Opposition Lowdown: Steve Bruce’s Playoff-Chasing Blackpool
Reading face a long trip up north to the seaside town of Blackpool this Tuesday, with a midweek game under the lights. Join us as we take a closer look at the opposition.
Form
Blackpool finished eighth in League One last season, only three points outside of the playoffs, in their first season back in the third tier following relegation from the Championship alongside Reading in 2023.
The Tangerines currently sit 10th, four places and five points behind Reading. Their away form has been stronger than their home form, picking up 31 of their 57 points on the road. Blackpool’s recent run has been strong, having won four and lost one of their last five league games.
They come into Tuesday night’s game off the back of a 2-1 home win against playoff-chasing Bolton Wanderers, with goals from Ashley Fletcher and Niall Ennis. The two sides faced each other back in December with Blackpool claiming a 0-3 win at the Select Car Leasing Stadium.
The boss
Steve Bruce: Blackpool appointed Bruce as manager in September last year, following the sacking of Neil Critchley in August.
The former defender had a 20-year career as a player, captaining Manchester United in the 1990s. He started his managerial career at Sheffield United in 1998 and spent a year at the Blades before short stints at Huddersfield Town, Wigan Athletic and Crystal Palace.
Bruce joined Birmingham City in 2001 and spent six years at the club, guiding the Blues back to the Premier League in 2002. He suffered relegation with Birmingham in 2006 but guided them back to the Premier League the following season, before joining Wigan Athletic for a second spell in charge.
He spent a year and a half at Wigan before joining Sunderland and then Hull City, where he spent four years, guiding the Tigers back to the Premier League on two separate occasions. Spells at Aston Villa, Sheffield Wednesday and Newcastle United followed, with his most recent job coming at West Bromwich Albion, where he spent eight months in charge back in 2022.
Bruce has won 16 of his 39 games in charge of Blackpool so far, giving him a win percentage of 41%. He picked up the League One manager of the month award in September, after winning his first four games in charge.
Despite having a playing career focused on defending, the 64-year-old likes his sides to play attacking football.
Squad
Blackpool lost forward Kyle Joseph to Ruben Selles’ Hull City in the January transfer window, but they did manage to bring in three players to bolster their squad.
Midfielder Tom Bloxham signed from League One Shrewsbury for an undisclosed fee, while winger Sammy Silvera and forward Niall Ennis both signed on loan from Championship sides Middlesbrough and Stoke City.
Defender Elkan Baggott and midfielder Josh Onomah both missed out on Saturday’s win against Bolton through injury, with both facing a race to fight fit in time for this Tuesday’s game.
Predicted lineup
Tyrer, Offiah, Casey, Husband, Coulson, Apter, Evans, Morgan, Carey, Fletcher, Ennis
Key player
8. Albie Morgan: Midfielder Morgan joined Blackpool in June 2023, signing on a free transfer after the end of his contract at Charlton Athletic.
He started his career in the Charlton academy and made his Addicks debut in 2018, starting in a League Cup match against MK Dons. He went on to make a handful more appearances for Charlton before having a short loan spell at Ebbsfleet Town. Morgan became more of a first-team regular for the Addicks, post his loan spell, and went on to make 146 appearances for the club, scoring eight goals.
Since joining Blackpool, the 25-year-old has been a regular starter and has 10 Tangerines goals to his name. He is a creative outlet and has eight assists so far this season. Morgan is a centre midfielder who has a great eye for a pass and a through ball.
One to watch
20. Oliver Casey: Defender Casey joined Blackpool in June 2021, signing from Leeds United for an undisclosed fee.
Casey started his career in the youth setup at Leeds and made his debut for his hometown club in December 2019. He only made a further two first-team appearances for the Whites before his move to Blackpool.
First-team appearances were hard to come by in his first season with the Tangerines, so Casey spent his second season on loan at Forest Green. He became a first-team regular upon his return and has gone on to make 86 appearances for Blackpool, scoring four goals.
The 24-year-old is a centre-back who is strong in the air and a consistent performer in Blackpool’s back line.