Blackpool vs Stevenage Prediction: Boro can take advantage of Bruce winging it

Steve Bruce’s Blackpool kick off their League 1 campaign with the visit of Stevenage in the traditional Saturday 15:00 kick-off slot. 

The Tangerines have had a busy summer, with last season’s free-scoring loanee Niall Ennis signed permanently alongside seasoned midfielder George Honeyman and robust centre back Fraser Horsfall.

Stevenage boss Alex Revell welcomes ex-Wolverhampton Wanderers youngster Chem Campbell and Plymouth pair Jordan Houghton and Saxon Earley into his refreshed squad ahead of the new season.

Here are my Blackpool vs Stevenage predictions as last season’s ninth-placed side plays the team who finished 14th.

Team News

Seasiders winger Tom Bloxham missed the last three games of pre-season, and was in contention for a return here, before a late setback kept him sidelined.

Joining him is CJ Hamilton, who misses out with a dislocated shoulder. Hamilton and Bloxham on the injured list leaves Bruce short of wingers, with homegrown star Rob Apter also departing for Charlton Athletic a few days ago. 

Midfielder Albie Morgan is a doubt with a thigh injury while club captain James Husband and Crystal Palace loanee Danny Imray will also miss out. 

Football Odds

Stevenage will be missing striker Tyreece Simpson, who has suffered a ruptured Achilles tendon and a small calf tear that will keep him on the sidelines for the foreseeable future. Louis Thompson is another long-term absentee.

Blackpool vs Stevenage Odds

Blackpool are 1/2 favourites to triumph on their own patch. The Boro are priced at 3/1, giving them a 25% implied probability of victory. You can back the draw at 12/5.

Stevenage to win @ 3/1

A simple bet on the underdog victory to start the season. As you have read above, The Tangerines are ravaged by injuries. The flanks are particularly badly hit, with Bruce experimenting with a wing-back system at times during pre-season. But even his options there have taken a it, given the fact Imray is a natural fit for the right wing back role. 

These teams drew 0-0 over Christmas last season, before Blackpool secured a 3-1 away in April. I would back them to do the same if Bruce had more options in wide areas. But on the first day of the season, with teams already reaching for a rhythm, I can see Blackpool coming unstuck against a more settled Stevenage side.

Jamie Reid to score anytime @ 13/5

The Northern Ireland international was unable to match his 2023/24 heroics last season. Reid was joint-third in the race for the League 1 Golden Boot in his first Stevenage campaign, netting 18 league goals. That total came down to eight last season but this is still a player who knows his way around a penalty area.

Reid looks set to hit the ground running, after scoring what turned out to be the winning goal in Boro’s final pre-season friendly, a 2-1 win over Milton Keynes Dons.

I’m backing the 31-year-old to kick his season off with a goal, taking advantage of a Blackpool side I expect to be out-of-sorts.

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