Match Preview: Tykes v Tangerines

After seven points from the last possible nine, the Seasiders have catapulted themselves back onto the fringe of the playoffs.

Indeed, if the Seasiders win today and Cardiff lose away at Preston (guffaw), then the 'Pool will move back into the top six.

Although the likes of Cardiff do have games in hand, there's no guarentee that they'll win them - the Championship, by nature, is a strange beast.

One only has to look at Burnley's near identical record to ours at this time last season to realise that it is very much 'game on'.

However, let's not get ahead of ourselves. Today's game will be tough - we don't have the best of records at Oakwell after all.

They beat us earlier in the season (somehow!), let's not let them complete the double over us.

'Pool manager Ian Holloway on Barnsley counterpart Mark Robins:

'What he's done at that club in such a short space of time is miraculous.'

Mark Robins on his side's tactics for today:

'They are an attacking side and we might have to be patient on Saturday. They do throw caution to the wind a little at times and it can be a very difficult system to play against orchestrated by Charlie Adam. We will have to contain that and deal with them.'

Rob Kozluk misses out with a knee injury, but on-loan defender Ryan Shotton could return. Darren Moore has missed training all week and may miss out.

He was the one Barnsley player to catch the eye at Bloomfield Road, and the skilful frontman poses a very real threat today.

Rob Edwards serves the second game of his two-match ban. Gary Taylor-Fletcher is a doubt, whilst the usual suspects remain sidelined.

Mr Consistent of late. With teams looking to stifle Charlie Adam, Vaughan has been able to get on the ball more and keep the Seasiders ticking over. Expect the same this afternoon.

Before last weekend's win over Cardiff, Barnsley had lost three in a row. Indeed, they haven't started the New Year well at all, with six defeats since the turn of the year (only Peterborough have the same record).

The Seasiders have kept three clean sheets on the bounce, but at the other end of the pitch, no team has scored in as many games this season as they have (28 of 33).

Blackpool's win at Barnsley last season was their first away victory against the Tykes in 73 years, whilst Barnsley last completed a double over us in 2004/5.

Ian Evatt is set to make his 150th appearance for the Seasiders this afternoon.

Blackpool v Ipswich
06/03/10 @ Bloomfield Road, 3pm

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