Blackpool v Palace

Bloomfield Road, Saturday 3.00pm

Story so far

Blackpool are now on a six-game unbeaten run - although they have only won two of the last six matches. They have started the season in a similar fashion to Bristol last season by conceding few goals but don't score many either.

In fact, Blackpool have only scored more than one goal a game once and conceded more than one goal twice.

The recent 3-2 win over Derby was more to do with taking advantage of defensive errors than creating good chances so we will have to stay tight in defence to stop the same thing from happening.

Up front, we're going to have to be strong and creative. Blackpool are difficult to break down without giving away silly free-kicks. It'll be a tough game but we should have enough about us to get a result.

Team news

With former Ispwich Town striker Alan Lee still out with a hamstring injury, on-loan West Brom forward Craig Beattie is ready to lead the frontline.

James Scowcroft and Calvin Andrew are almost ready to come back but are not match fit. Paddy McCarthy is responding well to treatment on his dislocated shoulder sustained at Forest. Right-back Danny Butterfield should keep his place after returning from injury in midweek.

Blackpool midfielder Gary Taylor-Fletcher is fully fit again along with on-loan Derby defender Mo Camara. However, Steve McPhee could miss out with a calf strain.

Quotes

Roy Hodgson

"Overall we have improved since that first five or six games. We have played Wolves, Birmingham and Reading away from home and I think we could have won every game.

"So, we have had a difficult start with the fixtures but overall I have got to be pleased with how we have bounced back and got ourselves back together again."

Simon Grayson

"My message to the players is simple – let's finish off a terrific few days by beating Palace. If we can do that it will have been a very good week.

"It's not going to be easy because Palace are a very good team, but we are proving time and time again that we can beat anybody.

"You can see how tight the division is. One win can move you six places up the league and back-to-back wins can push you up the table substantially.

"What pleases me most is that we are putting together a good, solid unbeaten run. It's seven games since we lost at Burnley and we have looked a very good side.

"Unbeaten runs are important – they improve confidence and accumulate points – and we've responded ever so well since that Burnley game. And although we've probably drawn too many, those draws could be vitally important at the end of the season."

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Blackpool - league stats

Position	Played	Won	Drawn	Lost	Points
12th	12	4	5	3	17

Full league table

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Blackpool - current form

Played	Won	Drawn	Lost	For	Against
5	1	4	0	6	5

Full form table

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Our away record v Blackpool

Played	Won	Drawn	Lost	For	Against
15	5	2	8	14	24

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Last five results

Date	Type	Home Team	Score	Away Team
29/03/2008	League	Crystal Palace	0 - 0	Blackpool
20/10/2007	League	Blackpool	1 - 1	Crystal Palace
28/10/2003	League Cup	Blackpool	1 - 3	Crystal Palace
04/01/2003	FA Cup	Blackpool	1 - 2	Crystal Palace
25/04/1978	League	Crystal Palace	2 - 2	Blackpool

All time results

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One to watch

Gary Taylor-Fletcher

Ref watch

A Taylor

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Last meeting

Palace 0-0 Blackpool

Saturday March 29 2008

Palace: Speroni, Butterfield, Lawrence, Hudson, Ashton (Reid 46), Soares (Robinson 74), Watson, Derry, Sinclair, Scowcroft (Fonte 46), Morrison

Subs Not Used: Fletcher, Scannell

Bookings: Sinclair, Soares, Derry, Butterfield

Blackpool: Rachubka, Barker, Evatt, Gorkss, Crainey, Taylor-Fletcher (Dickov 81), Jorgensen, Flynn, Hoolahan, McPhee (Coid 90), Burgess (Holt 81)

Subs Not Used: Morrell, Fox

Bookings: Evatt

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