Blackpool Hosts Wrexham in Crucial League One Clash Monday

BLACKPOOL, England — Blackpool is set to face Wrexham on Monday, April 21, at 3 PM BST in a critical League One encounter at Bloomfield Road. With promotion aspirations at stake, both teams seek to take all three points as the season nears its conclusion.

Blackpool comes into this match on a strong run, having won four out of their last five games. The Seasiders notched a 3-1 victory against Stevenage last time out, thanks to a remarkable hat-trick from Rob Apter. Despite this recent success, Blackpool sits in 10th place in the standings with 58 points, six points adrift of the playoff positions.

The home side, managed by Steve Bruce, has emerged as one of the toughest teams in League One, losing only three of their 20 matches this year. They possess a game in hand on most teams above them, creating a chance to climb higher in the standings with a win this weekend.

Conversely, Wrexham, managed by Phil Parkinson, is struggling to maintain its earlier form that positioned them for automatic promotion. The Red Dragons have seen their fortunes dip, drawing their last two matches against relegation-threatened sides, including a recent 1-1 tie against Bristol Rovers. Currently third in the standings with 83 points, they are just one point behind Wycombe Wanderers, who occupy the second automatic promotion spot.

“We need to rediscover our form quickly,” Parkinson said. “This is a massive match for us if we want to play in the Championship next season. Every point counts, especially with our rivals just ahead of us. Wrexham has to get back to winning sooner rather than later, and anything less than three points Monday could severely hurt our chances of promotion.”

Wrexham’s recent struggle to secure wins has caught up with them, particularly after their failure to prevail against lower-tier teams like Cambridge United and Wigan Athletic earlier in April. The pressure mounts as they face a formidable Blackpool side that excels on its home ground.

In terms of personnel, Blackpool may be without striker Niall Ennis, who is recovering from an injury. Should he be sidelined, Tom Bloxham is expected to partner Ashley Fletcher in the attack. Apter will continue on the right, while Lee Evans and Albie Morgan anchor the midfield, supporting Sonny Carey on the left.

Wrexham will need to adjust their defense as skipper Eoghan O'Connell was forced off during the last match. Expected to fill his role is Dan Scarr, alongside Max Cleworth and Lewis Brunt in the back three. Jay Rodriguez and Sam Smith are likely to lead the line, and wing-backs Ryan Longman and Ryan Barnett will aim to provide width.

With so much at stake, both teams are expected to approach the match with urgency. Blackpool’s recent form and strong home advantage could play a significant role, while Wrexham aims to regain stability before the season concludes.