Matt Scrafton column: Blackpool's call-offs make it a hectic end to the season

Blackpool had emerged pretty much unscathed up until December, but since then it’s felt like one disappointment after another.

Tuesday night’s postponement meant the Seasiders have now had seven games called off this season, which is pretty much unheard of.

Three were due to Covid-19 outbreaks among the squads of Sunderland, Rochdale and Burton Albion, while a further four owed to weather conditions.

The first game to be cancelled – the trip to the Stadium of Light – was announced on December 16.

This week’s postponement of the Doncaster Rovers game, meanwhile, means seven games have been called off in the space of just 69 days – an average of one every 10 days.

It’s no surprise, then, that Blackpool have played the fewest games in League One at just 26, which is six fewer than at this stage last season.

Once the Doncaster Rovers game is rearranged, Blackpool will be at the stage where they have no free midweeks remaining. None, zero, zilch.

While Covid cases and deaths are on the decline, that’s quite a precarious situation to be in.

The Seasiders did consider playing the Doncaster game the following night but the forecast showed the heavy rain that caused the game to be called off in the first place was only going to persist.

The only thing more frustrating than yet another postponement would be a second cancellation in the space of 24 hours…

Indeed, club officials even explored the possibility of playing the game on Thursday, when the picture had cleared up a little bit.

However, a logistical nightmare would have ensued. Not only would they have hosted Doncaster on Thursday, they’d also have had to move the trip to Charlton Athletic back a day to Sunday.

Doncaster, who make the journey to Ipswich Town tomorrow, would also have had to do the same.

There’s a good chance there would have been a knock-on effect for the club’s respective midweek games as well.

The chances are the game will be played on Tuesday, May 4, inbetween the penultimate and final game of the season.

The EFL might be a little reluctant to agree to that, as the current uncertainty means they’ll want to keep that week free on the off-chance there are further outbreaks and postponements.

The only other date Blackpool and Doncaster could play the game is on Tuesday, March 30, but it would throw up another load of issues in doing so.

Neil Critchley’s side are due to make the trip to Swindon Town on Good Friday, which falls on April 2. That would have to be moved back to Saturday.

The home game against Gillingham on Easter Monday, meanwhile, would then have to be played on Tuesday.

Getting agreement from all four clubs involved will understandably be difficult to do.

This sorry mess must be causing huge headaches for those involved on the organisational side of things.

As for Critchley and the players, the pressure continues to pile on them to keep winning football matches. Pool remain well in the mix, but the games in hand aren’t doing them any favours.

As it stands, Blackpool are nine points off the top six but have played two or three games fewer than most of the sides above them in the league table.

Saturday’s opponents Charlton, who sit ninth, have actually played four games more than Critchley’s men.

The Addicks are going through a bit of a sticky patch at the moment, especially on home turf where they haven’t won since December 12.

Tuesday night’s defeat at The Valley against bottom side Burton Albion means they’ve also lost three on the bounce at home.

Following on from their win against Portsmouth at Fratton Park, Blackpool should feel pretty confident about their chances going into tomorrow’s game.

One unintentional consequence from the Doncaster postponement could be that Gary Madine is given more time to get back up to full fitness.

The striker should be involved, even if it’s on the bench, having missed the last four games with a niggling groin issue that required injections.

CJ Hamilton is also back in full training, although his absence has been a far lengthier one – two months and counting – so the winger might require some extra time.

Once Hamilton is back involved, that will provide a timely boost for the Seasiders who have been relying on central midfielders Matty Virtue and Grant Ward to fill in on the right flank in recent weeks.

Hamilton was arguably Blackpool’s standout performer of the campaign until he injured his hamstring in December, so his reappearance could prove crucial for the final run-in.

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