Luton v Blackpool preview: Kyle Vassell expected to be fit as Blackpool target final
Thursday 18 May 2017 19:10, UK
Kyle Vassell is expected to be fit for Blackpool as they target a place in the Sky Bet League Two play-off final by beating Luton on Thursday, live on Sky Sports 2 HD from 7.30pm.
The striker would provide a huge boost for Gary Bowyer after limping off in the second half of Sunday's first leg with fellow forward Jamille Matt also in contention.
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The Seasiders are 3-2 ahead in the tie after their first-leg victory at Bloomfield Road thanks to a Mark Cullen hat-trick and will be looking to maintain their advantage for a spot in the Wembley showpiece on May 28.
But Luton are hot on their heels with manager Nathan Jones two games away from promotion in his first full season with the club, and wants fans to turn Kenilworth Road into a "cauldron".
"We've got a full house," he told the club's official website. "We've sold out. We've taken most of Blackpool's tickets as well so it's going to be a Luton cauldron and that's what we want.
"We want to make sure we handle that because it's going to be a wonderful night. These are the nights when you want to be a manager and a player."
Opta stats
Luton have won nine of their last 10 home games against Blackpool in all competitions (L1).
The Tangerines' only victory in their last 14 trips to Kenilworth Road in all competitions came in February 2003, a 3-1 win courtesy of a hat-trick from John Murphy.
Blackpool have scored more goals in the Football League play-offs than any other side (42).
Luton have yet to win a single match in the play-offs, conceding two of more goals in all three games (D1 L2).
Blackpool have won four of their last five away legs in the play-offs, drawing the most recent one versus Birmingham in May 2012.
Cullen has scored five goals in his last four appearances for the Tangerines, including a hat-trick in the first leg.
Indeed, Cullen's hat-trick was the first scored in the fourth-tier play-offs since Josh Scott bagged three for Dagenham and Redbridge against Morecambe in 2010.
Danny Hylton has scored eight goals in his last 10 home appearances for the Hatters in all competitions.
Prutton's prediction
There's a lot of stuff going on around Blackpool at the moment and while they were never going to get a full house at Bloomfield Road, the football was worthy of a sell-out crowd.
I get the feeling that Luton will learn from their mistakes of the first leg. Their defending at set pieces was very questionable and they will look to tighten that up. However, you cannot write off Blackpool. They have the momentum after gate-crashing the play-offs on the final day of the season.
This one is also going to extra-time. Luton will win 1-0 to take us into the extra 30 minutes and this tie will go all the way to penalties with the Hatters squeezing through to Wembley.
PRUTTON PREDICTS: 1-0 - Luton to win on penalties (Sky Bet odds: 7/1)
