'Every team has a sticky spell': Blackpool boss Neil Critchley looks ahead to tonight's challenge against Doncaster Rovers

Darren Moore’s side are winless in their last four matches, having previously won 10 of their last 12 league games.

Doncaster, who sit fourth in the league table, ended a three-game losing streak on Saturday, coming back from 3-1 down to draw 3-3 with third-placed Hull City.

“It can happen,” Critchley said, when asked about Doncaster’s recent form.

“Every team in this division at some point has had a sticky spell. There’s loads of games to go, so there’s plenty of ups and downs to come.

“But Doncaster have quality players. I’ve watched them play quite a lot of times this season, they’ve got a real clear way of playing and they present a lot of problems for you.

“You have to be well-organised against them, you have to know what you’re doing defensively and if you do that, hopefully you can hurt them at the other end of the pitch.

“It was a great comeback from them against Hull at the weekend, to come from 3-1 down against a side like Hull shows the character they’ve got in the squad and the ability.”

Doncaster’s recent dip has coincided with the departure of Ben Whiteman, who joined Blackpool’s rivals Preston North End during the January transfer window.

The midfielder had previously been integral to the way Doncaster like to play, dictating games through the middle and picking out forward passes.

“Ben is a terrific player, that was quite obvious when you watched him play,” Crichley added.

“He was a player that was above the level, so it’s no surprise he got a move to the Championship. It’s a move that had been on the cards for a while.

“But since then they’ve brought in John Bostock, who will play in a similar role for them. He has very good quality on the ball and can dictate play for them.

“They’ve tried to replace like-for-like in that position a little bit, but they’ve got some other good players in the middle of the pitch in Matt Smith, who I know from Man City, they’ve got Taylor Richards who plays slightly higher and Madger Gomes, who I know from Liverpool.

“So they’ve got plenty of young players that I’m aware of who have come through the academy system.

“They’ve got some really good players, so it should be a good game.”

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