Match Preview: Brighton host Blackpool in FA Cup clash of the seasiders

We are a bit lucky to be writing a match preview for Brighton & Hove Albion v Blackpool in the fourth round of the FA Cup really.

The trip to Newport County in the previous round of the competition did not go entirely to plan with the Seagulls pretty fortunate to scrape through against their League Two hosts.

Graham Potter named a surprisingly strong line up which included six first team regulars and he was rewarded for taking the things seriously with a 1-1 draw over 120 minutes and a penalty shoot out win.

Even the spot kicks nearly ended in disaster. Most teams who miss three of their seven penalties suffer elimination but because Jason Steele pulled off heroics by saving four of Newport’s efforts, the Albion made it through and here we are.

In fairness, it was never likely to be straightforward at Rodney Parade. The pitch was like the surface of the moon and County’s giant killing exploits are well documented. Tottenham Hotspur, Leicester City and The Leeds United have all failed to win in Monmouthshire in recent years.

Blackpool may be a division higher than Newport but being back at the Amex gives this tie less of a banana skin feel. If Potter plays a relatively sensible team and the Albion show the kind of fight that they did at Manchester City and The Leeds United, a place in round five should await.

‘Should’ being the operative word – this is Brighton we are talking about and as we all know too well, if there is football club who can find a way to cock something relatively straightforward up, then it is the Seagulls.

Blackpool this season
Blackpool have been to hell and back in the past decade. The Seasiders tumbled from Premier League to League Two under the ownership of the hated Oyston family, whose sole aim was to leach as much money as they possibly could out of Blackpool, not caring if that meant a 130-year-old institution was driven out of business.

Sounds familiar, doesn’t it? The similarities with Bill Archer, David Bellotti and Greg Stanley do not end there either.

Those who besmirched or criticised the Oystons were banned or sued. Bloomfield Road became a desolate place as a result as supporters had no choice but to boycott watching Blackpool in an attempt to hit the Oystons where it hurt most – the pocket.

Fan power eventually won the day and in 2019, the Oystons took their leave. Blackpool-born businessman Simon Sadler assumed control and he has since set about rebuilding the club both on and off the pitch.

Last March, Saddler appointed former Liverpool Under 23 manager Neil Critchley as Blackpool’s new boss, giving the Tangerines one of the most promising young managers in the country.

Critchley was well backed in the summer and he has put together a side who like to play good football but have been let down by inconsistency so far in the 2020-21 season.

Victories against promotion chasers Hull City, Portsmouth and Peterborough United have been mixed with poor results against strugglers like Bristol Rovers and Shrewsbury Town.

That ultimately is why Blackpool are currently 16th in the table and requiring a serious run of form in the second half of the season if they are to surge into the playoff places.

In knockout competitions, the Seasiders have shown they can give higher division sides a fright. Blackpool drew with Stoke City in the Carabao Cup and held West Bromwich Albion in the previous round of the FA Cup, winning on penalties to book their trip to Brighton for the game you are currently reading the preview of.

Recent form
Like a car driven by Lee Steele after a Christmas party, the League One fixture list has been all over the place in the past month because of a combination of weather and Covid-19.

The Seasiders have played just five matches since beating Hull 3-2 on December 15th – Brighton had crammed in eight games in comparison – and they have failed to win any.

Those disappointing defeats against Shrewsbury and Bristol Rovers are included in that run along with draws with Accrington Stanley (who are they?), Hull again and the 2-2 with West Brom which eventually earned progression to the fourth round of the FA Cup.

Blackpool’s case has not been helped by a horrific injury list and they will arrive at the Amex down to the bare bones to face a Brighton side who in contrast seem to be on a bit of an upwards curve.

Brighton v Blackpool head-to-head
If you have OCD, then Brighton’s head-to-head with Blackpool is about as perfect a record as you will see. There have been 30 matches with 10 Albion wins, 10 Blackpool wins and 10 draws.

Remarkably given that both sides have competed in the FA Cup for 120 years and the League Cup for 60, this is the first time that the clubs have drawn each other in a knockout competition.

Brighton’s head-to-head record with Blackpool

Last six meetings
• Blackpool 1-0 Brighton (Championship, 31/01/15)
• Brighton 0-0 Blackpool (Championship, 20/09/14)
• Brighton 1-1 Blackpool (Championship, 21/04/14)
• Blackpool 0-1 Brighton (Championship, 29/12/13)
• Brighton 6-1 Blackpool (Championship, 20/04/13)
• Blackpool 1-1 Brighton (Championship, 27/10/12)

Brighton versus Blackpool has hardly been entertaining fare over the past six meetings. On only one occasion has there been more than two goals, Saturday 20th April 2013 when Gus Poyet’s He Who Must Not Be Named’s Brighton scored all seven when hammering the Tangerines 6-1 in the biggest home victory the Amex has seen.

Will Buckley, Matt Upson, Andrea Orlandi, David Lopez and an Ashley Barnes brace went in at the right end with Dean Hammond scoring a spectacular own goal at the wrong end.

All of which was a far cry to the last season Brighton and Blackpool competed at the same level. The Seasiders finished rock bottom of the Championship table, 20 points adrift of safety in the 2014-15 campaign.

And yet the Albion achieved the impressive feat of failing to score a goal against them in 180 minutes of football, drawing 0-0 at the Amex under Sami Hyypia and losing 1-0 at Bloomfield Road under Chris Hughton.

Team news
We have already touched upon the fact that Blackpool are currently decimated by injury in this preview and Brighton have a fair few players of their own out too.

Steele will miss the game with illness and Alireza Jahanbakhsh, Danny Welbeck and Tariq Lamptey with injury. Adam Lallana was due back in training this week but this one will probably come too soon for him and new arrival Michal Karbownik has not kicked a competitive ball since the start of December due to a combination of a leg problem and Poland’s winter break

What will Potter do then? His strong team in the previous round came with a match against Manchester City on the Wednesday night which promised little.

This time around, Brighton face a relegation six pointer against Fulham in midweek. You could hardly blame Potter if he has one eye on a game in which victory could move Brighton eight points clear of the drop zone – a massive gap, especially given how we have been teetering on the brink in recent weeks.

There is also the fifth round draw to consider. The Albion already know that should they see off Blackpool, a trip to Leicester City or Brentford beckons. Brighton are yet to beat the Foxes since winning promotion to the Premier League and Brentford away is normally a graveyard.

A more important game in four days time coupled with probable elimination in the next round anyway. The temptation might be to throw in the kids and concentrate on the league.

Having said all that, the performance against City and the win at The Leeds United have helped build some momentum. It may therefore be wise to keep the ball rolling by not naming too weak a team – make changes yes, but not of the sort that saw Brighton field their Under 12s in the Carabao Cup exit to Aston Villa last season.

Potter is Potter though and as we say in every match preview, it is pointless trying to second guess him – we will probably see Billy Reid on the right wing and Jakub Moder making his Brighton debut goal against Blackpool.

Blackpool’s key players
Gary Madine is the Tangerines’ top scorer and we were absolutely shocked to discover he is only 30-years-old as it feels like he has been around forever.

Blackpool fan site Up The Mighty Pool highlighted Kenny Dougall as their best player in our chat with them earlier in the week.

He may sound like a minor character in Father Ted, but they rank him as the best midfielder in League One. Presumably, his footballing talents are better than his hairstyle as his bleached blonde barnet makes him look uncannily like Big Mo from EastEnders.

The betting value for Brighton v Blackpool
He has only been here for four games but already backing Percy Tau to score is becoming a regular feature of every match preview and we are not changing that for Brighton v Blackpool. The Lion of Judah is 9/4 to net anytime on his home debut.

In terms of match result, the draw at 7/2 looks a decent price when you consider Brighton’s result against Newport in the previous round and Blackpool holding Stoke and West Brom this season.

An interesting subplot
Blackpool have never won at the Amex in four previous attempts, one of the few opponents who have made more more than three visits and not been victorious. Not that we are trying to jinx it or anything…

A good WeAreBrighton.com memory of Blackpool at home
The obvious choice for this section of the match preview would be Brighton 6-1 Blackpool. However, one of the best and most underrated Withdean moments occurred against the Seasiders in February 2001 when Andy Crosby scored the only goal of the game with his ear.

A Brighton defender scoring with his ear in an important match against a promotion rival. How on earth has it been allowed to pass almost forgotten into the footnotes of Albion history?

A bad WeAreBrighton.com memory of Blackpool at home
Somebody at Sky Sports was clearly on crack when they decided that the League One clash between Brighton and Blackpool was what the nation needed to see as its Sunday lunchtime live football fix in October 2006.

Those who did tune in were treated to Brighton giving one of their worst ever Withdean performances. It finished 3-0 to the Tangerines but that flattered Brighton. Only 5,146 were there to see it, one of the lowest crowds for a league game at the Theatre of Trees.

Blackpool’s most famous fan
According to Google, Blackpool’s most famous fan is Mike Melody. No, we have no idea either.

Prediction
If this game was at Bloomfield Road it would be a very different kettle of fish. At the Amex though, Brighton should have too much for League One opponents – providing Potter does not do something completely ridiculous selection wise. 3-1 to the Albion.