Blackpool play host to Hull City on Wednesday evening looking to extend their unbeaten record in the Championship to four matches.
However, despite losing seven of their last eight matches, Hull sit just two points adrift of their 19th-placed hosts in the standings.
Match preview
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Having put together a run of one win from eight matches in the Championship at one stage this season, Michael Appleton may have had concerns that he could have lost his job like many others recently have at this level of football.
That is no longer the case with the Seasiders bouncing back to form with five points from three matches, avoiding defeat against Sunderland, Watford and Sheffield United.
The shock win over Watford was followed by an inspired effort against league leaders Sheffield United, overturning a two-goal deficit to lead 3-2 heading into the closing stages at Bramall Lane.
A last-gasp goal from Oliver Norwood ultimately earn the Blades a share of the spoils, although Blackpool would have been satisfied with a point having been reduced to nine men with nine minutes remaining and eight-minutes of added-on time.
Blackpool now sit three points above the relegation zone ahead of home fixtures against Hull and neighbours Preston North End, Appleton sensing that there is an opportunity to make further progress up the table.
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From Hull's perspective, all of the pre-season optimism has disappeared, a consequence of a change in manager and collecting just three points from a possible 21.
As it stands, it is unclear whether caretaker boss Andy Dawson will remain in charge for this game, the Tigers hierarchy needing to end the uncertainty and establish a clear direction going forward having sacked Shota Arveladze.
Successive 2-0 defeats have been suffered against Huddersfield Town and Birmingham City respectively, leaving Hull just one point above the bottom three with, by far, the worst goal difference in the Championship.
As well as scoring in just one of their last seven matches, Hull have also failed to keep a clean sheet since the second weekend of the season, that shutout coming at a then-goal-shy Preston.
Team News
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Appleton will make at least three changes to his Blackpool XI after Marvin Ekpiteta, Dominic Thompson and Shayne Lavery were all sent off against Sheffield United.
Rhys Williams should feature in the middle of the defence, James Husband may make a return from a calf injury to play at left-back, and either CJ Hamilton or Theo Corbeanu will come in on the right flank.
Meanwhile, Hull will be able to call upon the services of Regan Slater after he served a suspension for five yellow cards.
Slater could slot in alongside Jean Michael Seri and Ozan Tufan with Dawson potentially showing more preference to a tighter three-man midfield than at the weekend.
Ryan Longman may return on the right flank, while Cyrus Christie could be asked to deputise at left-back in place of Jacob Greaves if Lewie Coyle returns from illness.
Blackpool possible starting lineup:
Maxwell; Connolly, Williams, Thorniley, Thompson; Bridcutt, Patino; Hamilton, Dougall, Yates; Madine
Hull City possible starting lineup:
Baxter; Coyle, Figueiredo, Jones, Christie; Tufan, Slater, Seri; Longman, Estupinan, Pelkas
We say: Blackpool 2-1 Hull City
Although these two clubs appear to be heading in different directions, we still expect a competitive fixture in the North West. However, we can only back the hosts to collect all three points, continuing to build a gap between themselves and the bottom three.
For data analysis of the most likely results, scorelines and more for this match please click here.
Darren Plant
