Blackpool v Stoke City English Premier League on April 30, 2011

Blackpool v Stoke City English Premier League on April 30, 2011

Blackpool need points desperately and there is no better time to get them than in their clash with Stoke City on Saturday.Ian Holloway’s men are hovering above the English Premier League relegation zone in 17th by means of goal difference ahead of Wigan, but finish the season with trips to Manchester United and Tottenham and also host Europe-bound Bolton after their clash at Bloomfield Road on the weekend.

The tough run-in to the end of the season means it is three points on Saturday or bust for Holloway and his plucky Blackpool outfit, which rode their momentum through the English Premier League playoffs last term.

The form guide does not make pleasant reading for Seasiders fans, as their side has secured just eight points from a possible 51 since the New Year.

Stoke, meanwhile, are not short of confidence with an FA Cup final to look forward to and are coming off a 3-0 dismantling of Wolves on Tuesday.

Tony Pulis will almost certainly be missing Matthew Etherington for Saturday’s clash after the winger limped from the field with a hamstring injury in their win over Wolves. He is in doubt for their Wembley date with Manchester City.

Other omissions for Stoke include strike duo Ricardo Fuller and Mamady Sidibe (both Achilles), while Danny Higginbotham is a long-term absentee with an ACL injury.

Australia international David Carney continues his spell on the sidelines for Blackpool with a shoulder injury, while scarcely used defender Chris Basham will miss as he continues his recovery from a broken leg.

Blackpool won the reverse fixture 1-0 at the Britannia Stadium in December, with frontman DJ Campbell scoring the winner shortly after half-time.

Today Schedule:
Sat 30th April 2011
Blackburn v Bolton    15:00           
Blackpool v Stoke City    15:00           
Sunderland v Fulham    15:00           
WBA v Aston Villa    15:00           
Wigan Athletic v Everton 15:00           
Chelsea  v Tottenham    17:30
Point Table
1 Man Utd 34 34 73
2 Chelsea 34 34 67
3 Arsenal 34 34 64
4 Man City 33 33 59
5 Tottenham 33 33 55
6 Liverpool 34 34 52
7 Everton 34 34 47
8 Bolton 34 34 46
9 Fulham 34 34 42
10 Stoke City 34 34 42
11 Newcastle 34 34 41
12 Sunderland 34 34 41
13 Aston Villa 34 34 41
14 WBA 34 34 40
15 Birmingham 34 34 38
16 Blackburn 34 34 35
17 Blackpool 34 34 34
18 Wigan Athletic 34 34 34
19 Wolves 34 34 33
20 West Ham Utd 34 34 32

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