Blackpool vs Sunderland; Sky Bet League One
Blackpool vs Sunderland. Sky Bet League One.
Bloomfield RoadAttendance10,994.
Blackpool vs Sunderland preview
Monday 31 December 2018 12:35, UK
Jordan Thompson remains banned for Blackpool when they host Sunderland.
The midfielder is serving the second game of a three-match ban after being sent off against Rochdale.
Joe Dodoo (ankle) and Max Clayton (hamstring) are doubts for Terry McPhillips' Tangerines having missed Saturday's 0-0 draw at AFC Wimbledon. Striker Mark Cullen remains a long-term absentee with a fracture in his leg.
Reece James and Duncan Watmore are pushing to start for Sunderland, along with Charlie Wyke, now the trio are available. George Honeyman (ankle) and Adam Matthews (calf) have missed the last three games and will be assessed.
Sunderland were unchanged for the 1-1 draw against Shrewsbury so boss Jack Ross may be tempted to make alterations this time. Sunderland are seven points behind Sky Bet League One leaders Portsmouth.
Opta stats
This will be the first encounter between Blackpool and Sunderland in any competition since the 2010-11 Premier League season - the away side won both meetings in that campaign, Blackpool winning 2-0 at the Stadium of Light before the Black Cats won 2-1 at Bloomfield Road.
Outside of the top-flight, Blackpool and Sunderland haven't met since March 1988 in the third tier, a 2-2 draw.
Blackpool haven't lost a home league game on New Year's Day since 1966, when they were beaten 1-2 by Chelsea in the top-flight (P9 W4 D5 L0 since).
Sunderland have lost each of their last three league games on the first day of the calendar year, since a Ji Dong-Won winner saw them beat Manchester City 1-0 in the Premier League in 2012.
Blackpool lost 0-1 to Barnsley in their last home league match; they haven't lost consecutive league games on home soil since December 2017 (three straight defeats).
