Blackpool 0-2 West Brom: Live updates as it happened
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After edging past Wigan on Saturday, Stephen Dobbie’s men now need to follow it up with another three points to keep their slim hopes of staying up alive.
To find out if they can do exactly that, follow our blog for build-up, team news, live match updates and post-match reaction.
Blackpool v West Brom - live updates
Key Events
- FT: Blackpool 0-2 West Brom
- Seasiders aiming to build on Saturday’s crucial win against Wigan
- James Husband ruled out, while Ian Poveda & Jerry Yates are doubts
Good evening
And welcome to tonight’s live blog.
For the second time in four days, Blackpool are in must-win territory at Bloomfield Road. After edging past Wigan on Saturday, Stephen Dobbie’s men now need to follow it up with another three points to keep their slim hopes of staying up alive.
To find out if they can do exactly that, follow our blog for build-up, team news, live match updates and post-match reaction.
Match preview
Blackpool bagged the win they needed at the weekend to keep alive their faint hopes of staying up.
It means if Stephen Dobbie’s side can follow it up with another three points at home to West Brom tonight the great escape could well and truly be on.
But with the gap to safety standing at four points with only four games remaining, any further slip-ups could prove costly.
They face a Baggies side that still have it all to play for as they sit just three points adrift of the play-off spots.
Despite beating Stoke City at the weekend, Carlos Corberan’s side haven’t been in the best of form having endured a four-game run without a win prior to Saturday’s encounter.
Stephen Martin is the referee for tonight’s game. The official has overseen 18 games this season, dishing out 70 yellow cards and three reds.
The last time he took charge of a Blackpool game was towards the back end of last season during the 1-0 home win against Swansea City.
James Husband has been ruled out after suffering a head injury during Saturday’s 1-0 win against Wigan.
The left-back, who could be back for Birmingham City next weekend, underwent surgery after suffering nerve damage with a nasty cut.
Elsewhere, Ian Poveda and Jerry Yates will need to be assessed despite starting against the Latics on Saturday.
Poveda hobbled off with a calf issue while Yates is still not 100 per cent fit having only recently returned from a hamstring injury.
Marvin Ekpiteta, Charlie Goode, Liam Bridcutt, Kevin Stewart, Tom Trybull, Shayne Lavery, Jake Beesley and Gary Madine remain sidelined through injury.
As for West Brom, Okay Yokuslu is a doubt while Dara O’Shea, Kyle Bartley, Martin Kelly, Kean Bryan, Adam Reach, Grady Diangana, Matt Phillips and Daryl Dike are all out injured.
Stephen Dobbie’s pre-match comments
“Saturday was a step in the right direction. We said it was going to be a big ask when we came in to try and claw back how far we were away, but the boys have been fantastic.
“We managed to get the important win on Saturday but now we’ve got another game on Tuesday.
“We’ve watched them quite a few times so it’s just a case of planning, preparing and hopefully the boys can do another job.
“Saturday was fantastic. There was a great atmosphere in the changing room after the game and you saw what it meant to the fans.
“But once that was done and you drive home, it was forgotten about and it was straight onto West Brom.
“One game down, four to go. Can we use that as a springboard? As I said before, we’re going to need the fans again and hopefully the boys will put on a performance to get us over the line.
“It gives you confidence when you win games. You come in on the Sunday morning a bit happier because you’ve won the game. But it’s forgotten about now.
“The boys who played recovered and the other boys trained really hard so it’s now looking forward to Tuesday night’s game and hopefully we can get the result we’re looking for.”
Jerry Yates has been ruled fit for Blackpool’s crunch clash against West Brom this evening.
The striker was a doubt despite making his return from a hamstring injury in the 1-0 win against Wigan on Saturday, where Yates scored the winning goal after just three minutes.
The 26-year-old barely trained in the lead-up to the weekend game but he somehow managed to get through all 90 minutes.
Speaking ahead of tonight’s clash at Bloomfield Road, interim boss Stephen Dobbie admitted he would have a difficult decision to make whether to risk Yates for the second time in just four days.
But the club’s top goalscorer has been passed fit and starts in attack.
Dobbie has made three changes from the side that got back to winning ways on Saturday after a run of four straight defeats.
Josh Bowler drops down to the bench, while James Husband misses out with the head injury he suffered against Wigan. Ian Poveda is also absent.
Jordan Gabriel comes into the side at right-back, meaning Andy Lyons moves over to the left-hand side of the back four. Charlie Patino and CJ Hamilton also come into the starting XI.
Dom Thompson is left out, while Marvin Ekpiteta, Charlie Goode, Liam Bridcutt, Kevin Stewart, Tom Trybull, Shayne Lavery, Jake Beesley and Gary Madine remain sidelined through injury.