Form
Blackpool finished ninth in League One last season, two places and eight points behind Reading. This season marks their third straight season in the third tier, having been relegated alongside the Royals in 2023.
They will face another season in League One next campaign, currently sitting 14th in the league, four places and six points behind Reading. Their recent form however has been strong, winning four out of their last five matches, and they into this weekend’s game off the back of a 1-0 home
win against relegation-battling Leyton Orient.
The two sides faced each other back in November, with Reading claiming an impressive 0-3 away win after goals from Kamari Doyle, Lewis Wing and Randell Williams.
The boss
Ian Evatt: Evatt was appointed Blackpool manager in October last year, taking over from Steve Bruce, who spent a year in charge of the Tangerines.
The former centre-back had a 19-year playing career, representing the likes of Derby County, Chesterfield, Queens Park Rangers and Blackpool.
After ending his career at Chesterfield, he took on his first full-time managerial role at National League side Barrow. He guided the club back to the Football League after winning the title in the 2019/20 season that was cut short due to Covid-19.
Evatt left the club that summer when he was appointed manager of Bolton Wanderers. He guided Bolton back to League One in his first season in charge, securing automatic promotion after a third-place finish in League Two. Evatt spent four and a half years in charge of the Trotters, before leaving by mutual consent in January last year.
Since joining Blackpool the 44-year-old has won 16 of his 37 games in charge, giving him a win percentage of 43%. Evatt likes his sides to play an attacking, direct style of football.
Squad
Defenders Fraser Horsfall and Michael Ihiekwe, midfielder George Honeyman and winger Josh Bowler are all expected to miss this weekend’s game through injury.
Predicted lineup
Peacock-Farrell, Walters, Casey, Husband, Brown, CJ Hamilton, Anderson, Clarkson, Ashworth, Bloxham, Fletcher
Key player
11. Ashley Fletcher: Striker Fletcher joined Blackpool in June 2024, following his release from Watford.
During his youth career, he spent time at Bolton Wanderers before joining the Manchester United academy at the age of 13. He signed his first pro deal at United in 2013 and then went on to join Barnsley on loan.
A move to West Ham United followed in 2016 before Fletcher joined Middlesbrough a year later. He made over a century of appearances for Boro over the course of four seasons, scoring 28 goals.
He moved to Watford in 2021, but first-team appearances were hard to come by at the Hornets, with Fletcher spending time on loan with New York Red Bulls, Wigan Athletic and Sheffield Wednesday.
The 30-yea- old has had more of a settled period at Blackpool and has scored 32 goals for the Tangerines, with 21 of those coming this season, making him the club’s top scorer. Fletcher is a hard-working striker with strong positioning.
One to watch
4. Oliver Casey: Defender Casey joined Blackpool in June 2021, signing from Leeds United for an undisclosed fee.
Casey started his career in the youth setup at Leeds and made his debut for his hometown club in December 2019. He only made a further two first-team appearances for the Whites before his move to Blackpool.
First-team appearances were hard to come by in his first season with the Tangerines, so Casey spent his second year on loan at Forest Green Rovers. He became a first-team regular upon his return and has gone on to make 140 appearances for Blackpool, scoring six goals.
The 25-year-old is a centre-back who is strong in the air and is a consistent performer in Blackpool’s back line.
