Blackpool - a look ahead

Form (last six): W-W-D-L-D-L

2002/03 Finish: League; Second Division – 13th

FA Cup; Third Round

League Cup; First Round

2002/03 Top Goal scorer: John Murphy - 19

2002/03 Discipline: 71 yellow, 7 red

It has been good yet busy week for both sides with both the Magpies and Tangerines handing two household names major upsets in the League Cup Second Round as Birmingham City were dumped out of the cup by Blackpool as they hung on to 1-0 lead which was given to them by Scott Taylor on 6 minutes whilst Notts ran out 2-1 winners over Ipswich Town.

Blackpool manager- Steve McMahon

Notts also share an embarrassing 5-0 opening day defeat with the Tangerines as they crumbled at the hands of Queens Park Rangers – but since then the Seasider’s season has slowly began to take shape with league victories against wins against Stockport County, Oldham Athletic, Wycombe Wanderers and Barnsley which leaves Blackpool odds-on favourites to claim all three victories at Bloomfield Road on Saturday.

As last season came to a close, the rub of the green seemed to deject Blackpool somewhat as they slipped from being 7th at the beginning of March before slipping way down into 13^th as the season drew to a close. However, if the Seasiders want to push for the play-offs once more then they must first learn to they must first learn to bung-up the gushing leak in the defence which managed to concede 64 goals during last season - this being perhaps one of few major downfalls in the Blackpool side. But with a manager like Steve McMahon, it shouldn’t be long before he hauls players in with his profile alone.

One man who was a constant influence throughout last season for the Seasiders was midfielder, Martin Bullock. The former-Barnsley winger was snapped up on a free-transfer by manager, Steve McMahon after Bullock had failed to agree terms on a new deal at the Oakwell. Since then he has made 85 appearances for the club and despite only scoring 6 goals for Blackpool he was named their ‘player of the year’ last season and not only that, but he was rewarded by his fellow pro’s as he was named in the PFA’s team of the season.

***Star Player*** - John Murphy

Blackpool striker John Murphy

The Tangerine’s top goal-scorer last time round has already proved himself to be a handful to defenders throughout the league and considering the player’s physical presence, it’s not to see why.

However, when Brett Ormerod departed for Southampton Murphy was left with great expectations to carry – a task which he has admirably undertaken the only way he knows how – score more goals.

And when news struck that Murphy may have departed for Stockport in January it looked as though his absence, along with Ormerod’s, would prove costly. However, fortunately for the Seasiders he stayed with the club and went on to finish the season as his sides top scorer.

***ODDS CHECKER*** - courtesy of William Hill [www.willhill.com]

Blackpool – 4/5

Draw – 23/10

Notts County – 11/4