Blackpool v Norwich Preview
Posted on | March 6, 2009 | No Comments
This is a huge game for these two clubs with both desperately fighting the drop at the moment. Norwich are one of the favourites to go down with the Canaries currently sat in 23rd position, three points adrift of safety but having played more games than many of their rivals. Blackpool on the other hand have plummeted in recent weeks and Tony Parkes’ men now sit just outside the relegation zone in 21st, with just two points separating them from the drop zone.
Blackpool’s season has taken a sudden nosedive and having looked safe not so long ago, they’re now right down there scrapping for their lives. The Seasiders’ last victory came back at the end of January and with defeats to Derby, Watford and Burnley being scattered in there, it’s all meant that Tony Parkes’ men are now one side who are serious contenders for the drop. Part of the reason for their dip in form could be because of the uncertainty at the club though. Last season they remained solid under the stern guidance of Simon Grayson, but since his departure they haven’t named a permanent successor and this has meant that Parkes and his men are in something of limbo. With this game against Norwich and another against Barnsley in a couple of weeks though, the Bloomfield Road outfit still have their future in their own hands and can still escape from this mess unscathed.
As for Norwich, they really are in a struggle although a win over QPR on Tuesday has eased their problems immensely. Still, the situation the Canaries find themselves in is hardly a favourable one and it will still take some excellent form to keep them up. Three points away from safety may not sound a lot with still a few games to go, but when the likes of Barnsley, Watford and Derby all have played two less – it makes their task look a little trickier. Let’s not get away from their last result though, nobody expected them to travel to QPR and pick up anything so a 1-0 win was greeted fantastically. With their last win before that coming mid-January, they were truly vital points and Bryan Gunn will be hoping they give his side the impetus to exit the bottom three.
One thing that will make Blackpool’s job hard coming into this one is the absence of several players though. Ian Evatt and Rob Edwards are major doubts with a knee and ankle problem respectively, while Ben Burgess is definitely out with a knee injury as well. As for Norwich, Bryan Gunn doesn’t have any fresh injury news. He may look to hand a debut to David Mooney who arrived on loan during the week, but will still be without Dejan Stefanovic and Adam Drury who are both still injured.
In terms of a prediction, we’re going to go for a draw. Blackpool have slipped a little recently but usually aren’t too bad at Bloomfield Road, while Norwich will take confidence from their win at QPR and should be able to find a point – 1-1.
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- Crystal Palace v Norwich Preview
- Norwich v Barnsley Preview
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- Norwich v Middlesbrough Preview
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