Blackpool’s current form can be summarised in one word - awful. They have lost four of the last five and are without a league win since they beat Liverpool back on January 12, some seven games ago. They certainly have come close, losing by a single goal against West Brom, Sunderland and Manchester United.
The Seasiders sit two points above the relegation zone and do have a game in hand on the teams around them, which makes every home game a valuable commodity in the quest to stay in the top flight for another year.
The meetings between these teams are rare in recent years, with the last meeting being in the League Cup in October 2007. The last time they met in the league was in the old Second Division in 1977-78 when Spurs won at Bloomfield Road and drew in London.
The Tangerines last beat Tottenham in October 1966 when they took all three points after a 3-1 victory from their trip to the capital. The last victory at home is even further back when Blackpool won 4-1 in September 1956, with Jimmy Armfield and Sir Stanley Matthews among the players wearing the Tangerine shirt.
Spurs On The March
Tottenham’s form has been the mirror image of Blackpool’s, having won their last four and kept two clean sheets in the process. Their last defeat was a heavy one when Fulham put four past them at Craven Cottage in the FA Cup. Spurs hold the overall record between the two with 30 wins to Blackpool’s 13.
Spurs' away record in the league has been patchy with excellent wins over fierce rivals Arsenal in November, but slipped up against Bolton and Everton. With Blackpool struggling, Harry Redknapp will be aiming to heap more strife on Ian Holloway. Spurs can jump ahead of Manchester City into third with a win as the Sky Blues are not in league action this week, instead facing Aris Salonika in the Europa League on Thursday night.
TEAM NEWS
Blackpool
Seasiders boss Ian Holloway will still be without first choice ‘keeper Matthew Gilks and fellow Scot Stephen Crainey as both are still a few weeks away from returning to action. Richard Kingson will continue to deputise in goal for Gilks.
Jason Euell has been sent out on loan to Championship side Doncaster Rovers after he was omitted from the 25-man Premier League squad and his long-term future on the Fylde coast could now be in jeopardy.
Seasiders fans are still awaiting the debut of Belarus striker Sergei Kornilenko who arrived in the January transfer window but has yet to feature for the first XI. Speaking after the reserve game against Blackburn last week in which he scored one and setup another two, he told the official club website that he’s itching to get stuck into England’s top flight.
“I've been wanting to play in the Premier League for an awful long time now so I was absolutely delighted when I heard that I was going to play here.”
Possible starting XI: Kingson; Eardley, Cathcart, Evatt, Sylvestre; Taylor-Fletcher, Adam, Vaughan; Phillips, Campbell, Beattie.
Tottenham
Tottenham are back in domestic action seven days after their memorable victory in the San Siro over Milan in the Champions League last week, and the club is still on a high after such a momentous result. But it’s the Premier League on the menu on Tuesday night and Harry Redknapp will be without Vedran Corluka who has had a protective boot fitted to protect his ankle injury. The Croat was the recipient of a vicious tackle from Mathieu Flamini and will be out for at least a fortnight.
Welsh winger Gareth Bale could make a return to action after recovering from a back injury but it will be touch and go right up to kick-off. Younes Kaboul and Tom Huddlestone will definitely be out as the forecast for their respective returns is March.
Possible starting XI: Gomes; Gallas, Dawson, Bassong, Assou-Ekotto; Lennon, Palacios, Sandro, Bale; Defoe, Crouch.
| Blackpool | Tottenham |
| 16 | Ranking | 4 |
| Last 8 matches |
| 12 Feb | Blackpool - Aston Villa | 1 - 1 | 1 - 2 | Sunderland - Tottenham | 12 Feb | |
| 5 Feb | Everton - Blackpool | 5 - 3 | 2 - 1 | Tottenham - Bolton | 5 Feb | |
| 2 Feb | Blackpool - West Ham Utd | 1 - 3 | 0 - 1 | Blackburn - Tottenham | 2 Feb | |
| 25 Jan | Blackpool - Manchester U. | 2 - 3 | 1 - 1 | Newcastle Ut. - Tottenham | 22 Jan | |
| 22 Jan | Blackpool - Sunderland | 1 - 2 | 0 - 0 | Tottenham - Manchester U. | 16 Jan | |
| 15 Jan | West Bromwic. - Blackpool | 3 - 2 | 2 - 1 | Everton - Tottenham | 5 Jan | |
| 12 Jan | Blackpool - Liverpool | 2 - 1 | 1 - 0 | Tottenham - Fulham | 1 Jan | |
| 4 Jan | Blackpool - Birmingham C. | 1 - 2 | 2 - 0 | Tottenham - Newcastle Ut. | 28 Dec |
| Last 4 matches (Home) | Last 4 matches (Away) |
| 12 Feb | Blackpool - Aston Villa | 1 - 1 | 1 - 2 | Sunderland - Tottenham | 12 Feb | |
| 2 Feb | Blackpool - West Ham Utd | 1 - 3 | 0 - 1 | Blackburn - Tottenham | 2 Feb | |
| 25 Jan | Blackpool - Manchester U. | 2 - 3 | 1 - 1 | Newcastle Ut. - Tottenham | 22 Jan | |
| 22 Jan | Blackpool - Sunderland | 1 - 2 | 2 - 1 | Everton - Tottenham | 5 Jan |
Prediction
The form book has this down as a clear Spurs victory. The bookies agree, a price of 4/6 is being offered on Spurs whilst you can get 3/1 on Blackpool - long odds indeed. It is hard to see anything other than another Blackpool loss and this should go as forecast, although Blackpool will not give in easily.
Blackpool 1-2 Tottenham 
