Preview: Luton Town vs. Blackpool - prediction, team news, lineups

Luton Town are 20 places ahead of Blackpool in the Championship table heading into Monday's encounter at Kenilworth Road.

The Hatters could only draw in Friday's playoff head-to-head against Millwall, while the relegation-threatened Lancashire club were beaten 3-1 by Cardiff City at Bloomfield Road.

Match preview

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Another draw for Luton on Friday — this time against their promotion rivals Millwall — was their 14th of a season which could have put Rob Edwards and his team in the automatic promotion conversation.

The third-placed side are eight points behind Sheffield United after Friday's goalless encounter, albeit having played a game more, but could be closer to the Blades — who have drawn seven matches — or even higher had those draws been wins.

However, the reality for the Hatters puts them in third place, favourites for the Championship playoffs barring any collapse in the season's denouement.

They are guaranteed to stay third regardless of this weekend's results, but victory over the struggling side is expected in the forthcoming round of matches.

Blackpool's struggles this season are evident, especially in defence, where they have conceded 64 times in 40 fixtures.

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They have the competition's worst defensive record, but their commendable return up top — the Seasiders have scored the joint-highest goals in the bottom five — highlights their match-winning quality.

However, the struggling side parted company with Mick McCarthy on Saturday morning after Good Friday's loss in Cardiff, with Stephen Dobbie taking charge of the first team for the remainder of the season, to be assisted by Matt Blinkhorn and Steve Banks.

McCarthy won just two of his 13 Championship games in charge of the club, with the 6-1 triumph over Queens Park Rangers their only win in the last five.

They are seven points adrift of safety, and time is running out on the Tangerines' prospects of beating the drop with six games to play.

Team News

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Edwards utilised a 3-1-4-2 on Friday, but the Luton boss is expected to revert to a 3-4-1-2 against the strugglers.

Having not netted in his last three league appearances for the Hatters, leading goalscorer Carlton Morris will relish the opportunity to end that run against the second-bottom side.

It remains to be seen if Dobbie alters much against the third-placed club in the Championship, especially with minimal time on the training ground with the players after McCarthy's departure.

The former Blackpool boss utilised a back for and three in defence in his short period in charge, possibly leaving Luton guessing on Monday.

Callum Connolly was booked on Friday, thus ruling out the Englishman of Monday's game. Jerry Yates joined Marvin Ekpiteta, Charlie Goode, Liam Bridcutt, Kevin Stewart, Tom Trybull, Shayne Lavery, Jake Beesley and Gary Madine on the injury list this week.

Luton Town possible starting lineup:

Horvath; Osho, Lockyer, Bell; Drameh, Mpanzu, Nakamba, Doughty; Campbell; Morris, Adebayo

Blackpool possible starting lineup:

Maxwell; Lawrence-Campbell, Nelson, Husband, Thompson; Carey, Dougall, Patino; Bowler, Rogers, Poveda

We say: Luton Town 1-0 Blackpool

Luton are expected to record another slender home victory against an injury-ravaged opponent to claim a fourth straight win at Kenilworth Road.

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