Premiership: Blackpool V Sunderland – Saturday, 22nd January

 

Blackpool V Sunderland

Saturday, 22nd January – 15:00 (GMT)
Venue: Bloomfield Road

 

Blackpool

There are seventeen top-flight fixtures left on Blackpool’s calendar and, realistically, Ian Holloway’s charges require just 12 points from the 51 available in order to reach that magic 40-point milestone which should all but wrap up survival and assure the Tangerines of another spell in the big-time. To be honest, it all sounds a little straightforward and uncomplicated for a team which has thrived off adversity this season. So, with the objective at hand seemingly do-able, are we to expect Blackpool to continue eating away at the deficit or will complacency begin to creep in as the finishing line draws ever nearer?

So long as Ian Holloway retains the services of influential midfielder Charlie Adam, Blackpool should be a fairly safe bet for survival. The Scotland international has had a hand in so many goals this season, even though his three Premier League strikes have all come from the penalty spot, but it’s the quality of his passes and his calming presence in the midfield which excites everyone, players and fans alike. Adam is the linchpin of a Blackpool team which is average as individuals but exceedingly good collectively, which is why losing his services could be a catastrophe. And so reports suggesting Adam has become frustrated with how recent bids regarding him has been handled by the club won’t be music to the ears of the Blackpool faithful.

In the meantime, it’s easy to forget that Blackpool still need to play football. Keeping Charlie Adam at the club is imperative but so is maintaining the flow of points. And there hasn’t been a regular flow of points for some time now, more irregular spurts. Their sublime victory over Liverpool in their most recent home encounter helps brighten up what is otherwise a deeply concerning period of form for the Seasiders, who have suffered three league defeats in their last four as well as exit the FA Cup at the earliest possible departure point.

Last weekend’s 3-2 loss away to West Brom is perhaps a sign of things to come. That Blackpool’s luck is beginning to run dry and that their run-in won’t be as cut and dry as everyone likes to make out. As per usual, Holloway’s men created a host of chances and could of won the match by something ridiculous like 9-6, the game wide-open throughout as both sides continued to plough forward with purpose and in large numbers. Instead, they were beaten 3-2 in a match they never deserved to lose and I cannot help but wonder whether that grievance feeling they felt post-match will be an all-too common sensation for the Tangerines in the final stages of the season. After all, they’re now expected to achieve survival with something to spare and favouritism simply isn’t their style nor the way they do business.

Blackpool Fact: All eight of their home games in the Premier League thus far have featured both teams scoring.

 

Sunderland

We were as stunned as anyone when Darren Bent not only handed in a transfer request earlier in the week but also completed his switch to relegation threatened Aston Villa for a staggering £18million, a figure likely to raise to £24million with various clauses in his contract. Bent, who had reignited his fading international career while with the Black Cats, racked up 23 goals in the Premier League last season and has eight to his name this season. However, now it’s down to the players to provide their incensed supporters with some encouragement, by beating Blackpool and showing everyone that life really does go on after Darren Bent.

Steve Bruce couldn’t hide his disappointment with Bent’s decision to switch allegiances, confirming what everyone already knew, that everyone involved with Sunderland were hurting. But Bruce has urged everyone to move on and focus on getting straight back down to business, and that includes supporters who feel they’ve been short-changed by Bent’s move despite the club receiving a substantial fee in return for Bent’s services.

So Sunderland’s European aspiration have taken a significant blow and even though they have the club’s record signing is waiting in the wings, I’m not entirely confident Asamoah Gyan is good enough to fill Bent’s massive shoes. The Ghana forward has one goal less than Darren Bent for the season and has instantly endeared himself to supporters, not least for his equalising goal at home to arch-rivals Newcastle last weekend, when Sunderland came within mere minutes of suffering their second defeat on home soil of the season.

Aside from the fact Sunderland are without their most potent forward outlet in Darren Bent, supporters have plenty to be positive about. Their team has began the year in impressive fashion, albeit an early and surprise exit from the FA Cup at the hands of Notts County spoiling an unbeaten start to their league campaign – two wins and a draw. Moreover, Newcastle’s solitary goal in last weekend’s 1-1 draw at the Stadium of Light was the first goal Sunderland have conceded in the Premier League in 270 minutes. However, does has Bent’s sudden move damaged the harmony in the Sunderland camp? It’s almost impossible for it not too, though Blackpool aren’t exactly in scintillating form at the present and are definitely prime for the taking.

To add insult to injury, Danny Welbeck, Gyan’s new striking partner, has been ruled out for up to two months after having recently gone under the knife on a knee problem.

Sunderland Fact: With Darren Bent no longer a Sunderland player, Steve Bruce has only five players in his squad who have scored a Premier League goal this season – Gyan, Welbeck, Henderson, Onouha and Bardsley.

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Last 5 Results

Blackpool

Premiership: West Brom 3-2 Blackpool
FA Cup: Southampton 2-0 Blackpool
Premiership: Blackpool 2-1 Liverpool
Premiership: Blackpool 1-2 Birmingham City
Premiership: Manchester City 1-0 Blackpool

Sunderland

Premiership: Sunderland 1-1 Newcastle United
FA Cup: Sunderland 1-2 Notts County
Premiership: Aston Villa 0-1 Sunderland
Premiership: Sunderland 3-0 Blackburn Rovers
Premiership: Sunderland 0-2 Blackpool

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Head-to-Head (Last 5 Seasons)

2010/2011: Sunderland 0-2 Blackpool

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2010/2011 Premiership Statistics

Blackpool

League Position: 10th
Win-Draw-Lose: 8-4-9 (Home: 3-2-3)
Goal Difference: 31-36 (Home: 14-14)
Form: WLLWL (Home: WDWLW)
Top Scorer: DJ Campbell (7)

Sunderland

League Position: 6th
Win-Draw-Lose: 8-10-5 (Away: 2-5-4)
Goal Difference: 26-23 (Away: 11-15)
Form: LLWWD (Away: WLDLW)
Top Scorer: Darren Bent (8)

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Betting Odds & Tips

Match Prediction: Draw – 3.40 BetFred

The obvious bet for most punters will be both teams getting on the scoresheet, but this is Sunderland’s very first encounter without Darren Bent and it may take time for the entire team to adjust to life without their star man before they get back to scoring ways, let alone winning ways. Meanwhile Blackpool need to put any thoughts of their seemingly straightforward task of avoiding the drop to the back of their minds and focus on taking full advantage of Sunderland’s massive psychological blow.

At face value, you’d expect nothing less than another screamer of a game. Aren’t all Blackpool games that way? However, we shouldn’t discount just how strong Sunderland have been defensively this season, a team who have kept the same number of clean sheets as Manchester City (11). I can foresee this fixture disappointing the masses and instead of a goals galore banker, I’m tipping a snooze fest.

Value Bet: DJ Campbell to Score – 3.00 Coral

With seven league goals to his name for the season, Dudley Campbell has scored in five of his last six starts in the Premier League and is aiming to build on his double scored at the Stadium of Light in the reverse meeting.

 

Match Odds:

Blackpool – 2.63 Boylesports
Draw – 3.40 BetFred
Sunderland – 2.88 VictorChandler