Looking to end the League One season in strong fashion, Blackpool are set to host relegated Bristol Rovers at Bloomfield Road on Saturday.
The Seasiders could close out the campaign by ending their three-game winless run this weekend, while the Gas will be hoping to provide some consolation to their fans.
Match preview
© Imago
Steve Bruce‘s Blackpool were in with an outside chance of making the playoffs, but after recording just one win in their last five, a spell that includes three losses and one draw, they are now resigned to another season in the third tier.
To be fair to the Seasiders, they were beaten by second-placed Wrexham on April 21 and champions Birmingham last time out, though fans will be disappointed to have enabled the Blues to take their crown as the club with the record points total in the division.
Dropping 11 points from their last five has left Bruce’s side ninth in the table ahead of the final matchday, and considering that they are three points behind Bolton Wanderers, they will be aiming for an eighth-placed finish.
That being said, the hosts have lost back-to-back games at Bloomfield Road prior to this weekend, and they will need to find the type of performance levels that saw them win four from six between late February and the start of last month.
Should Blackpool end their campaign with their 17th win of the season, then their superior goal difference would be enough to take them above the Trotters, though defeat could see them slip down to 10th should Huddersfield Town better their result.
© Imago
Meanwhile, Inigo Calderon‘s Rovers were nine points clear of the relegation zone with only 10 games to play after the manager won six and drew two of his first 15 matches, but a disastrous return of one point from their most recent nine led to their demotion.
The Gas were certainly unlucky with injuries in the second part of the season with the likes of Kamil Conteh and Chris Martin facing extended spells on the sidelines, but a record of one draw and eight defeats, culminating in a 2-0 loss against Reading last time out, is hard for fans to swallow.
Calderon’s men are now 22nd in the table with 43 points, and despite being relegated alongside fellow strugglers Crawley Town, Cambridge United and Shrewsbury Town, the manager has expressed his desire to lead the club in League Two next season.
Victory this weekend could go some way to endearing him to frustrated fans, but having won just one away game in 2025, and lost eight of their 11 across all competitions this year, it seems unlikely that the coach will be able to defy his team’s form on the final day of the campaign.
If Rovers can take maximum points on Saturday, then they could end the season in 21st place, and perhaps give everyone at the club some hope that they can bounce back and earn promotion at the first time of asking.
Team News
© Imago
Blackpool strikers Niall Ennis and Ashley Fletcher should start in a partnership this weekend, supported out wide by CJ Hamilton and Robert Apter.
In the middle of the park, Bruce is likely to turn to Lee Evans and Albie Morgan, and the duo will also provide cover for centre-backs Oliver Casey and Elkan Baggott.
As for Rovers, Sil Swinkels, Connor Taylor and James Wilson will start in a back three, with Jack Hunt and Clinton Mola operating as wing-backs.
Elsewhere, Kofi Shaw should join Gatlin O’Donkor and Ruel Sotiriou up top from his attacking midfield position, while Matt Butcher and Romaine Sawyers aim to create stability in the central third.
Blackpool possible starting lineup:
Tyrer; Offiah, Casey, Baggott, Husband; Apter, Evans, Morgan, Hamilton; Ennis, Fletcher
Bristol Rovers possible starting lineup:
Ward; Wilson, Taylor, Swinkels; Hunt, Butcher, Sawyers, Mola; Shaw; O’Donkor, Sotiriou
We say: Blackpool 2-1 Bristol Rovers
Blackpool have lost two of their last three, but considering that they were against the division’s top two, they will be confident of getting back to winning ways against a relegated team this weekend.
Additionally, Rovers have been in disastrous form at the end of the season, and though they will be desperate to give fans some optimism about their 2025-26 campaign, they are unlikely to take anything on Saturday.
For data analysis of the most likely results, scorelines and more for this match please click here.
