Blackpool vs Tranmere Predictions

• Blackpool have scored two or more in three of their four home games against teams that currently reside in the bottom six.
• Blackpool have kept just one clean sheet at home against the current bottom six.
• Tranmere have kept no clean sheets in five away games against teams currently between 12^th and 17^th.

Tangerines on the up

Just a few weeks ago, Blackpool appeared to be moving in the wrong direction, though over the last two/three weeks, they’ve steadied the ship, losing none of their last four, two of which they’ve won. Having parted company with Simon Grayson for the second time, the Tangerines are now managed by Neil Critchley, who most recently managed Liverpool’s Under-23 side.

It remains to be seen how Blackpool will fare under Critchley, but in the lead up to this game, they’ve done well. Recent clean sheets against both Wimbledon and Fleetwood bode well, as do home wins against both Bolton and Ipswich. What the last few weeks has shown is that the Seasiders can be effective against different types of opposition. They’ve beaten both a play-off challenger and a relegation scrapper, shutting out teams cut from both cloths too.

Tranmere improving

Their position remains a worrying one, but Tranmere have far from given up. Winning each of their last two has given Micky Mellon’s men a fighting chance of beating the drop, though now is no time to revel in their recent success. If Rovers are to get out of the bottom three, they need to continue moving forward.

On the road against teams in Blackpool’s current bracket (12^th to 17^th), Tranmere have a mixed record, winning two and losing three, but they’ve done well of late, winning each of their last two, beating Shrewsbury by three goals to two and Accrington by two goals to one. Their attacking efforts on each of those occasions bode well, though their defensive antics don’t. Somewhat worryingly, Rovers are without an away clean sheet against teams that currently sit between 12^th and 17^th.

Goals on the menu

Blackpool have played well of late, but they’ve not made a habit of keeping clean sheets at home, conceding in each of their last seven at Bloomfield Road. At the same time, Tranmere have conceded plenty on their travels. Punters can profit from this fixture by siding with ‘Over 2.5 Goals & Both Teams to Score’. Not only has this selection yielded a profit in each of Blackpool’s last four at home, but it’s also come to fruition in three of their four home games against bottom-six teams. Moreover, Tranmere have both scored and conceded (and seen at least three match goals go in) in each of their last three travelling matches against teams between 12^th and 17^th.

In the ‘Correct Score’ market a 2-2 draw appeals. Blackpool have scored exactly twice in each of their last four at home, and though they will fancy themselves to beat the visitors, they’re coming up against a side that is on the up and that has made a habit of scoring multiple goals in away games such as this.