Official Boothen Roar Match Preview: Blackpool v Stoke

Last updated : 29 April 2011 By Dan Buxton

Stoke sit 10th in the Premier League and will be up to try and push themselves closer to a top 10 finish. The hosts are seven places below and eight points behind the Potters.

Stoke have a good away record this season and have already beaten Newcastle, Cardiff, West Brom, Wolves and Blackburn on their travels, aswell as Bolton at Wembley a fortnight ago. Blackpool have won four home league games this season but have also lost nine times.

In the 35 matches between these sides at Bloomfield Road, the Potters have won just 13, the hosts 13 and nine have been drawn. Last time the pair clashed at Blackpool, in December 2007, the game ended in a 4-2 away win. Overall the Tangerines have won 22 times to the Potters 29 victories.

The referee is Mark Clattenburg. This season he took charge of the Potters as they lost 2-1 at away to Man Utd aswell as the 3-2 win at home to Birmingham. He refereed Blackpool in their 4-0 defeat away at Chelsea, the 2-1 home win over Wolves and 1-0 away defeat against Manchester City, all this season.

The Met Office report that it will be sunny, temperatures of 18 degrees celsius, very good visibility and a breezy 21mph wind.

Prediction: The Potters continue their fine recent form and come away with all three points after goals from Jon Walters, Robert Huth and Kenwyne Jones