Cardiff City v Blackpool: Live match updates

Cardiff get the game started.

Up the mighty Pool!

And kick-off is fast approaching.

Come on you Pool!

Marvin Ekpiteta is fit to start! What a boost.

The defender hobbled off with what looked to be a hamstring injury against Bournemouth last week.

Speaking ahead of the game, Neil Critchley revealed the knock wasn’t as bad as first feared. Even then, it was thought this game would come too soon for the centre-back, but the 26-year-old starts alongside Jordan Thorniley.

Elsewhere, the Seasiders make two changes from last week’s cruel 2-1 defeat against the Cherries.

Jordan Gabriel and CJ Hamilton drop out and Reece James and Charlie Kirk are drafted into the side.

For Kirk, it’s his first start for the Seasiders since making the January move from Charlton Athletic.

There is no room for Kenny Dougall or Jake Beesley in the Blackpool squad, while Chris Maxwell (quad), Richard Keogh (calf), Luke Garbutt (knee), James Husband (hamstring), Matty Virtue (ACL), Grant Ward (achilles), Sonny Carey (metatarsal) and Keshi Anderson (hamstring) are remain sidelined.

Gary Madine will lead the line alongside Jerry Yates against a side he failed to score for during an unsuccessful spell in the Welsh capital, having moved for £6m in 2018.

There is a familiar face in the Cardiff side in the form of Ryan Wintle, who was recalled by his parent club at the start of January following an impressive loan spell at Bloomfield Road.

Cardiff vs Blackpool match odds

Cardiff: 19/20 Draw: 5/2 Blackpool: 3/1

Odds according to Betting Expert.

Let’s be honest, none of us have a scooby-doo how Neil Critchley will line up his Blackpool side today.

While the club have received positive news on Marvin Ekpiteta, he’s not trained all week so is unlikely to start. If that’s the case, you’d imagine Oliver Casey will come in for his first league start to partner Jordan Thorniley at centre-back.

Critchley hasn’t ruled out changing formation though as a result of his side’s injuries, so don’t be surprised if they start with a back three.

Elsewhere, expect to see more changes with Critchley wanting to keep things fresh ahead of three games in a week.

Kenny Dougall could come back into the starting-line up after being rested against Bournemouth, but Callum Connolly and Kevin Stewart performed so well last week so it would be a big call to drop them.

Critchley did suggest the likes of Stewart and CJ Hamilton will have to be managed over the coming week given they’ve only just returned from lengthy lay-offs.

In attack, you’d imagine Gary Madine will be required for his aerial presence against his former club, but it will be interesting to see if Jerry Yates gets the nod for the fourth consecutive game ahead of Shayne Lavery, who has had to remain patient in recent weeks.

Here’s how we think the Seasiders might line up.

“Blackpool are an interesting side,” Steve Morison said.

“They play a 4-4-2 and not many teams do that now. They’ve got their way of playing, but we’ll work on what we are going to do.

“What we then do, once we get the team sheet, is have our final meeting and see what happens then. But I’m sure in every game you will see a distinct idea in what we do.

“The weather might play a part if the wind keeps up. I was told I was going to wake up to the end of the world, but that didn’t quite happen.

The stadium is enclosed, it is what it is, the same for both teams. It won’t be like Peterborough and Reading the other night, that stadium is a lot more open.

“That’s the worst factor in football. Wind is the only thing that ruins everything, training, matches, but we will deal with it accordingly.

“The main thing is that it sorts itself out and everyone gets to the stadium safe and sound.”

“We know every game is different. Cardiff on Saturday won’t be the same as Bournemouth last Saturday, it will be completely different.

“What we have to show is that champion’s mentality, if you like, that when you get punched you get back up and you go again.

“I’ve got no doubt our players, because they’ve done it during games and after games, will do it again on Saturday.

“Cardiff have had some positive results recently, especially at home where they’ve beaten some good teams like Coventry, Peterborough and Nottingham Forest,” Pool’s head coach said.

“They’re in a good run of form. They beat Barnsley away too and they seem to have found a way that suits them, which is pretty much 5-3-2 with everyone behind the ball and they make things very difficult for teams to break them down. They carry a threat going forwards as well.

“If you look at the game against Coventry the other night, they’re deciding the best way to go is to be compact, be difficult to break down and wait for opportunities to score via a set-piece or a moment in the game.”