Tuesday night brings the first of the two Bristol Street Motors Trophy semi-finals as Blackpool welcome Peterborough United to Bloomfield Road.
Both teams are familiar with one another and have already faced off twice this season. The Tangerines would win 2-1 on the road in their latest match-up which was in fact only on Saturday and they’ll be hoping that they can repeat that performance and in turn progress to the final.
In the other meeting Peterborough would gain all three points with a statement performance on the road. Posh would win 4-2 in that match-up in October however that was a time when they looked far stronger.
With similar ambitions this season in the league, this should be a fascinating tie, and both teams are expected to field strong sides. The trophy could potentially be seen as an achievement if both sides do fail to gain promotion, which is looking likelier by the game based on recent form.
Peterborough’s loss to Blackpool at the weekend was their fourth in a row and they’ve dropped to fifth as a result. Darren Ferguson’s side need a swift change in fortunes if they are to get anything from this season and the trophy could be their avenue for success. As for the Tangerines, that win at the weekend was in fact their first league win in five and they’ll now be hoping that they can back up that performance with another win here.
Here’s how two of The Real EFL writing team see the game playing out…
“It’s set to be a fascinating affair and one in which could save one of the two teams’ seasons. Although promotion to the Championship is the obvious goal, silverware is always welcomed and with these two sides being the highest ranked left, they’d fancy their chances in the final.
That being said, neither come into this in great form at all. Blackpool would run out as victors at the weekend but it is no given that they can back that result up. Peterborough are also due a change in fortunes and the win that is currently eluding them may just come on Tuesday night.
I expect both teams to field strong starting lineups even though they are still in the hunt for promotion to the Championship. It’s set to be another tight affair but I do think that Peterborough can turn over the result at the weekend. Bloomfield Road is a very hard place to go however if they can find their best, then they’ll progress to the final, that is a big ‘if’ though…”
Blackpool 1-2 Peterborough United
“A semi-final match-up between two sides fighting for League One playoffs is a mouth-watering thought. Blackpool being at home automatically gives them an advantage over their opposition with their home form this season being one of the best in the whole of the 92.
A repeat of Saturday’s away victory against this opposition certainly seems a very realistic prospect. That win saw them end a poor run over a few games, where they’d lose to Cheltenham and Stevenage, as well as drawing against Oxford. If they can replicate their performance at the weekend, it seems hard to back against them.
However, Peterborough will need to get back to winning ways themselves. Only being one game away from a cup final at Wembley could give them the motivation they need to resurrect their season and potential promotion chances.
Neither side have kept a clean sheet in their last four, and Posh have scored against the Seasiders in all ten of their last meetings. A repeat of Saturday seems to be the obvious prediction here.”
Blackpool 2-1 Peterborough United
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