Stoke City v Blackpool: Live updates from the bet365 Stadium
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Stoke City v Blackpool - live updates
Key Events
- FT: Stoke 0-1 Blackpool
- Seasiders searching for first away win since October
- Jordan Gabriel sidelined with hamstring injury
7 - Even better chance!
CJ Hamilton has the simple task of putting it on a plate for Gary Madine, but he somehow manages to overhit his cross.
It should be 1-0 Blackpool.
7 - Chance!
Shayne Lavery gets in behind the backline, pulls it back to Gary Madine whose shot is blocked. The ball then falls for CJ Hamilton but he can’t get the ball under control.
3 - Cross
Reece James swings in a lovely cross from the left which just evades Gary Madine at full stretch at the back post.
Blackpool fans are here in great numbers but they’re as loud as anything, too.
KICK OFF
After a minute’s applause in solidarity with Ukraine, Stoke get the game underway.
Up the mighty Pool!
Bringing the noise
We’re expecting over 2,000 Blackpool fans here today - and the Seasiders are making themselves heard already.
Analysis
Blackpool have made two changes to their side for today’s game against Stoke City.
With Jordan Gabriel now sidelined with a hamstring injury, Neil Critchley opts to move Dujon Sterling back over to his natural position of right-back.
Reece James, meanwhile, takes Gabriel’s space in the side and slots in at left-back.
Elsewhere, Shayne Lavery comes in for Jerry Yates after scoring off the bench in last week’s 4-1 win against Reading, the second of Blackpool’s two changes.
Lavery will be out to impress against Stoke boss Michael O’Neill, who gave him his international debut for Northern Ireland.
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) all remain sidelined.
Yates drops down to the bench, where he’s joined by the likes of Owen Dale, Charlie Kirk and Jake Beesley. Ethan Robson is left out of the squad altogether.
The Potters sit one point and one position below the Seasiders in the league table, having dropped away from the top six in recent weeks.
O’Neill’s side are without a win in their last five and have lost their last two league games.
Today’s referee is Tony Harrington, who officiated Blackpool’s last away win, the 1-0 victory against Sheffield United in October.
He also took charge of Blackpool’s play-off final win against Lincoln City in May.