Blackpool vs Accrington Stanley Predictions

• Blackpool lost a league game at home for the first time in over two months last weekend.
• Accrington have only won one away game during the current League 1 campaign.
• Accrington have never beaten Blackpool. They’ve lost one of the previous three meetings.

Boxing Day bounce back for hosts?

Blackpool are enjoying a solid campaign, there can be no getting away from that. The Seasiders have lost just four of their 21 matches and currently find themselves sitting outside the play-off places on goal difference alone. That said, they were beaten at this venue last time out, so confidence may have decreased.

Simon Grayson’s men were beaten by a determined and dogged Shrewsbury outfit last time out, but the Seasider’s boss probably won’t lose too much sleep over that performance, as they were by no means outplayed and will be confident of bouncing back. Besides, Blackpool have generally been strong at home this term, especially in the final third, notching 18 in 11 games at Bloomfield Road. At the other end, things haven’t gone as well, as they’ve shipped a rather chunky 14. If the goals dry up at the right end, then the Seasiders could be a bit of a pickle.

Visitors on the up

It’s not been a vintage campaign for Accrington, who are down in a reasonably unflattering 17^th position, though things have improved of late, at least in terms of results.

John Coleman’s had a pretty dismal October, but over the last five or six weeks, Stanley have steadily improved. They started November by holding a very strong Coventry side on the road, while they’ve since lost just one out of five. They’ve won each of their last two at home, scoring 11 in the process, beating a Portsmouth side that are no mugs. Such form should mean that Stanley approach this fixture feeling upbeat.

Their away form doesn’t make for great reading, especially as they’ve conceded twice as many as they’ve scored but they’ve only lost one of their last four on the road, conceding only three goals in the process, so it’s certainly not all doom and gloom.

Hosts to edge it

Accrington have steadied themselves of late, that’s for sure, but their lack of away goals is a problem, especially as they’re going up against a side that has generally been prolific at home. Stanley have scored just three goals in their last six travelling matches, three of which they’ve lost, and while they have improved defensively a touch, they’ve still conceded nine during that time. Such numbers don’t bode well ahead of a game against a Blackpool side that has scored ten in five at Bloomfield Road. Given their extra attacking quality, Grayson’s men, who’ve won three of their last four at home, look a bet at the current prices.

‘Correct Score’ punters can try a 2-1 win for the hosts. Blackpool have the quality to outscore their opponents, but Stanley have scored once in each of their last two away, while The Seasiders have a habit of leaking one at home, shipping a single goal in three of their last four at home.