Blackpool take on strugglers Carlisle United in an EFL League One clash at Bloomfield Road. The Cumbrians - backed by a sold-out away end of nearly 2,000 fans - are currently in the relegation zone, and are on the search for a win that would lift them out of there.
Eliminated from the FA Cup, they haven't played since November 25, and that was a 5-1 defeat to relegation rivals Reading. Carlisle are on a wretched run of form in the league and haven't won since October 24, and so with over a month since their last league victory, they'll be searching for a scalp against Blackpool. The Tangerines defeated Barnsley in midweek, beating them 2-1 in the EFL Trophy as they confirmed their place in the round of 16. Owen Dale and Jake Beesley were on target in their midweek win and Neil Critchley was still able to rotate the team enough to remain competitive and also give vital first-team minutes out.
Blackpool and Carlisle haven't tended to meet each other in the past few years, and October 2019 is the last time the two sides met. Carlisle came out on top in an EFL Trophy clash, winning 2-1. Blackpool's last win against Carlisle on home soil came on Boxing Day in 2006, and whilst there's only been three meetings since, they'd like to claim a win.
It's the visitors who have an injury crisis to contend with, whilst things are getting better for the hosts. Here's all the latest team news for the Tangerines and the Cumbrians.
1. Ollie Norburn - doubt
Ollie Norburn has endured rotten luck with injury in the last couple of months. He was initially out with a neck problem, before suffering a knock to his ribs on his return to action against Bolton Wanderers last month. The midfielder is constantly being assessed, but the decision to put him into a match will come down to pain management and when he's ready. Neil Critchley will also not want to risk throwing him in too soon. Photo: CameraSport - Rob Newell
2. Ollie Norburn - doubt (continued)
“He’s getting better all of time, it’s just pain management with Norbs,” Critchley said on December 7. "He was still struggling last week. He was in the sessions but you could see he wasn’t quite happy with contact, and he was trying to protect himself a little bit. "He’s desperate to play and get back involved- it’s just about when he feels ready. He’s looking more comfortable now, and if that decision was for this weekend then I think he’d be ready to play. "He knows he’s got competition as well and that he might need to wait to get into the team.” Photo: CameraSport - Dave Howarth
3. Shayne Lavery - out
Shayne Lavery picked up a hamstring injury, and will be out for the coming weeks. He was ruled out of international duty.
4. Shayne Lavery - out (continued)
"He’s unfortunately out,” Blackpool boss Neil Critchley explained on November 15. “He had to come off against Bromley because he felt his hamstring. “We were hoping it would settle down, and it did initially, but then he wasn’t responding to treatment, so he went for a scan. "We got the results back at the end of last week, and now he’s set to be out for the next few weeks at least.”
5. Kylian Kouassi
Like Lavery, Kylian Kouassi is ruled out of action through a hamstring injury and will play no part in the upcoming games for the Seasiders. Since arriving in the summer, the young striker has produced a number of impressive performances. Photo: CameraSport - Dave Howarth
6. Kylian Kouassi (continued)
Speaking to the media last week: Critchley gave the latest update on the 20-year-old. He said: 'It's pretty much as you were, to be honest. 'Kylian is out and will be for a number of weeks.' Photo: CameraSport - Dave Howarth