West Bromwich Albion vs Blackpool

13th April

West Bromwich Albion welcome Blackpool to The Hawthorns on Good Friday (ko 3pm).

The Baggies were beaten 3-1 at home by Stoke City in their most recent Sky Bet Championship match, a result which ended Steve Bruce's side's three-game unbeaten run in B71.

Visitors Blackpool have impressed in their first season back in the second tier of English football following their promotion from League One last term.

They head into Friday's fixture off the back of a 1-1 draw at play-off chasing Blackburn on Saturday.

Albion are playing at The Hawthorns for the third game running on Friday

How to follow the game

Supporters can follow Albion’s clash with Blackpool live on WBA TV Matchday.

Supporters in the UK can purchase an audio match pass for £2.50 and enjoy live audio coverage from 2.45pm by clicking here, or via the free-to-download WBA app.

Supporters overseas can watch the encounter live with a match pass for £10. M atch passes can be purchased here.

Full match replays will be available the following day here.

Opposition

Blackpool will be delighted with how their first season back in the Sky Bet Championship has gone having been outside the second tier for the last six years.

The Seasiders, who won the Sky Bet League One play-offs last May, have collected 53 points from their 40 games so far this term, a tally which sees them comfortably clear of danger and in with a chance of recording their highest league finish in almost a decade.

Neil Critchley's men have produced some eye-catching performances during the 2021/22 campaign, winning against high-flyers Fulham, Middlesbrough, Blackburn and Sheffield United.

Their form has dipped though over the last four games, drawing two and losing two. Blackpool head to The Hawthorns on Friday for what will be their third successive away game having lost 1-0 at neighbours Preston before holding Blackburn to a 1-1 draw at Ewood Park last Saturday. Four of their remaining six fixtures will be away from Bloomfield Road.

Critchley, the former Liverpool U23 boss, has been in charge since March 2020 and has won 43 of his 103 games in charge of the club.

Blackpool have enjoyed a successful season back in the second tier

Classic clash

The Baggies beat Blackpool 3-2 in the Premier League at The Hawthorns in January 2011.

David Vaughan opened the scoring in the 11th minute but Peter Odemwingie levelled things up before the break.

James Morrison edged Albion in front early on in the second 45, only for Gary Taylor-Fletcher to equalise ten minutes from time.

But the Baggies found time for a late winner, with Odemwingie grabbing his second and Albion's third moments before the end.

Did you know?

Baggies legend James Morrison bagged his first goal for the club against Blackpool back in October 2007.

The former midfielder hit a stunner into the top corner - a goal which proved to be the winner in Albion's 2-1 Championship win.

LV BET's latest odds

Albion are the favourites at 3/4 (1.75) to beat Blackpool this Friday.

The Baggies have won five of the last nine games against the Seasiders, scoring two or more goals in each of those fixtures. LV BET have Bruce’s men at 5/4 (2.25) to win the game and score over 1.5 goals, and at 33/20 (2.65) to take all three points without conceding.

Albion strikers lead our goalscorer markets with Karlan Grant at 3/2 (2.50) to find the back of the net and Andy Carroll and Callum Robinson both at 33/20 (2.65) to get on the scoresheet.

Play on the WBA pitch! Register here, make a minimum £20 deposit, opt-in to the Play on the Pitch promotion and place an eligible bet for your chance to line up at The Hawthorns! 18+ begambleaware.org. Terms apply. Odds are subject to change.

Additional information

Supporters are reminded the metro is currently out of use. As a result, train services on matchdays to and from The Hawthorns are likely to be extremely busy.

Albion fans are advised to consider alternative routes and allow for extra time when travelling if using the train.

Plan your journey at journeyplanner.tfwm.org.uk.

15th April

Albion netted late to beat Blackpool 2-1 in the Sky Bet Championship at The Hawthorns on Good Friday.

Andy Carroll earned the Baggies a first-half lead but the visitors levelled through Marvin Ekpiteta straight after the interval.

The hosts dug deep and managed to find a winner in stoppage time, though, thanks to Karlan Grant’s strike in front of the Birmingham Road End.

Bruce made six changes to the side defeated by Stoke City last weekend as David Button, Dara O’Shea, Karlan Grant, Adam Reach and Darnell Furlong came into the starting XI.

The Baggies began brightly in the Bank Holiday sunshine and might have gone ahead had the Tangerines defence not blocked Adam Reach’s low strike following a smart one-two with Callum Robinson.

The Seasiders battled back strongly, forcing Button to parry over from Keshi Anderson’s well-struck free-kick.

Jayson Molumby and Robinson then tested Chris Maxwell in quick succession – the visitors’ goalkeeper doing well to deny both finishes.

But the Blackpool back-line was finally breached just before half-time when Carroll fired in a close-range volley from Reach’s excellent left-wing cross.

Albion soon went close again, Robinson seeing a right-foot drive deflect wide of the left upright, and they took a one-goal advantage into the break.

Carroll scores Albion's opening goal against Blackpool

Frustrating for Steve Bruce, Blackpool were level eight minutes into the second period when Ekpiteta hooked a volley past Button.

Matty Phillips made his return from a long-standing foot injury seconds shy of the hour mark, replacing captain Jake Livermore with goalscorer Carrol taking the armband.

Fellow substitute Taylor Gardner-Hickman almost made an immediate impact - his blistering right-foot strike crashing against the crossbar and over. Carroll had a fine opportunity to double his tally for the afternoon a few minutes later but fluffed his lines after stumbling over Grant’s pass.

Both sides were pushing for a winner by this point and Button, who had a largely quiet game to this point, dived down to his left to keep out Josh Bowler’s left-footed drive.

And deep into three minutes of added time it was Albion that managed to earn themselves the victory, Phillips' corner causing chaos and Grant popping up to hammer home.

Albion: Button; Furlong (Diangana 85), Ajayi, O’Shea, Clarke, Reach; Livermore (Phillips 58), Molumby; Robinson (Gardner-Hickman 69); Grant, Carroll.

Substitutes: Palmer, Townsend, Bartley, Kipré.

Attendance: 21,717.

Friday 15th April 2022 - 15:00