This season, Blackpool have sat just outside the playoffs for most of the year, holding eighth place for most of that time, the position they still find themselves in.
Their home form has set them apart from most other teams in League One, as they have averaged two points a game at Bloomfield Road, the third-best home record in the division behind only Portsmouth and Bolton Wanderers. The Tangerines’ away form has been considerably poorer, however, as they have only picked up four wins from a possible 16 on the road.
Neil Critchley’s side’s recent form has also shown the inconsistency they have failed to fix all year, with losses against Cheltenham Town and Stevenage this month, however, they did beat a Peterborough United side who sit in the playoffs, before losing to that same opposition only three days later in the Bristol Street Motors Trophy semi-final.
There is no doubt that the club would like to earn their way back into the Championship at the first time of asking following last season’s relegation, and one former manager has tipped them to reach the playoffs if they can sort their issues.
“It’s really tight at the moment, but Blackpool will feel, with their home form the way it is, that they can get in those positions,” Simon Grayson told The Real EFL exclusively.
Grayson began his coaching career at Bloomfield Road, first taking the reserve team before moving into the permanent manager role of the first team at the start of the 2006/07 season. A strong start to that season saw the former player earn a Manager of the Month award in December. That season culminated in a third-place finish and thus a spot in the playoffs, which were subsequently won, giving the 54-year-old his first promotion as a manager. He then moved on from Blackpool to his beloved Leeds United in December 2008.
“They’ve got to be a little bit more consistent,” the former-manager said of his old team’s playoff hopes. “Try and get a few more positive results away from home, because it’s all well and good get home results, but if you can add more points away from home, that will give you the opportunity to secure the playoffs. Ultimately, they’ll be one of many teams who think the opportunity is there for them to grasp.”
He also returned to the club for another stint in 2019, however, that time did not go as well as before, as he was sacked after only seven months in charge following a run of poor results.
The Seasiders face Bolton Wanderers at Bloomfield Road in their next game as they look to push closer to the top six.
The exclusive interview came courtesy of Instant Casinos
