Blackpool face a tough test at Bloomfield Road as form side Burton head to Lancashire

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Neil Critchley was left frustrated with his side being unable to take chances against Fleetwood and will want a cutting edge against form side Burton.

Blackpool sit 12th in the League One table, five points from the playoff places with two games in hand but a number of recent home draws have left the Seasiders with an urge to get back to winning ways in this one.

Burton have staged a remarkable turnaround in a short space of time under Jimmy Floyd Hasselbaink, with his side winning six league games in a row to fly away from what was a certain relegation battle only a couple of months ago.

Kane Hemmings has been the main man for the Brewers up front with 13 goals in the league, seeing a fresh run of form at the perfect time lifting his side up from what was a miserable season.

Burton have taken the scalp of Peterborough in recent weeks but Critchley will look more closely at their victories over Wimbledon and Crewe to analyse where his side sit in perspective, having drawn with them at Bloomfield Road this month.

Hasselbaink’s side brushed Crewe aside away from home in a 3-0 victory, Dave Artell’s team probably being the toughest test the Tangerines have faced at Bloomfield Road this season on the other hand.

However, they can take heart from the expected goals stats from that game that saw Crewe and Burton level with 1.46xG each, showing that although Burton were incredibly clinical with the chances they had, Crewe could so easily have mustered the same on a different day.

Neil Critchley will take hope from that in his bid to continue Blackpool’s unbeaten run at home that has lasted since October.

Having said that, he will need to see his side become more clinical in front of goal with Gary Madine continuing to be a big loss, although his return from injury appears to be edging ever closer.

Oliver Turton put in a man of the match performance at right back against Fleetwood on Saturday and that will more than likely see him retain his place ahead of Jordan Gabriel, with both players producing their best when they get a chance to prove themselves in the team.

Ellis Simms has been entrusted with taking up the mantle that Madine has left before him but so far it is becoming increasingly apparent that he is not being played to his strengths.

His physicality lacks at times when looking to hold up the ball and his first touch has been wayward, leaving Jerry Yates more isolated than he has been for most of the season so far.

Simms, the Everton loanee, is still very raw and young with years of experience still ahead of him and there is no doubt those weaknesses in his game will develop over time, but for now, if Blackpool want to get the best of Ellis Simms they need to look to play him in behind and use his instinctive finishing ability to their benefit.

Either that or a switch to 4-3-3 would be well advised, something that they have played with throughout the campaign.

In Kenny Dougall, Kevin Stewart, Grant Ward and Matty Virtue they have four of the best central midfielders in the division and to get the best out of Blackpool, using those talents wherever possible seems a much more assured decision.

This game could not come at a better time for Burton, having postponed this fixture twice previously when the club were on a different trajectory.

Blackpool will see this as one of their toughest tests to date but at home they have conquered near enough any challenge that has been set.

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