Blackpool vs AFC Bournemouth Predictions

• Blackpool have avoided defeat in nine of their last 12 Championship home games (7 wins, 2 draws).
• Bournemouth have failed to win five of their last seven Championship away fixtures (3 defeats, 2 draws).
• Bournemouth have scored more than once in only one of their last six away league games.
• Josh Bowler has scored two in his last three Championship appearances and was the subject of bids from Bournemouth in January.

Tangerines rarely off colour at home

Blackpool continue to confound promotion-chasing teams and Bournemouth are likely to be given a tough time when they travel north this weekend. The Tangerines are rarely off colour at home and have actually earned more points from their last eight at Bloomfield Road than the Cherries have at the Vitality.

A record of seven wins, two draws and only three defeats in their last 12 on the Fylde Coast makes them a solid proposition in the double chance market for Saturday’s game. This also stacks up well against Bournemouth’s disappointing recent away results, which show Scott Parker’s men have won only two of their last seven on the road.

That is not the form of an automatic promotion challenger, although Bournemouth are now two points clear of Blackburn in third after the midweek games. The Cherries bounced back from their embarrassing FA Cup defeat to non-league Boreham Wood by beating Birmingham although it wasn’t as straightforward as the 3-1 scoreline suggests.

Bowler’s run may not be over

Parker wanted to add more creativity in January to bolster Bournemouth’s promotion push and one player he was after will be in the Blackpool line-up on Saturday – Josh Bowler. The winger has been in electric form of late and comes into this game with two goals in his last three appearances.

An excellent anytime goalscorer option here, Bowler was a major handful for Fulham couple of weeks ago as he hit the bar and scored his side’s equaliser in a 1-1 draw at Craven Cottage.

A result like that one, albeit a backs to the wall display that relied on some good goalkeeping, further encourages us that the price on Bournemouth to win here is too short and the value lies with the hosts. Aside from backing the Seasiders to avoid defeat, we like the prospects of a 1-1 draw between these two sides given Bournemouth’s recent inability to get a second goal.