Birmingham City’s Road to Glory Continues Against Blackpool – Match Preview
Just days after celebrating their League One triumph, Birmingham City is set to make the trip north to face Blackpool at Bloomfield Road this Wednesday night. The Blues are on the verge of breaking the EFL points record as the season enters its final week, while Blackpool reflects on a disappointing overall campaign.
**Match Preview**
After coming so close to the playoffs last season, finishing just three points shy, Blackpool has struggled to find its form this year. With only two matches left, they’re now out of contention for a top-six finish. Following a brief but encouraging three-game winning streak that sparked some hope among fans for another playoff push, the Seasiders have now hit a tough stretch, managing to win only once in their last four games. As it stands, they find themselves hovering in mid-table, looking at the likelihood of spending a third straight season in League One.
Collectively, Blackpool has earned just four points from their last four matches and finds themselves in ninth place, a significant 11 points adrift of sixth-placed Leyton Orient, with just six points left to play for as the season winds down. Their playoff hopes have been severely damaged by a home record of just six wins in 21 league matches at Bloomfield Road this season, where they’ve drawn an astonishing 11 times, making them the division’s experts in stalemates.
The Seasiders have been unable to secure a victory against Birmingham in their last two meetings at home. However, they did have a memorable encounter in April 2022 when they thrashed Lee Bowyer’s struggling Blues 6-1 in the Championship.
On the other hand, Birmingham City had a remarkable moment in their season when they lifted the League One trophy in front of 28,000 fans at St Andrew’s on Sunday. Alongside the celebrations, they also showcased excellent football, winning 4-0 against Mansfield Town with goals from Willum Willumsson, Keshi Anderson, Kieran Dowell, and Tomoki Iwata.
Birmingham is on a remarkable run, having gone unbeaten in their last 11 matches in League One and accumulating a total of 105 points so far. They have a real chance of breaking Reading’s EFL record of 106 points, with a few games still left to play. After finishing their home matches undefeated, the Blues are now preparing for two away games—first against Blackpool, followed by a matchup with relegated Cambridge United.
Despite a strong four-game winning streak on the road, they’ve also experienced setbacks, including a 2-0 loss to Peterborough United in the EFL Trophy final at Wembley earlier this month.
For Wednesday’s match, Blackpool midfielder Lee Evans is expected to retain his starting position after scoring the equalizer against Wigan Athletic. Ashley Fletcher, who has 11 goals this season, will aim to create problems for Birmingham’s defense.
Birmingham’s manager, Chris Davies, might look to shake things up with his squad following their recent win against Mansfield as they chase even more records. This means players like Jay Stansfield and Paik Seung-ho could find themselves starting on the bench. On a brighter note, Willumsson is hitting his stride and is expected to continue his strong form after scoring a goal and providing an assist last weekend. However, the Blues will still be missing Lee Buchanan, Lyndon Dykes, Emil Hansson, and Scott Wright as the season comes to a close.
**Possible Starting Lineups:**
– **Blackpool:** Tyrer; Offiah, Casey, Baggott, Husband; Apter, Evans, Morgan, Hamilton; Bloxham, Fletcher
– **Birmingham City:** Allsop; Laird, Hanley, Davies, Cochrane; Leonard, Paik, Gardner-Hickman, Harris, Willumsson; May
**Prediction:** Blackpool 1-2 Birmingham City
With the EFL points record just one win away, Birmingham will be eager to take on the challenge of Blackpool at Bloomfield Road. While Blackpool has been adept at securing draws, it seems likely that Bruce’s men will fall to the Blues’ formidable form.
