Regular readers of this blog will know the high regard inwhich I hold Blackpool as a team to follow in the Championship this season. Once again, they are the subject of another selection as they head to the south coast to face Portsmouth this afternoon.
Ian Holloway’s troops are in the midst of a four game unbeaten run in the league, and have only been beaten once all season (excluding a penalty shootout defeat at Sheffield Wednesday in the Carling Cup) – when Derby County claimed a 1-0 win at Bloomfield Road. Hull (away), Peterborough (home)and Ipswich (home) have all failed to claim a point against Blackpool, while Crystal Palace (away), Cardiff (home) and Brighton (away) have all been held to a draw. Veteran striker Kevin Phillips has already bagged five league goals this campaign and will once again pose a real danger to the Portsmouth rearguard.
As for Portsmouth, that defence has kept two clean-sheets this season against Reading (home) and Bristol City (away), and has only conceded more than a single goal on two occasions (Middlesbrough away when the score was 2-2, and a dramatic 4-3 loss at West Ham). Of more concern for home supporters may well be the clubs lack of discipline, with the sending off in consecutive games of Liam Lawrence and Luke Varney. Lawrence will return today, but Varney misses out, and Portsmouth also had five players booked in games against Brighton and Middlesbrough.
This could well be another low scoring encounter at Fratton Park – in four league and home matches this season from Portsmouth there have been just five total goals. But the value lays with the visitors at 23/17 in draw-no-bet market. Portsmouth may have just enough to stifle the Blackpool attack, but missing Luke Varney will not help their attacking prospects and if anyone should come out on top, it will most likely be the visitors.
Suggestion:
Blackpool Draw-No-Bet 1pt @ 23/17 (bwin)
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