Match Preview | Cardiff City vs. Blackpool
The Bluebirds welcome Blackpool to South Wales on Saturday, February 19th, 2022, 3pm KO.
Opposition Focus | Season so far
Blackpool are enjoying a good first season back in the Championship following a six year absence. The Tangerines won promotion via the 2020/21 League One Play-Offs, defeating Lincoln City, 2-1, in the final.
They're currently 15th in the second tier, after 31 games. They're six points ahead of the Bluebirds going into Saturday's match, but it was the Bluebirds who were victorious in this season's earlier meeting, with City winning 2-0 at Bloomfield Road.
Blackpool boss Neil Critchley took over the side in March 2020, leaving Liverpool's youth setup to do so.
He went on to lead the Tangerines to that aforementioned promotion in his first full season in management the following campaign.
The Tangerines have 11 wins this term, with three of them coming away from home.
Opposition Focus: Ones to watch
Goals have been shared amongst their front line this season. Former City forward Gary Madine has chipped in with six league goals from 21 appearances while fellow strikers Jerry Yates and Shayne Lavery have seven each this term.
22-year-old midfielder Josh Bowler is the only Blackpool player to have been involved in every game for the side in 2021/22, with 21 starts and 10 sub appearances in league action since joining on a free from Everton last summer. Bowler has four league goals to his name, too, including the opener in their most recent match, a 2-1 defeat to Bournemouth.
Bluebirds & Tangerines | Club Connections
The most recent link between City and the Tangerines is midfielder Ryan Wintle, who spent the first half of the 2021/22 season on loan at Bloomfield Road. Wintle made 18 appearances for Blackpool, before returning to Cardiff City Stadium in January. He has gone on to be involved on eight occasions for Steve Morison's side since coming back to South Wales.
Other players to have played for the Bluebirds and Blackpool in recent times include Liam Feeney, Mark Howard, Michael Chopra, Robert Earnshaw, Dekel Keinan and Jay Emmanuel-Thomas.
