Match Preview | Blackpool vs. Cardiff City
Cardiff City travel to Blackpool’s Bloomfield Road on Friday afternoon (07/04), 3pm KO.
OPPOSITION FOCUS | IN THE DUGOUT
Blackpool’s manager is former Bluebirds boss Mick McCarthy, who was appointed in January this year.
McCarthy had a spell in charge in the Welsh capital in 2021, leading the side to a six-game winning streak, which saw City finish eighth in the table.
Prior to his time with the Bluebirds, McCarthy spent time as manager of Millwall, Republic of Ireland, Sunderland and Wolves, winning the Championship with the latter two clubs.
McCarthy also had a spell at Ipswich Town, before being named manager of the Republic of Ireland for a second time. Finally, his previous club before joining the Bluebirds was Cypriot side APOEL.
OPPOSITION FOCUS | KEY PLAYER
The Tangerines’ most dangerous player this season has been striker Jerry Yates.
The attacker has netted 13 goals so far this campaign, as well as contributing with six assists.
Having come through the ranks at Rotherham United, Yates has impressed since making the switch to Blackpool in July 2020.
He ended his first season for the club as their top scorer, with 23 goals, which is the joint-highest total scored by a Blackpool player since Andy Watson in the 1993-94 campaign.
After a positive start to this season, scoring seven goals in seven matches, Yates was named Championship Player of the Month back in October.
PREVIOUS MEETINGS | FIRST AND LAST
City’s first ever clash with the Tangerines was in November 1920, with the two sides competing in Division Two.
The Bluebirds marked the occasion with a fantastic performance, claiming an impressive 4-2 victory.
City legend Jimmy Gill was on the scoresheet, before going on to finish the season as the Club’s top scorer with 20 goals in all competitions. Also finding the net was George West, as well as fellow attacker Arthur Cashmore, before Len Baker’s own-goal secured victory for City.
Under the management of Fred Stewart, the Bluebirds finished the campaign in second, level on points with champions Birmingham City, as the Club were promoted to the First Division.
Our most recent fixture against Blackpool resulted in a 1-1 draw at Cardiff City Stadium.
Striker Kion Etete gave City the lead with his first competitive goal for the Bluebirds, brilliantly lifting the ball over goalkeeper Daniel Grimshaw.
In the second period, former City attacker Gary Madine equalised with a header, as the two sides were forced to settle for a point.
CITY FLASHBACK | TOMMY SMITH’S STUNNER SEES CITY GO TEN CLEAR
The Bluebirds travelled to Bloomfield Road back in January 2013 looking to open up a ten-point lead at the top of the Championship table.
A talented City side showed great quality to earn a hard-fought victory, almost going ahead through a Craig Conway and Kim Bo-kyung combination that was productive throughout the campaign.
After firing just wide of the post early-on, Bo-kyung wasn’t to be denied the opener. Aron Gunnarsson characteristically arrived late in the box, but hit the woodwork with a well-caught volley, allowing the South Korean international to fire home the rebound.
On the hour mark, Blackpool were level, as Gary Taylor-Fletcher found space to score with a diving header. City showed character once again however, regaining the lead four minutes later.
A swift break led to Andrew Taylor’s cross coming out to Tommy Smith, whose exquisite volley found the net to mark his return from injury.
Smith’s brilliant strike proved decisive, as City took a crucial step towards promotion to the Premier League, which was secured at the end of the campaign as champions.
