Blackpool vs Doncaster Rovers Predictions

It looked for all to see that Blackpool were going to lose all three points on Saturday afternoon; they trailed Southend by two goals to one as the clocked ticked into the 96^th minute, though the Seasiders kept going right until the end and were duly rewarded with an equaliser when Southend substitute Taylor Moore put the ball into his own net just seconds before the final whistle. On balance, as they ended the game with an expected goal difference of +0.63, a draw was the least that Terry McPhillips’ men deserved.

Given the situation that they found themselves in, the Seasiders will have been pleased to equalise late on last time out, but they will also be disappointed not to have won. The play-off places are just three points ahead of Blackpool, but McPhillips’ men need to make a habit of winning games if they want to overtake both Peterborough and Doncaster, who they can go level on points with by beating on Tuesday.

The fact that the visitors will be without top scorer John Marquis, who was sent off on Saturday, is a bonus for the hosts, who’ve lost just one of their last five at home. Moreover, the Seasiders have done a reasonable job of creating more than they’ve given away at home this season. They’ve averaged a relatively pleasing 1.57 expected goals for and have now scored at least twice in three of their last four at Bloomfield Road. Such numbers bode well ahead of a Doncaster side that is prone to conceding goals on the road.

Having failed to win any of their last four, two of which they’ve lost, Donny’s play-off place is looking far less guaranteed. That said, they were unlucky on Saturday. If they create as much as they did at Kingsmeadow on Tuesday evening, then Doncaster should do plenty of damage at Bloomfield Road.

Going forward, Doncaster are bound to offer a significant threat on Tuesday, even without Marquis. They’ve averaged 1.5 goals for away from home this season, while they currently average 1.69 expected goals for. However, Donny are now without a clean sheet on their travels since the start of December, which means that they’ve picked the ball out of their own net in seven straight away games.

When we run the numbers, it’s easy to feel that ‘Both Teams to Score’ is a solid option at the current prices. Neither Blackpool nor Doncaster have been short of creativity in their respective home and away games. The hosts are averaging 1.57 expected goals for, while the visitors are averaging 1.69 expected goals for. Add in the fact that Doncaster have conceded an average of 1.56 goals, as well as scoring an average of 1.5, on the road and it really is tough to avoid backing both teams to get on the score-sheet on Tuesday evening.