Shropshire Star

Blackpool v Shrewsbury preview: Town urged to use superb FA Cup win as catalyst

Sam Ricketts wants to see belief and confidence continue to rise as Shrewsbury go about finding momentum in League One.

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Town came alive in the second half of Tuesday’s epic FA Cup tie at Stoke to seal progression and banish memories of a poor second half against Charlton six days ago.

Now it is for Town to take the belief, which should be flowing through their veins after booking a date with Wolves, to Blackpool and beyond as they bid to climb away from trouble in League One.

The Seasiders, fresh from their excellent 1-0 win at table-toppers Portsmouth, will pose stiff opposition but Town can be buoyed by the clubs’ recent head-to-head, which is nine unbeaten (and seven wins) in Shrewsbury’s favour.

“It can,” replied Ricketts when asked if the remarkable comeback could act as a shot in the arm for his team. “Listen, it’s far better winning the game.

“The players get belief. Apparently the reason we didn’t win in the first game was the pitch, or our players had to try harder because they weren’t as good.

“OK then – we went to your place and won. If the players don’t take anything from that then I’m not sure they will do.”

Under Ricketts, Shrewsbury have only picked up one league win in seven attempts, albeit in a tough run of league games.

But performances have largely been encouraging and showed improvement.

Town are yet to gain momentum in the shape of a run of victories, but the manager – appointed in early December – believes the performances have been improving.

Ricketts, who is still trying to clear out members of his squad and add options before the transfer deadline in 13 days, added: “Momentum covers confidence, enthusiasm, it covers an awful lot.

“We’ve been pretty good, a few draws where we could or should have won and all of a sudden that belief and momentum grows.

“Believe it or not we’re in a pretty good place apart from the last half an hour against Charlton, who are a good side and we lost our way. The first half wasn’t great either but we came back from that (at Stoke).

“As a whole we’re in a good place while also recognising we need to improve and get better.”

Ricketts, who is in the hunt for a centre-forward to boost his firepower, especially in the light of Lenell John-Lewis’ season-ending injury, added: “Yes we all want to be higher but ultimately I can only worry about our performances.

“And like I said we’re in a pretty good place despite where we are in the league. We’re in a good place performance-wise.

“Yes we need to improve, keep stepping it up and turning draws into wins – because our performances have generally been pretty much there.

“Win or lose, it’s been nearly 50-50, it’s the fine details to make sure we come out on the right side more often than not.”

Terry McPhillips, who took over from Gary Bowyer after just one game this season, has guided Blackpool to ninth in League One.

Town are without midfielder Dave Edwards.

The former Wales international, 32, will miss out with the groin injury he picked up on his Salop return last weekend.

Winger Shaun Whalley, who has been out injured since October, remains sidelined with a hamstring injury.

The opposition

Blackpool are having a solid season. Better than solid, in fact, when you take into account the background news surrounding the Oystons ownership of the troubled club.

They are solidly lodged in the top half, ninth, even after a difficult Christmas period that has seen some of the Seasiders’ early-season promise wane slightly.

Boss Terry McPhillips, who resumed full control after a successful caretaker stint following the exit of Gary Bowyer, has done a commendable job at Bloomfield Road.

A run of five straight wins in all competitions at the end of November had Blackpool within a point of the play-offs after 19 games but, perhaps understandably, the leading pack – with far more financial clout – have began to pull away.

Yet Blackpool are at the forefront of the ‘best of the rest’, still with an extremely good opportunity to improve on last season’s finish of 12th – some effort after the upheaval of losing boss Bowyer one game into the season.

Blackpool’s rocky festive form has not been down to simply running out of steam or levelling out.

Key first-team defenders Curtis Tilt – formerly of AFC Telford United – and Ollie Turton have both been out since December and have proved a big blow to a side who pride themselves on conceding few goals and earning narrow wins.

Add to the injury list first-choice goalkeeper Mark Howard and Joe Dodoo, ex-Town man Jimmy Ryan and Mark Cullen and it is clear McPhillips’ men have endured a rotten bit of luck.

Stoppers Tilt and Turton, at least, are back in contention for tomorrow’s visit of Sam Ricketts’ Shrews.

Building on such a solid foundation earlier in the season, if Blackpool had been blessed with more firepower, they could have made a real fist of reaching the play-offs.

But, due to issues off the field, they are not in a position to recruit seasoned centre-forwards with a proven hit rate at this level.

But the Bloomfield Road chief has a coherent and flexible side, who can operate in either a four-man defence or a wing-back 3-5-2 system, and he should be applauded.

A superb 1-0 win at leaders Portsmouth last time out, after seven without a win, shows they can mix it with the best.

Dangerman

Armand Gnanduillet

The powerful forward is Blackpool’s top goalscorer with nine goals this term but is beginning to show the all-round game of a centre-forward blessed with his physique. Superb at linking play with forward runners and a threat with his back to goal. Is without a goal in six games – so is definitely due one.

Shrewsbury key man

Greg Docherty

Back to his flying best in the second half at Stoke. Can be Town’s match-winner as he looks to continue impressing.

Memory lane

An overhead kick by Nat Knight-Percival, right, set Town on their way to a 3-2 win in February 2016. Shaun Whalley and Andy Mangan also netted.

Pie and a pint

Lytham Road is the place to be. You can find the Old Bridge House, Manchester Bar and Albert Pub in close proximity to Bloomfield Road. Pies are cheap at £2.50.

Likely line-ups

Shrewsbury (3-5-2): Arnold; Beckles, Waterfall, Sadler (c); Bolton, Docherty, Grant, Laurent, Haynes; Gilliead, Okenabirhie.

Subs: Emmanuel, Sears, Norburn, Eisa, Angol, Amadi-Holloway, Charles-Cook (gk)

Blackpool (3-5-2): Mafoumbi; Daniels, Tilt, Heneghan; Turton, Spearing, Guy, Thompson, Bola; Delfouneso, Gnanduillet