please log in to view this image v please log in to view this image Npower Championship Venue: Bloomfield Road Kick-off: 15:00 The Hornets make a trip to the northwestern hinterland to face a Blackpool side that has seen some recent turmoil with the departure of rent-a-quote manager Ian Holloway. Michael Appleton was dragged in from Portsmouth to steady the ship and recent results, along with a stricter training regime, appear to be bearing some fruit for The Seasiders. Watford are on a bit of a run following a win over Wolves and the mauling of Leeds Utd. So confidence will be high going into this one. A warm(ish) wave is extended to Kevin Phillips and former Watford loanee Craig Cathcart. Current Form Watford last 3 away games 1-6 (Leeds) 1-0 (Blackburn) 2-1 (Cardiff) Blackpool last 3 home games 2-2 (Bolton) 1-1 (Brighton) 2-2 (Nottm Forest) Recent Clashes In the corresponding fixture last season nothing happened at all and it ended 0-0. Blackpool took the spoils at Vicarage Road with a brace from Stephen Dobbie. Injuries and Suspensions Watford will be missing Almen Abdi following his dislocated shoulder against Leeds and Nyron Nosworthy remains a doubt with on-going hamstring problems. John Eustace is training again but may not be match-fit yet. Blackpool will be without Scotland international Matty Phillips after toe surgery and Gary Taylor-Fletcher will be in doubt with a hamstring injury. Quotes from Last Weekend please log in to view this image The weather forecast for the afternoon is a 7 degrees with gusty south easterly winds (luckily not coming in off the Irish Sea). Rain is possible later in the afternoon. Prediction Tom Ince will be a serious threat for The Seasiders. But the Watford defence is a different beast from earlier in the season and should cope. I'm going for a 2-1 win and a happy trip home for The Horns.
I was going to post a link on the Blackpool board. But there would appear to be more activity at a celibate orgy than on there.
Cheers Saxet I am going to be 30 on Sat, so I fully expect a big win!! I hope I can get up in time on Sat to see the results come in, something tells me I might be still in bed though...
Feliz Cumpleaños por Sabado Mex. Let's hope it's a Sabado Gigante in more ways than one (your hangover excluded of course).
A win for the visitors. Blackpool - Watford 1:2 and more difficult than the last journey to the north.
Aye he is. 5 yellows again for Hoggy. Nice one Sax. I think this will be a great game. Ince is a huge talent and our strike force seems to be waking up. This could be a high scoring game.
No Hogg and likely no Abdi means our midfield has been weakened a lot. Will we see a Chalobah, Yeates, Forestieri middle? Would certainly be bold but very risky.
Great thread Saxet, thank you muchly . i heard that they will be without Ince...can't remember where, Twitter i think... With or without, we're going to win...3-1
Some team news from the WO. http://www.watfordobserver.co.uk/sport/10066136.Hall_fit_to_replace_Doyley_at_Blackpool/
A somewhat timely return to fitness - or should that read Fitzness? Another player who wont feature tomorrow is Lee Hodson - the BBC are reporting that he has gone to Brentford on loan.
No Hogg no Abdi but feeling strangely confident about this one. Amazing what a little run of good games can do for you. COYH
FROM THE BBC; (no mention of Ince's possible suspension though) TEAM NEWS Blackpool striker Gary Taylor-Fletcher suffered a hamstring tear and will be missing for three to four weeks. Winger Matt Phillips underwent a toe operation and should be available for the Christmas period. Watford will be without defender Lloyd Doyley who has a calf injury while midfielder Jonathan Hogg serves a ban. Defender Fitz Hall returns from a hamstring injury, but Neuton (ankle) and Prince Buaben (hamstring) will be given late checks. MATCH FACTS Head-to-head • There's nothing to choose between these clubs after 18 league meetings spanning 43 years; each have won five. • But Watford have won only two of the last 13, including a 2-0 triumph at Bloomfield Road in February 2009. • The 3-2 victory in January 2012 is Blackpool's only maximum in their last seven home league matches against the Hornets, five of which were drawn. Blackpool • Having guided Blackpool to back-to-back draws, Michael Appleton is now looking for his first win in charge, and the club's first maximum in six home league games. • The Seasiders have hit the woodwork an unsurpassed 11 times in Championship games this term. • Stephen Crainey is poised to make his 200th appearance for the Bloomfield Road club. Watford • Watford have picked up 10 points from an unbeaten last four games, and boast the joint best attack away from home in the Championship (17 goals in eight games). • This is Gianfranco Zola's 100th game in English club management, with West Ham and Watford. • The Hornets have scored an unrivalled six goals in the last five minutes of second-tier games, generating an additional seven points.
Sorry for the 4th post in a row, but here is some news from the Blackpool Gazette, http://www.blackpoolgazette.co.uk/sport/football/blackpool-fc/home-wins-on-appy-s-menu-1-5160646 , if you want to know the other side's view on things...
Just to break your rhythm up Mex it is interesting to see just how good a manager Appleton will turn out to be. He did get a lot of praise when he first started with Pompey, but then all of the team were sold just to keep the club afloat and the results suffered. Some of the fans stuck with him while others called for his head. He always talked a good game, but with all of the turmoil going on around him it was very difficult to see if he could organise a team well. I think that he might do well, but until he is in some stable surroundings, it will be good to see what he can do, after tomorrow of course.
