The Matt Scrafton column: A match to relish as Blackpool visit admirable Accrington for clash of form sides

Blackpool sit atop that particular table, having won six of their last eight league games, drawing one and losing one.

The transformation has been so remarkable that Neil Critchley’s side probably ought to have won all eight of those games.

The defeat at Doncaster Rovers at the end of last month was certainly a harsh one. Blackpool were the better side and were harshly done by, squandering a two-goal half-time lead to lose 3-2. But we live and learn.

As for the goalless draw against Oxford United last weekend, it wasn’t the worst result in the world and it’s certainly been made to look better after Tuesday night’s win against league leaders Hull City. But once again, the Seasiders were the better side and were worthy of all three points.

Even if we go back to the defeat prior to Doncaster, the bizarre 1-0 reversal against AFC Wimbledon, that was a game Critchley’s side ought to have claimed a point from despite ending it with nine men following the straight red cards shown to Ethan Robson and Dan Ballard.

Of course, every side in the league will be able to look back at certain games and claim they deserved more from them. That’s part and parcel of it.

But it does prove just how well Blackpool are playing at the minute, especially when you factor in that they have played eight games in just 24 days. When they’re not winning, they’re normally not far off.

The same can also be said for tomorrow’s opponents Accrington Stanley, who have won five and drawn two of their last eight league encounters.

Stanley sit in eighth place in the League One table, just a point off the play-offs. They have a game in hand on sixth-placed Doncaster and two or even three on some of the other sides around them.

Even in normal times, that would be an extraordinary position for Accrington to be in given the size of the club and their budget.

But to be performing so well – they’re only three points off second-placed Portsmouth, having played three games fewer – during a crippling global pandemic is absolutely remarkable.

I’m continuously astounded by the job John Coleman does at the Crown Ground but I foolishly wrote them off at the start of the season.

Given Covid-19’s effect on finances, I predicted this to be the season Accy would go down. How wrong I was.

I couldn’t be more delighted, though. As a club, Accrington are always a joy to deal with and there are some proper people involved at the Crown Ground. As an away day, it’s right up there.

It’s just a shame tomorrow’s encounter between the league’s form sides won’t have the sell-out crowd and electric atmosphere it deserves.

Just three days after playing Accy, the Seasiders were due to have the early Christmas gift of a trip to the North-East to face Sunderland at the Stadium of Light.

That’s no longer the case, though, with the Black Cats forced to postpone the fixture and two others following a Covid outbreak at the Stadium of Light.

I must admit, I was surprised their midweek game against AFC Wimbledon went ahead despite Sunderland being without eight players, with key first-teamers Charlie Wyke, Max Power and Aiden McGeady among them.

Thinking about it from a purely selfish point of view, Blackpool would surely have wanted the game to go ahead with Sunderland – a potential promotion rival – possibly missing a handful of their key performers?

A win against Lee Johnson’s side would have been yet another major scalp against a fellow promotion contender. Of course it could still yet happen when the game, postponed twice already, is rearranged once again.

On the other hand, the Seasiders could do with a break, even if it’s only a week, before the Boxing Day clash with Rochdale.

Given this season’s hectic schedule and congested calendar, an eight-day period with two games rather than three must come as an unexpected luxury.

But the Seasiders have clearly demonstrated in recent weeks that they have the squad depth to deal with the relentless fixture programme.

Take Tuesday’s win as a case in point – they made five changes from the Oxford game and you wouldn’t have noticed at all.

James Husband and Luke Garbutt are interchangeable at left-back and bring different qualities to the fore depending on the opposition. The same applies at right-back, with Ollie Turton and Jordan Gabriel.

The same can be said throughout the team, until you get to the strikers, that is. Blackpool have only Jerry Yates and Gary Madine at their disposal, which hampers them a little.

A lot of Pool fans will want to see them paired together, but that would result in no back-up option off the bench.

Playing one up top, with the other named as a sub, at least allows Critchley to give one a rest and switch things around tactically.

Either way, you’d have to think acquiring a new striker will be Blackpool’s main priority in the January transfer window.

Thanks for reading. If you value what we do and are able to support us, a digital subscription is just £1 for your first month. Try us today by clicking here