an away game yet this season, while they have scored just 13 goals and conceded 45 on the road.

Now and again, teams faced with impending doom can begin to play without fear and Clark's focus is very much already on next season, but Blackpool's problems may take some time to heal if this campaign is a sign of things to come.

Recent form: LLLLLD



Team News

Bolton will have midfielder Neil Danns back available for selection after he completed a two-match ban last time out, and he is likely to slot straight back into the starting lineup.

Lennon has favoured a 3-5-2 formation in recent games and is expected to stick with that again, with 19-year-old Tom Walker set for a fourth consecutive start having netted his first ever senior goal against Wigan last time out.

The Trotters will be without Simeon Slavchev after he damaged his ankle ligaments while on international duty with Bulgaria, which could leave him sidelined for the rest of the season alongside Max Clayton (knee), Zach Clough (shoulder), Kevin McNaughton (leg), Marc Tierney (leg) and David Wheater (hamstring).

Darren Pratley should return from a hamstring problem before the end of the campaign, although this match will come too soon for both him and Mark Davies, who could make his comeback from a knee injury against Norwich City next weekend.

Blackpool, meanwhile, have lost skipper Tony McMahon to Bradford City on loan but have extended the stay of Miles Addison, who should start again in central midfield. Fit-again Jose Miguel Cubero is also expected to start, while Jamie O'Hara has recovered from an ankle injury.

Striker Gary Madine has three goals in eight starts for the club since his February loan move and will lead the line once again this weekend having hinted at making his switch a permanent one.

Bolton possible starting lineup:
Amos; Mills, McCarthy, Ream; Feeney, Trotter, Bannan, Danns, Walker; Le Fondre, Heskey

Blackpool possible starting lineup:
Lewis; Hall, Clarke, O'Dea, Dunne; Cubero, Addison, O'Hara, Perkins, Orlandi; Madine



Head To Head

Bolton needed an 82nd-minute equaliser to rescue a 1-1 draw from the reverse fixture at Bloomfield Road, with Lee Chung-yong cancelling out Jacob Murphy's opening goal.

That was the sixth draw in the last eight meetings between these two sides, with both clubs winning one apiece in that time. Blackpool's last victory in this fixture came back in 2011 as they edged a Premier League clash 4-3, with Charlie Adam netting the winner.

Bolton are unbeaten in their last seven home games against the Tangerines, however, with Blackpool's last away victory in this fixture coming in a 1986 Division Three clash.



Video Preview

Hit play below to see what the Sports Mole Sofa had to say about this encounter:



We say: Bolton 2-0 Blackpool

Blackpool are without an away win all season and, with the writing on the wall and relegation a formality now, confidence is likely to be as low as ever amongst Clark's side. Bolton's form hasn't been too impressive either, but they have been strong at home under Lennon and should ease to a fairly comfortable triumph here.



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