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Preview: West Ham United vs. Blackpool

Preview: Playoff final - West Ham vs. Blackpool
© PA Photos
West Ham United and Blackpool go head to head in the vital Championship playoff final at Wembley on Saturday, with a spot in the Premier League up for grabs.

This weekend's Championship playoff final will determine the third club promoted to the Premier League with West Ham United and Blackpool fighting for a spot in the top flight.

The Hammers found their way to Wembley following a convincing semi-final two-leg triumph over Cardiff City, while Ian Holloway's side eased past Birmingham City to clinch a spot in the final.

West Ham were on course to earn automatic promotion in the earlier stages of the season but a slump in results meant that the London side would have to do it the hard way, which will make Sam Allardyce's side more determined to return to the Premier League.

The Hammers did the double over the Seasiders in the season courtesy of a 4-0 win at Upton Park and a 4-1 victory at Bloomfield Road, but Blackpool head into Saturday's clash on the back of a nine-game unbeaten run.

There are no fresh injuries for Holloway, which suggests that Barry Ferguson and Angel Martinez will line the midfield with Gary Taylor-Fletcher and Stephen Dobbie likely to start up front.

Meanwhile, West Ham's Jack Collison should be fit to play this weekend, despite being carried off in the second leg against Cardiff with a dislocated shoulder. Allardyce is likely to choose Carlton Cole and Ricardo Vaz Te to lead the line for the Hammers.

Current form:

West Ham: WDWWWW
Blackpool: DWWDWD

Possible lineups:

West Ham: Green; Demel, Tomkins, Reid, Taylor; O'Neill, Noble, Nolan, Collison; Cole, Vaz-Te

Blackpool: Gilks; Baptiste, Evatt, Eardley, Crainey; M.Phillips, Ferguson, Angel, Ince; Taylor-Fletcher, Dobbie

Sports Mole says: 3-2

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