Match Preview: Blackpool FC vs Wigan Athletic

The mid-week game would be known for two offside goals that looked suspiciously onside. It was a much improved performance from the weekends 3-0 defeat to Charlton. Yet we are still languishing second bottom of the table looking nervously over our shoulders at today's opposition.

Blackpool who were the team mixed and matched together over the summer with financial problems and players shipped out left right and centre. It was going to be a mammoth task for anyone and that has proved to be the point.

The fight and spirit you want in a team at the bottom looks to be there compared to the like of us at Wigan Athletic. Yet the quality and the ability to grind out results as been continually missing from Blackpool's performances.

They are going through a period of improved performances are Blackpool and they have closed the gap on us to just the three points. If they beat us today they will go level on points, only behind on goal difference.

We have to look at this game as a chance to try and get points to catch the teams above us.

The question is who will be part of the team for today's game. Will we stick with the team which came so close to getting against Cardiff in mid-week? I would like to think so. As a group it was as close to a strongest line up we have at the moment.

William Kvist and Leon Clarke will both be absent from the game, Clarke on the path to recovery following his injury scare. Leon Barnett could be ready to return to the fold this weekend, hopefully Mackay will keep him on the bench. With Chris McCann unlikely to be ready to make the step up to the starting line up following his injury. The midfielder still off starting pace.

We need it to click today. It is a huge game for both teams and only a win will be help to either side. This game has to be geared up towards a cup final, the players need to know that if we don't win this could be any chance of us getting to safety.

So come on Wigan, let's get three points on the board today!