English Premier League – Match Preview: Blackpool versus Manchester City
Blackpool are all set to carry on their fantasy start to the English Premier League season as they host the cash cows of English football, Manchester City at the Bloomfield Road stadium. If someone had taken a look at this fixture
before the start of the season in the month of August, many would have predicted that City would absolutely batter the Seasiders but a lot has changed since August.
When Blackpool qualified for the 2010-2011 English Premier League season after winning their play-off against Cardiff City following their sixth place finish in the 2009-2010 season of the Championship, many people wrote them off
before a ball was kicked in the league season. Blackpool have thrived on their underdog status thus far and in doing so they have amassed a healthy point total of 10 points from seven league games.
Out of those seven games that Blackpool have played in the English Premier League thus far, they have won three, lost three and drawn only one. In their latest match before the two week international break, Blackpool gained a shock
victory over Liverpool at the Anfield stadium. It was a memorable triumph over the Reds for the Tangerines, this surprise of epic proportions has been Blackpool’s best result so far in the English league. Blackpool certainly started their English Premier League
debut season with a bang as they defeated Wigan by four goals to nil in their opening encounter way back in the second week of August.
After that win against the Latics, Blackpool were brought down to planet earth thanks to a six nil beating at the hands of a resurgent Arsenal side at the Emirates stadium. However, Blackpool learned their lessons from the defeat
against Arsenal and drew their next league match against Fulham at the Craven Cottage. Following the draw against the Cottagers, Blackpool travelled all the way to Tyneside to play Newcastle United at the Saint James’s Park, despite the fact that Newcastle
were being tipped as the favourites to win the match, Blackpool played out of their skins to get a two goal win over the Magpies.
Buoyant from the win over Chris Hughton’s Newcastle side, Blackpool suffered their second defeat of the season against Chelsea at the Stamford Bridge stadium; a match after Ian Holloway humbly admitted their inferior status with
regard to Carlo Ancelloti’s team. The four goal defeat to Chelsea was succeeded by a disappointing away loss to Sam Allardyce’s Blackburn Rovers at the Ewood Park stadium.
Currently, 9th in the English Premier League standings, Blackpool will be very content with their start to the season. On the other hand, Manchester City have also been on fire recently after their victory over Chelsea,
Roberto Mancini’s team won against Newcastle United in their latest league match which took place before the international break came into place. City’s season got off to a slow start as they drew in their first league match against Tottenham Hotspurs at the
White Hart Lane. If that wasn’t enough, Manchester City went onto draw their respective encounter against Blackburn. Regardless, City’s most disappointing result of the season came at the Stadium of Light against Steve Bruce’s Sunderland side.
Roberto Mancini finally looks like a coach now who has gotten his tactics right, after starting the season with a pragmatic set of tactics, the ex-Inter Milan manager has slowly moulded his team into an intimidating outfit. Manchester
City’s best player thus far has been the Argentinean striker, Carlos Tevez. In City’s seven league matches, Tevez has netted five goals and will be Roberto Mancini’s main man against Blackpool’s resilient defence.
Alternatively, Blackpool will be counting on their captain, Charlie Adam to put in another talismanic performance. With two goals already to his name, Charlie has been one of Blackpool’s standout midfielders this season. His creativity
and experience in the centre of the park will certainly come in handy against the likes of De Jong and Yaya Toure in the City line up. Blackpool certainly have the capacity to nick a draw from this encounter but due to Manchester City’s impressive run of form
it is hard to rule out anything but all three points for the men in blue.
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