Coventry City v Blackpool: Live match updates

Coventry currently going through a medley of wedding classics in the build up to kick off.

Blackpool fans know it’s a fruitless endeavour attempting to predict Neil Critchley’s team selections, but this line-up will still take many by surprise.

Pool’s head coach makes four changes in total from their 3-1 win against Bristol City, dropping Jordan Thorniley, Jordan Gabriel, Callum Connolly and CJ Hamilton.

Gabriel and Hamilton are not included in the 18 at all.

Marvin Ekpiteta is fit enough to return after missing Saturday’s win against Bristol City with a whack to his knee.

Reece James also makes his return to the side, appearing for the Seasiders for the first time since he injured his hamstring in December.

Ethan Robson, recently recalled from his loan at MK Dons, comes in for Callum Connolly for his first Pool appearance since May 2021.

Owen Dale also starts the game at left wing, replacing CJ Hamilton following his impressive run of games in the side.

Chris Maxwell (quad), Luke Garbutt (knee), James Husband (hamstring), Matty Virtue (ACL), Grant Ward (achilles), Sonny Carey (metatarsal) and Keshi Anderson (hamstring) all remain sidelined.

Coventry, who begin the day level on points with the Seasiders in the league table, make two changes from their after-extra-time defeat to Southampton in the FA Cup.

Will Blackpool remain unchanged? Or will Neil Critchley throw in one of his trademark curveballs?

We’ll soon find out. Team news to follow at 6.45pm.

After a comprehensive victory, you’d normally expect to see an unchanged side for the following fixture - but we all know it’s never quite as simple as that with Neil Critchley.

With three games in a week, I’ve got a feeling Pool’s head coach will look to freshen things up and look to make two or three changes.

Depending on Marvin Ekpiteta’s fitness, I wouldn’t be surprised to see the stand-in skipper come straight back into the side for his pace and ability to recover. If that does happen, you’d imagine Jordan Thorniley would be the man to make way.

Elsewhere, Kevin Stewart will be pushing to start for the first time since October having got two games under his belt for Jamaica last week. Critchley could look to freshen things up and Callum Connolly could be the one to be given a rest.

CJ Hamilton was brought off on Saturday on the hour-mark having tired, so don’t be surprised if Owen Dale or Charlie Kirk take that left winger’s spot.

Up front, you’d imagine it will be a toss-up between Jerry Yates and Shayne Lavery for the striker’s role to partner Gary Madine.

Take a look at our predicted line-up here.

“For us to be competing in and around a team like Coventry in our first season in the Championship tells you how far we’ve progressed.

“We’re right on their coat tails and for either club it would be a big three points because it puts that little bit closer to that top end of the table.

“It’s a really tough challenge though.

“I’ve seen a lot of them play recently. They’ve got a really good football team and I really like the way they play. Mark Robins has done an unbelievable job.

“They can play in different ways, they can play through midfield and then they can play a little bit longer at times. They play high energy.

“They’re really good at how they play their system, which they’ve been doing for a long time and you can see they know exactly what they’re doing both in and out of possession.

“They’re a tough team to play against and if you look at some of their recent results, they’ve deserved more out of a lot of those games. They should have beaten QPR and they should have got something against Middlesbrough.

“I went to the Stoke game recently and they deservedly beat them that night, so it will be a tough game.

“But we’re in good form and it’s a great challenge for us. It’s a game we’re really looking forward to.”

Marvin Ekpiteta will undergo a fitness test before a decision is made on his availability.

The centre-back was a surprise absence for Saturday’s 3-1 win against Bristol City after taking a whack to his knee during the draw against Fulham.

However, the 26-year-old (above) was expected to feature in training on Monday.

Elsewhere, both Reece James and Kevin Stewart are available for selection having recovered from recent injuries.

Stewart returns to contention having recently returned from his international duty with Jamaica.

The 28-year-old earned his first two caps for his country, coming off the bench in the games against Costa Rica and Panama.

That action was the midfielder’s first taste of competitive football since October, where he suffered an ankle injury.

But Critchley confirmed that Stewart, who has only made three appearances for the Seasiders this season, is available to face Coventry.

Chris Maxwell (quad), Luke Garbutt (knee), James Husband (hamstring), Matty Virtue (ACL), Grant Ward (achilles), Sonny Carey (metatarsal) and Keshi Anderson (hamstring) all remain sidelined.

In-form Blackpool head to Coventry tonight looking to continue their unbeaten streak.

The Seasiders are yet to be beaten in the league in 2022, a run they extended at the weekend with a comprehensive 3-1 win against Bristol City.

The victory was Blackpool’s third on the spin on home turf.

However, on the road, Neil Critchley’s side have struggled a little since beating Sheffield United at Bramall Lane in October.

Since then, the Seasiders have played six away games in all competitions without tasting another win.

In the Championship this season, Blackpool have won just three of their 13 games on their travels this season.

That will be something they will need to rectify if they’re going to continue their strong form over the next few weeks and months.

Pool are currently five points adrift of the play-offs having moved onto 40 points, which puts them level on points with Tuesday night’s opponents, who sit a place higher owing to their superior goal difference.

Mark Robins’ side were in FA Cup action at the weekend, losing late into extra-time to Premier League side Southampton.

Premier League referee Andre Marriner will be the man in the middle.