Getting to the Gate: Blackpool
Posted: Friday, August 6th 2021
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🔎 MansionBet Match Preview: Blackpool (H)
Friday, August 6th 2021
Get the lowdown on our Sky Bet Championship curtain-raiser with newly-promoted Blackpool visiting Ashton Gate.
The Tangerines become our first competitive opponents to play in front of a crowd in BS3 since March 2020!
The 2020/21 League One play-off winners were in fine form last season, losing only twice from mid-February and they look to pick up where they left off, on the back of their promotion wave. It puts the Tangerines back in the second tier for the first time since their relegation in 2015. In that time, they’ve spent all but one season in League One, bouncing straight back up from a drop into League Two in 2016.
The 2017/18, 2018/19 and 2019/20 campaigns saw Blackpool finish around the mid-table mark, but fine form – with a nine-game winning run amid a 16-game unbeaten streak - helped them to a third-placed finish last term and therefore a play-off spot at long last. Victory was secured on the final day of the season in a 1-0 win over Bristol Rovers, which would be a fourth consecutive clean sheet as well.
The Seasiders would be drawn against Oxford United, who they beat 6-3 on aggregate, winning 3-0 at home before a 3-3 draw in which former City striker Matty Taylor, as well as Nigel Pearson’s new signing Rob Atkinson, scored for the U’s. But Blackpool were victorious and earned their place at Wembley where a brace from Kenny Dougall secured a 2-1 win over Lincoln City, as they overcame an opening-minute setback.
The summer transfer window has welcomed new players to Bloomfield Road including Josh Bowler (Everton), Oliver Casey (Leeds United) and veteran defender Richard Keogh (Huddersfield Town) as well as left-back Reece James, the brother of City’s own Matty James. Winger Sullay Kaikai has been among the outgoings, while goalscorer Ellis Simms has returned to parent club Everton though 20 -year-old Arsenal forward Tyreece John-Jules has come in on loan.
BLACKPOOL PROFILE
Formed: 1887
Stadium: Bloomfield Road
Nickname: The Tangerines, Seasiders
Manager: Neil Critchley
Finish last season: 3rd, League One (promoted via play-offs)
Honours:
- Second Division / Championship 1929/30, 2009/10 play-off winners
- League One play-off winners 2006/07, 2020/21
- Fourth division / League Two play-off winners 1991/1992, 2000/01, 2016/17
- FA Cup winners 1952/53
- Anglo-Italian Cup 1971
- Football League Trophy 2001/02, 2003/04
📍 MATCH DETAILS
Where: Ashton Gate
When: Saturday, August 7th, 3pm KO
Competition: Sky Bet Championship, matchday 1
⚽️ Watch: Highlights v Aston Villa
City were beaten 3-0 by Villa as they rounded off pre-season a week ago.
The visitors were better in both boxes but City would feel hard done by as they gave the Premier League team a hard-fought run-out in the second half.
👀 ONE TO WATCH
Last season was Yates’ first for the Tangerines after completing a switch from Rotherham United.
He ended the campaign as top goalscorer with 23 goals in all competitions, despite a slow start without finding the back of the net in his first 11 appearances.
The 24-year-old Doncaster-born forward has not previously played at Championship level, after loan spells with Swindon Town (where he scored 14 goals from 36 appearances in 2019/20), Carlisle United and Harrogate Town in past seasons.
🆚 HEAD TO HEAD
Bristol City
Matches v the opposition: 95
Won: 36
Drew: 27
Lost: 32
Stats below based on the 2020/21 season...
Goals scored*: 57
Goals conceded*: 73
Championship position: 19th
Carabao Cup: Round Three
FA Cup: Round Five
Yellow cards*: 54
Red cards*: 3
Top goalscorer*: Nahki Wells 11
Most assists*: Antoine Semenyo 6
Best average rating (Opta): Tomas Kalas 6.95
Possession: 47.3%
Passing percentage: 70.5%
Tackle success percentage: 61.2%
Average aerial duels won: 24.4
*Stats available for all competitions
Blackpool
Matches v opposition: 95
Won: 32
Drew: 27
Lost: 36
Stats below based on the 2020/21 season...
Goals scored*: 74
Goals conceded*: 42
League One position: 3rd
Carabao Cup: Round Four
FA Cup: Round One
EFL Trophy: Round Two
Yellow cards: 67
Red cards: 4
Top goalscorer*: Jerry Yates 23
Most assists: Sullay Kaikai 10 (since left the club)
Best average rating (Opta): Danny Ballard 7.21
Possession: 49.5%
Passing percentage: 71.3%
Tackle success percentage: 75.5%
Average aerial duels won: 24
*Stats available for all competitions
Robins TV
Robins TV Matchday Live will revert to its pre-pandemic broadcast rights for this year’s EFL Sky Bet Championship campaign.
There are different options for overseas supporters and those living inside the UK, Ireland, Channel Islands and the Isle of Man.
Read here for your Robins TV options.
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