Matt Scrafton column: Blackpool and Ipswich Town are experiencing vastly different fortunes

The Seasiders, who have never won at the home ground of Ipswich Town, head into Saturday’s game brimming with confidence following back-to-back wins.

Paul Lambert’s side, meanwhile, have won just three of their last 11 games in League One, a malaise that has seen them drop away from the top six.

Since beating Shrewsbury Town in November, the Tractor Boys have lost six of their following seven home games, failing to score in five of them.

It’s a run that has only served to increase the pressure on Lambert, who was awarded a five-year extension this time last year despite growing dissenting voices from the Ipswich faithful.

Calls for him to be sacked have grown in recent weeks, so much so the local newspaper, the East Anglian Daily Times, recently ran a front page urging owner Marcus Evans to wield the axe.

All isn’t well, clearly. Even though there aren’t supporters inside the ground, it seems the pressure from Ipswich’s wary fanbase is beginning to take its toll.

The Seasiders have made 13 trips to Portman Road in the club’s history, yet they’ve never managed to return with a three-point haul. Seven defeats have been endured, while six encounters have ended in draws.

Blackpool came fairly close to changing that last season, when they led twice under Simon Grayson only to end up drawing 2-2.

Luke Garbutt, now with the Seasiders, was the man to deny Pool as he netted Ipswich’s second leveller of the day from the penalty spot.

On the face of it, this weekend’s meeting is a match-up between two sides going in the opposite direction.

Blackpool, who have been depleted by Covid-19 and injuries in recent weeks, are only six points off the play-offs with a game in hand still to play.

Ipswich, meanwhile, will do well just to stay in contention given the dark cloud that now hovers directly above the club.

Discontent appears to have settled in and it seems to be a case of when, rather than if, Lambert will get sacked.

It’s remarkable to think Ipswich handed out Blackpool’s heaviest defeat of the season, October’s 4-1 drubbing at Bloomfield Road.

It was clear as day the result was an anomaly though, Ipswich scoring with every shot on target they had.

It seems ridiculous to even say this given the end scoreline, but Blackpool were well in the game and had their chances.

Clearly the Seasiders weren’t clinical on the day, which is an accusation that can’t be thrown at Jerry Yates in recent months.

The summer signing took 11 games to net his first goal for the club, but since then, he’s enjoyed a rich vein of form, scoring 10 in his following 18 outings.

With Ellis Simms and Gary Madine, who was missing against NorthamptonTown on Tuesday with a slight groin complaint, Blackpool now bring much more of a goal threat than they did earlier in the campaign.

In scoring seven goals in their last two games, and keeping two clean sheets in the process, Blackpool are finally able to boast a positive goal difference – something that could be crucial come the end of the season.

Madine was one of eight players absent against the Cobblers in midweek, which makes Pool’s recent performances all the more remarkable.

It isn’t as if the eight aren’t contenders for the first team either: Daniel Gretarsson, Luke Garbutt, Ethan Robson, Grant Ward, Keshi Anderson, Bez Lubala, CJ Hamilton and Madine would all be pushing for starts if they were fit and available.

It can’t be stressed enough just how impressive Blackpool’s depth is and praise must go to the club hierarchy for planning ahead during the summer and realising this season was going to be like no other.

The Seasiders are currently in the midst of a hectic run of games that sees them playing Saturday-Tuesday-Saturday for six weeks straight.

If they’re to maintain their current form, that squad depth will be vital and players from across the spectrum will inevitably get their chance at some point.

Blackpool’s home form has been key so far this season. Neil Critchley’s players have won six of their last seven at Bloomfield Road in all competitions and are unbeaten on home turf since October.

Tuesday’s win marked the halfway point of the campaign and, so far, Blackpool have 34 points to their name.

That’s a decent enough haul given their slow start, which saw them lose six of the opening nine matches.

To force themselves into contention, Blackpool are inevitably going to have to improve on that record in the second half of the season and, based on recent months, you’d back them to do that.

Let’s say Blackpool pick up 40 points from their final 23 games, a figure that is fairly reasonable.

That would leave the Seasiders on 74 points, a total that would normally see you finish in and around the top six, although no season is ever the same.

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