MillersMad Match Thread...Millers v Blackpool

[Heliosphan78]

Hello everyone and welcome to another home game and match thread. This time we welcome the Seasiders to the NYS.

Let's meet our visitors.

The Boss
Most Millers fans will be familiar with Ian Evatt after his exploits at Bolton. He achieved promotion from L2 with the Trotters in his first season in charge but couldn't take them any further, despite making the L1 play offs twice. He won the EFL Trophy with Bolton in 2023.

He was appointed Blackpool boss on 21st October this year, a club he made over 200 appearances for as a player. Blackpool won their first 3 games with Evatt at the helm but then hit a run of 5 without a win, a run which ended last Sunday after they beat Carlisle in the FA Cup.

Player(s) to watch
Michael Ihiekwe
We may or may not see the former Rotherham player on Wednesday evening. He has been a regular in the Blackpool defence this season but hasn't featured in the match day squad in either of their last two games.

Ashley Fletcher
Blackpool's top scorer with 10 goals in all competitions. He came through the Man Utd youth academy and went on to play for the likes of West Ham and Middlesbrough, as well as having a loan spell at Sheffield Wednesday. He joined Blackpool after being released by Watford in June 2024.

Bailey Peacock-Farrell
The 29 year old goalkeeper made 47 appearances for Sheffield Wednesday and has been capped 52 times for Northern Ireland. He is currently on loan from Birmingham.

Last 6
Blackpool 4 v 1 Carlisle (FA Cup)
Harrogate 4 v 2 Blackpool (Vertu)
Blackpool 0 v 3 Reading (L1)
Leyton Orient 1 v 1 Blackpool (L1)
Burton 1 v 0 Blackpool (L1)
Tranmere 2 v 1 Blackpool (Vertu)

Latest Odds
Millers 11/8 Draw 11/5 Blackpool 21/10

Recent Meetings
(5/4/2025)
Rotherham 2 v 1 Blackpool (L1)
Odoffin, Rafferty

(11/2/2025)
Blackpool 0 v 0 Rotherham (L1)

Overall record v Blackpool
W20 D9 L15

Summary
Blackpool have the unenviable record of being statistically the worst team in L1 away from home. Out of their 9 league games, they've lost 7, drawn 1 and won 1, scoring 4 goals and conceding 13. They'll be keen to turn this around as soon as possible. However if history is anything to go by, it is unlikely to start on Wednesday because Blackpool haven't beaten us in 14 attempts, a run stretching back to 31 March 1997.

Blackpool aren't playing particularly well at the moment, although it's worth noting that they won 4-1 against Carlisle Utd in the FA Cup last Sunday, ending a run of 5 games without a win. They played quite a strong team on Sunday, so there may be an element of fatigue or squad rotation on Wednesday evening. Either way, they've had a lot less time to prepare for this one than we have. So with that in mind and our current home record, I fully expect us to extend our unbeaten run in the league to 10 games. I doubt they'll be a pushover because they have some good players but this is a game we should be winning.

Enjoy it everyone, UTM.