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Preview: Blackpool vs. Middlesbrough - prediction, team news, lineups

Sports Mole previews Saturday's Championship clash between Blackpool and Middlesbrough, including predictions, team news and possible lineups.

Since this article was published, this match has been postponed due to the death of Queen Elizabeth II.

Blackpool will welcome Middlesbrough to Bloomfield Road for their Championship encounter on Saturday.

While the Tangerines have failed to win any of their last four home matches, Boro are looking to avoid a fifth successive game without an away victory.


Match preview

Blackpool boss Michael Appleton on August 16, 2022© Reuters

After three Championship games without a win, Blackpool claimed maximum points in controversial circumstances when they secured a slender 1-0 victory away against Huddersfield Town last Sunday.

Theo Corbeanu put the Tangerines in front in the 38th minute, before the Terriers thought they had equalised in the second half when Yuta Nakayama appeared to bundle the ball over the line, but despite the host's celebrations, the referee was not informed by goal-line technology that the ball had cross the line.

Images have since shown that the whole of the ball did cross the line and the EFL have since apologised for the technology failing on the day. While Blackpool's win was evidently overshadowed, Michael Appleton and co will still be pleased to have returned to winning ways.

Blackpool, who currently sit 11th in the table with as many points, will be keen to put together a positive run of form in the coming weeks, but that could prove challenging given their recent record on home soil.

The Tangerines have lost four of their last seven league matches in front of their own fans while that have also suffered defeat in each of their last three home games against their upcoming opponents Middlesbrough.

Middlesbrough boss Chris Wilder on August 10, 2022© Reuters

Middlesbrough have endured an underwhelming start to the new campaign, winning only two of their first eight Championship matches, although the second of those victories came on Monday night in the Tees-Wear derby over Sunderland.

The 150th meeting between the two sides saw Riley McGree score the only goal of the game midway through the first half to help Boro secure a slender 1-0 win at the Riverside.

Chris Wilder's men have now climbed out of the relegation zone and up to 17th place, but they still have plenty of work to do if they wish to join the pack of promotion contenders as they currently sit four points behind the playoff and eight behind league leaders Sheffield United.

When Wilder took change of Middlesbrough in November last year, he managed to win two of his first three away games in the Championship, but his side have since won just two of their last 15 league matches on the road.

Boro were able to claim maximum points at Bloomfield Road last term, however, with a dramatic 93rd-minute winner from Duncan Watmore sealing all three points for the visitors, just two minutes after Blackpool had thought that they snatched a point through Shaye Lavery.

Blackpool Championship form:
  • L
  • W
  • D
  • D
  • L
  • W

Middlesbrough Championship form:
  • D
  • D
  • L
  • W
  • L
  • W


Team News

Jerry Yates celebrates scoring for Blackpool on August 20, 2022© Reuters

Blackpool will be without Kevin Stewart (foot), Lewis Fiorini (hamstring), Charlie Patino, Jake Beesley (both ankle) and Keshi Anderson (knee) due to injury.

Appleton may decide to stick with the 3-4-3 formation he used last weekend, with Corbeanu operating in the front three along with Ryan Yates and Ian Poveda.

Dominic Thompson is set to retain his place at left wing-back ahead of James Husband and Luke Garbutt, who are yet to start for the Tangerines this term.

As for Middlesbrough, goalkeeper Zack Steffen – on loan from Manchester City – and forward Chuba Akpom are both ruled out with knee injuries.

Centre-back Darragh Lenihan missed the last match due to a knock and he is doubtful for this weekend's contest, with Paddy McNair, Matthew Clarke and Dael Fry set to retain their places in the back three.

Watmore, Matthew Hoppe and Marcus Forss will all be pushing to start in attack after beginning on the bench against Sunderland, but Rodrigo Muniz could keep his place as the central striker.

Blackpool possible starting lineup:
Grimshaw; Ekpiteta, Williams Thirniley; Lawrence-Gabriel, Connolly, Dougall, Thompson; Poveda, Yates, Corbeanu

Middlesbrough possible starting lineup:
Roberts; McNair, Fry, Clarke; Jones, Mowatt, Howson, Crooks, Giles; McGree; Muniz


SM words green background

We say: Blackpool 1-2 Middlesbrough

There is little to separate these two sides at this early stage in the season, with both teams hoping to build on their most recent victories and climb closer towards the playoffs.

Middlesbrough seem to have shown greater signs of improvement in recent weeks, and we can see them coming away from Bloomfield Road with a slender victory.

For data analysis of the most likely results, scorelines and more for this match please click here.


Top tip

Our expert tipster partners at Sporita.com are predicting under 2.5 goals in this match. Click here to find out what else they are predicting for this game and for more of their tried-and-tested football tips.Under 2.5:data

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Who will win Saturday's Championship clash between Blackpool and Middlesbrough?

Blackpool
Draw
Middlesbrough
Blackpool
66.7%
Draw
33.3%
Middlesbrough
0.0%
3
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Middlesbrough's Riley McGree celebrates scoring their first goal on September 5, 2022
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Middlesbrough beat Sunderland in Tees-Wear derby
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Tables
TeamPWDLFAGDPTS
1Sheffield UnitedSheff Utd96211751220
2Norwich CityNorwich9612158719
3Blackburn RoversBlackburn95041111015
4Reading9504914-515
5Burnley9351159614
6Sunderland9423149514
7Bristol City94231814414
8Queens Park RangersQPR94231411314
9Rotherham UnitedRotherham8341126613
10Watford934299013
11Wigan AthleticWigan8341910-113
12Preston North EndPreston926132112
13Stoke CityStoke93241111011
14Birmingham CityBirmingham9324810-211
15Cardiff CityCardiff9324710-311
16Blackpool9324913-411
17Hull City93241118-711
18Luton TownLuton9243910-110
19Millwall9315913-410
20West Bromwich AlbionWest Brom9162141319
21Middlesbrough92341315-29
22Swansea CitySwansea9234712-59
23Huddersfield TownHuddersfield8116813-54
24Coventry CityCoventry6024713-62

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