Eng. Championship
2012-04-09 - Blackpool vs Barnsley
A Sports Betting Pick by Auls
Football: English Championship
Monday 9 April 2012 - Kick Off 3pm
Blackpool
Blackpool earned an important three points at Watford on Friday afternoon and have had an extra day to rest over the weekend as they play this game on Easter Monday. The win last time out as strengthened their position in the Play Off berths and they are beginning to find momentum again.
They are 5th in the Championship and have extended their lead to three points over Brighton in the first of the non-Play Off positions. Blackpool have been strong at Bloomfield Road for the majority of this season, compiling an 11-6-3 record, scoring 36 goals and conceding just 20.
A defeat at Reading a couple of weeks ago ended the Seasider's chances of finishing in one of the automatic promotion positions, but that is the only game they have lost in their last 5 Championship games and they have bounced back with consecutive wins over Southampton and Watford. Blackpool have won 2 of their last 6 games at home, both of those coming the last 3 at Bloomfield Road, and they have scored at least 3 goals in 3 consecutive games here.
Gary Taylor-Fletcher looks set to miss this game after suffering a knock at Vicarage Road, so Ian Holloway will be hoping that Kevin Phillips can return to the squad. Barry Ferguson and Stephen Crainey are both hoping to return to the starting line up.
Barnsley
Barnsley will think they have already done enough to ensure they will be playing in the Championship next season, but some of the fans and management will be nervously looking over their shoulders at the sides left below them. A win here would certainly cement their place in this Division for another season, but they will have to play a lot better than they have recently.
The Tykes are 18th in the Championship and they are 7 points clear of Coventry City in the final relegation places with just 15 points left this season. They have a 4-4-12 record away from home this season, scoring just 16 goals and conceding 31. Only Bristol City and Coventry have scored less goals on their travels so far this season.
A 0-4 home loss to West Ham at the weekend would not have inspired confidence in a team that has now lost 6 of their last 7 League games and only won 1 of their last 10. Barnsley have suffered 7 consecutive League defeats on their travels and they have failed to score in any of the last 6 of those.
Nathan Doyle will be completing his suspension in this game. David Perkins may return for the side having missed the loss against West Ham.
Head to Head
Blackpool beat Barnsley 1-3 at Oakwell earlier this season, but they have not had it so easy when they have hosted them at Bloomfield Road.
Blackpool have won just 1 of their last 7 home games against Barnsley and they were beaten 1-2 here when they last met in the 2009/10 season.
Prediction
Barnsley were extremely poor when they were beaten by West Ham at the weekend and they look like a team that is winding down the season as they feel they nothing left to play for.
They have to be a little careful that they are not dragged into a relegation battle at this late stage of the season, but I think they feel the 7 point buffer between themselves and Coventry City is enough to keep them in the Championship.
Blackpool have been in good form again recently with an impressive 0-2 win at Watford on Good Friday, while they have scored 9 goals in their last 3 home games and are playing with a lot more motivation than their opponents.
Ian Holloway never allows his side to settle in games and demands they come out and score goals so I am going to take them to beat Barnsley on the Asian Handicap.
I am concerned that Barnsley have lost a few games by the odd goal, but I think they were poor against West Ham and have had very little recovery time ahead of this game and could very easily fall to a comfortable loss if they fall behind in the game.
The Pick :
Blackpool 3-0 Barnsley
