PREVIEW: Sky Blues Face Blackpool Tonight

City prepare for midweek action...

8 February 2022

The Sky Blues return to league action tonight at the Coventry Building Society Arena with the visit of Blackpool. Here’s everything you need to know about our opponents.

Fact File:

Name: Blackpool Football Club
Nickname: The Seasiders
Founded: 1887
Stadium: Bloomfield Road
Address: Bloomfield Road, Seasiders Way, Blackpool, FY1 6JJ
Capacity: 17,338
Pitch dimensions: 112 x 74 yards

The Opposition:

Blackpool’s first season back in the Championship after a six-year absence has seen the Seasiders earn a current position of 13^th in the league table. Having returned to the second tier via a 2-1 victory versus Lincoln City in the League One Play-off Final last season, manager Neil Critchley prepared for life in the Championship with thirteen new arrivals in the summer.

Since then, Blackpool have bolstered their squad with the signings of Jake Beesley from Rochdale, Owen Dale from Crewe Alexandra and Doug Tharme from Southport, as well as welcoming Charlie Kirk on loan from Charlton and recalling Jordan Thorniley following a promising period on loan at Oxford.

Blackpool have recently gone four games unbeaten in the league, picking up wins against Bristol City, Millwall and Hull, while also earning a draw away at Fulham. However, during this period the Seasiders also bowed out of the FA Cup in the third round at the hands of Hartlepool.

The Manager: Neil Critchley

Blackpool boss Neil Critchley joined in March 2020 before earning his first success at the club with a promotion from League One last summer. The coronavirus pandemic curtailed Critchley’s first season in charge at the Seasiders with his side finishing in 13^th place, however his first full season provided a third placed finish and play-off success.

Prior to his time at Blackpool, Critchley spent six years at Liverpool’s academy, beginning with Liverpool Under-18s before progressing to the Under-23s. Critchley also enjoyed time working with Liverpool’s first team, when he took charge at a Carabao Cup game against Aston Villa and an FA Cup tie versus Shrewsbury Town.

Last Six Games:

Won - Blackpool 3-1 Bristol City (SkyBet Championship)
Drew – Fulham 1-1 Blackpool (SkyBet Championship)
Won – Blackpool 1-0 Millwall (SkyBet Championship)
Lost – Hartlepool 2-1 Blackpool (Emirates FA Cup)
Won – Blackpool 1-0 Hull City (SkyBet Championship)
Lost – Blackpool 1-2 Middlesbrough (SkyBet Championship)

Last Time We Met: Blackpool 0-1 Sky Blues

City did enough to claim the three points from the last time the two sides met with Viktor Gyökeres’ strike only moments before half time.

The Sky Blues overcame end-to-end action at Bloomfield Road last August to earn City’s first away win of the season.

Sky Blues XI: Simon Moore (GK), Jake Clarke-Salter (Michael Rose 90+3’), Kyle McFadzean (C), Jamie Allen (Martyn Waghorn 76’), Callum O'Hare, Ben Sheaf, Dominic Hyam, Viktor Gyökeres, Ian Maatsen (Julien Dacosta 90+3’), Fankaty Dabo, Gustavo Hamer.

The full report on the contest can be read by clicking HERE.

Head-to-Head Record:

Sky Blues wins – 11
Draws – 5
Blackpool wins – 17

Club Connection: Ryan Allsop

Ryan Allsop spent time at the Sky Blues on loan from Bournemouth in 2014, and the goalkeeper made his City debut in a 3-2 loss against Bradford in August of that year. Conversely, Allsop spent time on loan at Blackpool three years later, going on to accumulate 23 appearances with the Seasiders.

Allsop also has two honours to his name, having spent successful periods at Lincoln City and Wycombe Wanderers. Firstly, Allsop featured in goal for Lincoln’s win at Wembley in the EFL Trophy, when his side beat Shrewsbury with a 1-0 victory. The goalkeeper’s next visit to Wembley also proved to be a success when Wycombe went on to win 2-1 against Oxford United in the League One play-offs.

Derby County opted to sign the goalkeeper in August 2021 following a successful trial period at the club, and Allsop has since made 17 appearances for The Rams.

Match Officials:

Andre Marriner will referee Tuesday night’s contest, which will be his first game involving the Sky Blues since January 2016.

Marriner will be assisted by Scott Ledger and Derek Eaton whilst Stephen Martin will act as the fourth official for the 7:45pm kick-off.

Match Reports

REPORT: Sky Blues 1-1 Blackpool

Points are shared at the Coventry Building Society Arena...

8 February 2022

The points were shared at the Coventry Building Society Arena, as City and Blackpool played out a score draw.

Gary Madine had given the visitors the lead midway through the first half, but that was ruled out by Viktor Gyokeres as he found the back of the net just before half-time.

City pushed for a winner in the second 45, but ultimately the Blackpool backline stayed resolute and Mark Robins side had to settle for a point.

The Sky Blues started the game on the front foot and applied the pressure within the opening minute of the game, with a string of balls into the box being cleared, before the ball eventually fell to Gustavo Hamer, but his shot from distance came off Viktor Gyokeres and behind for a goal kick.

At the other end, it was Kenny Dougall who had the Tangerines first chance, but the midfielder’s effort whistled past the post.

A frantic opening five minutes saw City again look to stretch the Blackpool back line and another ball into the box fell to Hamer around 25-yards out, but his shot skimmed off the top of the bar.

Hamer and Dougall were enjoying the games chances and it was Dougall who had another shot, this time inside of the area, but he couldn’t get past Ben Sheaf and his shot was well wide.

Ian Maatsen would come closer to opening the scoring in the game, as he looked for a trademark strike from the edge of the area, but he couldn’t find the target.

Simon Moore was called into action for the first time on the evening as he had to be alert to make sure Josh Bowler’s run on goal didn’t end up with the Blackpool striker finding the back of the net, as his shot was tame.

Neil Critchley’s side did however take the lead and it came on the counter-attack and the move was eventually finished off by former Coventry man, Gary Madine.

The Sky Blues thought they should have had a penalty just after the half hour mark, when Jordan Shipley’s shot clearly came off the arm of Dujon Sterling, but Andre Marriner waved it away.

City thought they had found an equaliser and Gyokeres thought he had a 12^th goal of the season, but he was flagged by the linesman for offside.

But the Swede would get his goal and it came from a superb punt forward from Simon Moore who picked out the run of Gyokeres and beat Sterling and cut inside and slotted the ball past Grimshaw to bring us level just before the break.

And, City could have been in front, firstly Jordan Shipley’s ball into the box was met by Callum O’Hare, who’s shot went behind for a corner, which ended with Ian Maatsen picking out Michael Rose, but his header was saved by Grimshaw.

HALF-TIME: Sky Blues 1-1 Blackpool

It was City who started the second half the brighter of the two sides and they had the halves opening chances, firstly when Hamer had a free-kick from range saved by Grimshaw.

Moments later, Viktor Gyokeres saw his shot deflected behind for a corner, which Todd Kane would take and pick out Rose in the area, but his header was held onto again by Grimshaw.

Madine would have Blackpool’s first opportunity of the half, when he brought the ball down well and forced Moore into a good save low down to his left.

The former City man was involved in his sides next chance, as he was on the end of Dujon Sterling’s ball into the box, but he couldn’t steer his effort on target.

Gyokeres, who caused the Blackpool back four problems all night, continued to torment their backline and this time his shot from the right-hand-side was deflected, when it looked to be heading for goal.

Martyn Waghorn was introduced into the game just after the hour mark and he had a chance to find a winner from the edge of the area, but his free-kick was wide of goal.

City would have one more chance to win it, when Hamer lined-up a shot from distance, but his effort went behind for a corner.

From the resulting corner, City were camped in the Blackpol half and it would be Hamer again, this time playing a one-two with O’Hare but ultimately his final effort went over the bar.

FULL-TIME: Sky Blues 1-1 Blackpool

Attendance: 15,752 (814 away supporters)

Referee: Andre Marriner

Yellows: Ben Sheaf, Dom Hyam, Jake Clarke-Salter, Gustavo Hamer; Reece James

Goalscorers: Gary Madine 25’, Viktor Gyokeres 42’

Sky Blues Xl: Simon Moore (GK), Todd Kane (65’ Bidwell), Michael Rose, Dom Hyam (C), Jake Clarke-Salter, Ian Maatsen, Jordan Shipley (65’ Waghorn), Ben Sheaf, Gustavo Hamer, Callum O'Hare, Viktor Gyokeres.

Unused Subs: Ben Wilson (GK), Kyle McFadzean, Jamie Allen, Jodi Jones, Fabio Tavares.

Blackpool Xl: Daniel Grimshaw (GK), Dujon Sterling, Richard Keogh (64’ Thorniley), Marvin Ekpiteta, Reece James (70’ Connolly), Kenny Dougall, Ethan Robosn, Josh Bowler, Owen Dale, Jerry Yates, Gary Madine.

Unused Subs: Stuart Moore (GK), Kevin Stewart, Shayne Lavery, Charlie Kirk, Jake Beesley.