When Morecambe visit their League One hosts on Tuesday night, they will be looking to join Blackpool in the next round of the EFL Trophy.
Blackpool have six points from two games in Group A of the Northern Section, advancing to the next round, while Morecambe are third with three points from two games.
Blackpool have been impressive in the EFL Trophy this season, starting with a 2-0 win over Barrow on September 5 before going on to beat Liverpool Under-21s 5-2 the following week.
Neil Critchley’s side has already qualified for the next round of this competition, while they are still in the FA Cup, having defeated Bromley in the first round earlier this month.
Blackpool are coming off a 1-0 defeat to Bolton Wanderers in League One on Saturday, but they are currently in eighth place in the table, with 24 points from 17 games. The Seasiders were relegated from the Championship last season and are expected to compete for promotion from the third tier in 2023-24. Blackpool will regard their next League One match against Shrewsbury Town on November 18 as far more important than this one, but it does provide some context.
Morecambe were relegated from League One to League Two last season, but like Blackpool, they are pushing up the table this season.
Indeed, with 27 points from 16 games, they are seventh in the table, but Derek Adams’ side will come into this match off the back of a 3-2 defeat at Grimsby Town on Saturday afternoon. Morecambe have advanced to the second round of the FA Cup, where they will face Wycombe Wanderers in early December, but their place in the competition is not guaranteed.
The Shrimps began their Group A campaign on September 19 with a 3-0 loss to Liverpool Under-21s before winning 3-1 against Barrow the following week to move to three points.
Adams’ team is third in the section with three points, level with Liverpool Under-21s, and if they avoid defeat in this match, they will advance to the second round.
Team Updates
Kylian Kouassi scored a hat-trick off the bench in Blackpool’s 5-2 win over Liverpool Under-21s in the previous round, and the forward is expected to be named to the starting lineup for this match. There will be wholesale changes to the team that faced Bolton in the league on Saturday, with Owen Dale expected to start. Back-up custodian Richard O’Donnell is also expected to play, and Tashan Oakley-Boothe will have an opportunity to shine.
Meanwhile, Morecambe manager Adams could name the same team that defeated Barrow 3-1 in the team’s previous match in this competition.
Farrend Rawson and Yann Songo’o were both introduced during the team’s League Two match against Grimsby on Saturday, and the pair are now expected to start. Cameron Rooney, 18, is also expected to get another chance in the first team.
Blackpool possible starting lineup:
O’Donnell; Tharme, Ekpiteta, Squires; Lyons, Weir, Morgan, Oakley-Boothe, Dale; Kouassi, Beesley
Morecambe possible starting lineup:
Smith; Connolly, Rawson, Stokes, Melbourne; Songo’o, Davenport; Walker, Rooney, Smith; Brown
