Blackpool meet Lincoln City at Wembley Stadium in the 2020-21 Sky Bet League One Play-Off Final, as both teams look to secure the last spot in next season’s Sky Bet Championship.
Blackpool are looking to return to English second tier for the first time since suffering relegation in 2015, whereas Lincoln chase a return to the Championship for the first time since 1962.
Team News
Daniel Ballard is a doubt for Blackpool after suffering a groin injury during the second leg of their 6-3 aggregate semi-final victory over Oxford United.
Lincoln have no fresh injury concerns to report as Joe Walsh, TJ Eyoma and Lewis Montsma are considered doubts, having failed to fully train with the first-team squad this week due to various knocks.
Adam Jackson (calf) and James Jones (unspecified) are both ruled out.
Stat Attack
- This is the first-ever post-season Play-Off meeting between Blackpool and Lincoln City.
- Blackpool have won just one of their last four meetings against Lincoln City (W1, D1, L2).
- Lincoln have won just two of their last 22 ‘away’ matches against Blackpool in all competitions (W2, D2, L18).
- Neil Critchley’s Seasiders are looking to score three goals in three consecutive matches for the first time since May 2017, in which they beat Leyton Orient then Luton before drawing 3-3 away to the Hatters.
- Tom Hopper has scored once in each of his last two appearances for Lincoln.
- Blackpool have won all five of their previous EFL Play-Off Final appearances, despite keeping just one clean sheet in those five showpiece outings.
- Lincoln City have lost both of their two previous Play-Off Final appearances in 2003 & 05 seasons against Bournemouth and Southend respectively.
Prediction
I must start by admitting that I definitely didn’t expect Blackpool to be even in the play-offs yet they have done a Barnsley of 2016 and enjoyed a stunning run, before carrying their momentum into the play-offs where they were just clinical across the pitch despite defensively switching off in the second leg.
Lincoln meanwhile will be relieved to have largely got their semi-final task done in the first leg because their defending was rather lethargic at times at Sunderland last weekend, yet they dug in and grinded out a vital goal despite difficult pressure from the Black Cats throughout.
Michael Appleton’s Imps however don’t exactly boast the best of play-off records but after Brentford won Saturday’s Championship Play-Off Final, they can take heart and look to become the second team in two days to end play-off hoodoos.
I though have a feeling that Blackpool might upset the odds if they can start well given their excellent record in Play-Off Finals, otherwise I genuinely hope that Lincoln are able to defy the odds and take another step up the ladder.
Prediction: Blackpool 2-1 Lincoln City
Result: Blackpool 2-1 Lincoln City
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