Luton - Blackpool, English Division 2
2004-03-13 16.00 CET
Pick: Luton
Stake: 3%
Odds: 1,83
Final reason for bet
· Luton is in good form.
· Luton is a very good home team.
· Luton has no new injuries.
· Blackpool misses some important players, among them their leading goal scorer.
General comment about the game
Seventh placed Luton will take on 14th placed Blackpool at home on Kenilworth Road on Saturday afternoon. Luton is one of the form teams of the league. The good run with only one defeat from eleven matches has put them on track for a playoff spot. Currently there is just goal difference between them and sixth placed Hartlepool and Luton also has the advantage of less matches played than the teams above. At home they are a real force with an impressive record of 11/3/2. They have collected 13 points at home from 15 possible lately. Last home game was three weeks ago against out of shape Brentford and the Luton players put up a fine performance and glanced to an easy victory with 4-1. They should have played at home against Bournemouth last week but that game was postponed and because of that they have played three consecutive matches away and have collected four points. During the weekend they played away to Barnsley in an entertaining match ending goalless. Both teams created clear chances that they should have scored from and in the end Luton was the team nearest a victory. Manager Mike Newell was disappointed after the game because he thought all points were up for grabbing. Newell has no new injuries in front of Saturday’s clash meaning he can continue with an unchanged team. On the positive side is that defender Kevin Foley (22 apps, 1 goal) looks set to be available again after recovering from his injury. On the negative side is that striker Adrian Forbes (17 apps, 9 goals) is still sidelined with his knee injury that probably will keep him out all March and midfielder Matthew Spring (24 apps, 1 goal) will also miss out on Saturday.
Blackpool is stuck in the middle of the table. They are ten points above the relegation zone and nine points behind a playoff spot. We presume that they will stay at a position like that for the rest of the season. Typical for a mid table team is that the very seldom take points playing away to better teams than themselves and this is the case also with Blackpool. They have only managed to grab two points when playing away to teams that were in the upper half of the table at the moment the match was played; against Swindon in August and three weeks ago against Hartlepool. Blackpool was very lucky in the Hartlepool game because the hosts totally dominated the game. Hartlepool debutant Hugh Robertson had four great free kicks, two in the crossbar and two in goal (the first goal was disallowed). Hartlepool also missed a penalty and hit the crossbar once again in the dying minutes. Blackpool did not create so much but a stunning volley from striker Mike Sheron (18(9) apps, 2 goals) was enough to earn them a point. During the weekend Blackpool played host to promotion candidates Port Vale in a match that ended with a 2-1 victory for the home team. The visitors were the better team in the first half and were rightfully 1-0 up. In the second half the Blackpool players showed better character and their performance reflected that. They equalised through a penalty before midfielder Richard Wellens (28(1) apps, 2 goals) made his winning wonder goal, a 40 yard lob! Even if the win was not unjustified a draw would have been more fair considering have the game was played. The Blackpool squad is still suffering from many injuries on first team regulars. Both strikers Scott Taylor (30(1) apps, 16 goals) and John Murphy (16(3) apps, 4 goals) is missing through injuries. Defenders Kirk Hilton (12(2) apps, 1 goal) and Chris Clarke (11(7) apps, 1 goal) is also out injured and fellow defenders Danny Coid (24(4) apps, 2 goals) and Liam Richardson (16(4) apps, 0 goals) is rated doubtful.
Luton is now up in a position were they have a playoff spot in their own hands. On Saturday they meet with a Blackpool side that has many important injuries and anything else than a home win would be a surprise. Luton also misses two players but they have managed really well without them lately so it will not disturb their winning plans for Saturday. Medium stake 3% is suggested.
Recent games for home team
|
2004-03-06 |
Barnsley-Luton |
0-0 |
|
2004-02-28 |
Peterborough-Luton |
1-2 |
|
2004-02-24 |
Grimsby-Luton |
3-2 |
|
2004-02-21 |
Luton-Brentford |
4-1 |
|
2004-02-14 |
Wycombe-Luton |
0-0 |
Recent games for away team
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2004-03-06 |
Blackpool-Port Vale |
2-1 |
|
2004-03-02 |
Rushden&Diamonds-Blackpool |
0-0 |
|
2004-02-28 |
Blackpool-Plymouth |
0-1 |
|
2004-02-20 |
Hartlepool-Blackpool |
1-1 |
|
2004-02-07 |
Tranmere-Blackpool |
1-1 |
Home table
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Luton |
16 |
11 |
3 |
2 |
32-15 |
36 |
Away table
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Blackpool |
17 |
5 |
6 |
6 |
19-26 |
21 |
Links for this game
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// SportsObserver 040312
