Good afternoon, and welcome to Sports Mole's live text commentary of this afternoon's Championship match between Blackpool and Burnley at Bloomfield Road.
Burnley can win promotion to the Premier League today if they win and Derby County fail to beat Doncaster Rovers in the day's 7:30pm kickoff.
Please note that this game begins at 5:15pm.
4.53pmHere we are then! With games four games still remaining, Burnley can win promotion to the Premier League if they defeat Blackpool and Derby County fail to win at Doncaster Rovers later this evening. Why not take a look at the current Championship table?
4.55pmThere are five other Championship games which are just about finishing around the country now. Defeated FA Cup finalists Wigan Athletic beat Reading 3-0, and the other games will finish any minute now.
4.58pmTeam news coming up...
4.58pmBlackpool: Gilks, McMahon, McGahey, Cathcart, Robinson, Basham, Osbourne, Ferguson, Perkins, Bishop, Goodwillie
Substitutes: Haroun, Halliday, Grandin, Dobbie, Barkhuizen, Keogh, Almond
5.00pmBurnley: Heaton, Mee, Duff, Shackell, Trippier, Kightly, Marney, Jones, Arfield, Barnes, Ings
Substitutes: Cisak, Wallace, Stanislas, Long, Baird, Edgar, Treacy
5.04pmWhile Burnley are on the verge of promotion, today's hosts are precariously close to the drop zone, and are only two points ahead of 22nd-placed Millwall.
5.09pmThe omens are not good for the Seasiders, who have won only twice in their last 25 games. Burnley are showing signs of a wobble as the finish line approaches though, as they have won just once in their last four games.
5.12pmBlackpool caretaker boss Barry Ferguson has named himself in his side's starting lineup for the second game in a row as he looks for a positive result which would do wonders for their survival hopes.
5.14pmThe teams are out on the pitch ahead of kickoff, which is just 60 seconds away! With that in mind, I am going to look into my crystal ball and predict a 3-1 win for Burnley today. I just think their firepower up top will prove too strong for Blackpool.
1 minBurnley start brightly, and the hosts have to turn the ball behind for a corner early on after a deep cross from Michael Kightly.
2 minHowever, the corner comes to nothing and Blackpool are now in possession.
3 minKieran Trippier marauds forward from right-back, as he has done all season, and picks out Ashley Barnes, His header falls to Michael Kightly, but the shot is fired straight at Matt Gilks.
5 minA scrappy period of play on the left-hand side of Blackpool's goal, as the ball is continuously booted into the air. It ends with a long throw for Blackpool going straight out for a goal kick.
7 minAn early feature of the game has seen Burnley get the ball wide as quickly as possible. With Blackpool playing a 3-5-2 formation, there may be space for the visitors if they can engineer an overlap.
9 minCHANCE! Michael Kightly bursts onto a weak back pass by the young Blackpool left-back Jack Robinson, but the Burnley winger scuffs his shot at Matt Gilks, who saves well with his feet! A real opening for Burnley there, and Kightly will be disappointed that he hasn't put his side ahead.
9 minAshley Barnes went down under a challenge as he contested for a header immediately after Michael Kightly's miss, but the referee was having none of it. There certainly was grappling as the ball came in, but it would have been a very soft penalty.
12 minThe Blackpool player-manager Barry Ferguson swings in a free kick from the right touchline, but Burnley easily clear.
14 minKieran Trippier slices a cross high into the stand at Bloomfield Road. Uncharacteristically poor from the Burnley right-back, who has an astounding 14 assists already this season!
16 minKieran Trippier has gone to ground after a challenge by Barry Ferguson, but the teams are playing on...
17 min... but the Burnley player is back on his feet. Michael Oliver decides not to book the Blackpool player-manager, which may be lenient. The replay shows that Ferguson lashed out and kicked Trippier in the back of the leg after the ball had gone. A needless risk to take from such an experienced player.
18 minDavid Goodwillie sends a free header into the body of Kieran Trippier at the far post, and when Blackpool fail to clear, the ball comes back to the Scot. His second effort from 20 yards is ballooned over the bar. Two difficult chances for Goodwillie, but he will be disappointed that he hasn't tested Tom Heaton there.
20 minBen Mee is laying on the Bloomfield Road turf after crashing into Tony McMahon as the two contested a header. The Burnley defender is slowly getting back to his feet, but that was a thumping challenge.
22 minThe possession statistics at the halfway point in the half show this to be a very even game. Blackpool are just edging it, having had 51% of the ball so far.
24 minThe game has entered a bit of a lull recently. It needs a spark of creativity to bring it back to life.
26 minCHANCE! Burnley keep the ball for a very long time before working it into the right channel. The ball eventually drops to Danny Ings, who swivels and fires at Matt Gilks, but he kicks his shot into the turf and it is gathered with ease. A tough chance for Ings, but given his goalscoring record so far this season, I wouldn't have been surprised to see the net bulge there.
30 minCHANCE! Craig Cathcart loses the flight of a long ball in the low sun, and knees the ball to Ashley Barnes. The winger immediately picks out Danny Ings, who takes one touch out of his feet and fires a low shot at goal, but Matt Gilks scoops it up. Another good chance for the Burnley forward.
32 minBlackpool have been really poor in the final third. They work the ball well into midfield, but Neal Bishop and David Goodwillie are fighting on scraps at the moment. Burnley, meanwhile, have tested Matt Gilks on four occasions already.
35 minJason Shackell stretches to cut out an Isaiah Osbourne cross with David Goodwillie lurking. A vital touch by the Burnley centre-back.
36 minKieran Trippier sends in a peach of a cross, which Ashley Barnes comes close to connecting with, but the referee blows up for a foul on Blackpool debutant's defender Harrsion McGahey.
38 minDanny Ings turns the ball around the corner for his strike partner Ashley Barnes, but he is marginally offside.
40 minDavid Goodwillie chases down a long punt upfield and wins his side a throw in. That is the sort of service the Blackpool forwards have been dealing with in this first half, while Burnley have shown more quality in the final third.
41 minA break in play as the Blackpool left-back Jack Robinson is receiving treatment.
43 minThe Liverpool loanee is back on the pitch.
43 minAshley Barnes controls the ball after a long punt by Tom Heaton and fires a vicious shot towards goal, but it swerves harmlessly wide.
44 minSUBSTITUTION: Jack Robinson is replaced by Andy Halliday. Robinson was unable to shake of that injury, which he picked up while making a firm challenge of Ashley Barnes.
44 minAnd the substitute is straight into the action. He arrives late to meet Tony McMahon's deep cross at the far post, but his header sails over the bar.
45 minThree minutes of added time.
45 min+2Michael Kightly cuts in from the right wing and shoots, but his shot is deflected and it loops into the hands of Matt Gilks. Kightly has been the game's brightest spark, and he seems to have been given a free role today. He is popping up on both the left and right flanks at will.
6.03pmHALF TIME: Blackpool 0-0 Burnley
6.05pmWell, hardly a thriller. Both sides look rather nervous, and that has translated to there being very little in the way of quality on the pitch. Having said that, Michael Kightly and Kieran Trippier have looked bright in spells for the visitors, while Danny Ings has shown he is a threat, despite missing two good chances.
6.06pmThe best chance of the half undoubtedly fell to Michael Kightly, though. The winger really should have put his side ahead in the ninth minute, but he fluffed his lines and fired straight at Matt Gilks.
6.11pmThe half time statistics show that Burnley have edged that first half. While both teams have had 50% possession, the visitors have fired four of their five shots on target. In contrast, Blackpool haven't tested Tom Heaton with any of their three shots.
6.14pmLet's hope things liven up in the second half! This result will not be enough for Burnley as things stand. They need to win to gain promotion and hope Derby County fail to beat Doncaster Rovers in the day's 7:30pm kickoff.
46 minKICKOFF: We are back underway at Bloomfield Road.
46 minHe's at it again! Michael Kightly skips past Andy Halliday and puts in a superb low cross which evades everyone!
47 minCHANCE! The best opening of the game so far! A well-worked Burnley corner is rolled into the feet of Michael Duffy, who turns his man and sees the goal open up infront of him, but from just eight yards out, the centre-back slices his shot wide of the near post. A glorious opportunity!
49 minGOAL! Blackpool 0-1 Burnley (Michael Kightly)
49 minIt's there! A splendid goal by Michael Kightly to open the scoring! The right winger plays a one-two with Dean Mareny on the edge of the box before opening his body up to curl a left-footed shot into the far corner of the net from 20 yards out. A goal of the highest quality!
51 minBlackpool will now have to do what they haven't done all season - win a game after going behind. It will be a tough task, particularly as they haven't even managed a shot on target so far.
54 minThe game has been stopped now, as the Blackpool fans have thrown a load of tennis balls onto the pitch. Yes, you read that right, tennis balls. It is in protest against the club's owner, Karl Oysten. Barry Ferguson is one of the players who is kicking them off the pitch, and he looks seething.
57 minSUBSTITUTION: Louis Almond replaces David Goodwillie as Blackpool look for a way back into the game.
59 minHere are the Burnley fans celebrating that Michael Kightly opener.
Burnley fans celebrate Michael Kightly's goal at Blackpool https://t.co/NEuINS4KbA
— Burnley FC (@BurnleyOfficial) April 18, 201460 minHalf an hour remains. Can Blackpool salvage something here?
62 minBOOKING! Dean Marney has been shown a yellow card for an off the ball incident. I'm not entirely sure what happened there, but the Burnley man didn't seem to be complaining.
63 minBOOKING! Isaiah Osbourne is the next man to enter Michael Oliver's book for scything down Danny Ings from behind. A very risky challenge by the tall central midfielder. A free kick to Burnley.
65 minDavid Perkins hoists a hopeful ball into the Burnley box and it is comfortably cleared. That is indicative of what Blackpool have done all afternoon in the final third. They are crying out for someone with the creativity of Michael Kightly.
67 minA tough challenge by Harrison McGahey leaves Ashley Barnes on the floor, but not free kick is given.
68 minSUBSTITUTION: Junior Stanislas comes on to replace the goalscorer Michael Kightly. That change surprises me a little, as Kightly has been the best player on the pitch today.
70 minMad scenes at Bloomfield Road, as a member of the Blackpool coaching staff is sent to the stand for pushing his hands into the face of his own player Stephen Dobbie!
72 minSUBSTITUTION: After all that, Stephen Dobbie does eventually come on for Blackpool, as Isaiash Osbourne makes way. It is the final throw of the dice for the Seasiders.
75 minDean Marney brings down David Perkins, and the Burnley midfielder has already been booked. Michael Oliver is lenient, but tells Marney that he will be sent off if he makes any further fouls. It may be wise to take him off.
78 minLouis Almond goes down under a clumsy challenge by Kieran Trippier, but Michael Oliver isn't interested. The replay did show Trippier tangling legs with the forward, and I don't think there would have been many complaints had a penalty been awarded there.
80 minTen minutes to go, and Blackpool haven't had any chances at all in this second half. They need to find two goals in ten minutes against the Championship's best defensive side. And they haven't registered a single shot on target in the first 80 minutes here. Hmmm...
82 minSUBSTITUTION: Sean Dyche makes his side's second change, and it is Dean Marney who makes way for Chris Baird.
83 minAshley Barnes heads narrowly over the bar from Junior Stanislas's inswinging cross from the left wing. The offside flag had been raised, but Barnes should have hit the target nonetheless.
85 minThe Burnley fans are in full voice at Bloomfield Road, which is in total contrast to the home fans, who only came alive when they threw tennis balls onto the pitch in protest.
87 minBlackpool may have something to cheer soon though, as Barry Ferguson stands over a free kick on the right-hand side of the box.
88 minThe free kick is headed away by Burnley though. A second ball comes back into the box, and Harrison McGahey fires a low half-volley towards goal, but it is blocked.
88 minBOOKING: Jason Shackell was shown a yellow card for the foul which resulted in the free kick.
89 minA Blackpool corner is cleared. They are throwing everything at Burnley here, but it looks as though they won't find a breakthrough.
90 minFive minutes of added time to be played.
90 min+1Blackpool are launching the ball into the box repeatedly, but Burnley are defending valiantly here! Four minutes left to play.
90 min+2BOOKING: Tony McMahon is the latest player to enter the book for a late challenge on Ben Mee as the Burnley defender shepherded the ball out of play.
90 min+3SUBSTITUTION: David Edgar replaces Danny Ings for Burnley, as Blackpool wait to take a corner with two minutes remaining.
90 min+4CHANCE! David Halliday sends a superb volley flying towards the top corner, but as it dips and swerves towards goal, Kieran Trippier leaps and heads the ball off the line. A marvellous strike and an equally brilliant stop by Trippier!
7.10pmFULL TIME: Blackpool 0-1 Burnley
7.11pmThey've done their part! Burnley have battled their way to a 1-0 win at Blackpool, and they will wait anxiously now for the result of the Derby County vs. Donacaster Rovers game at 7:30pm. If Derby fail to win, Burnley will be promoted to the Premier League this evening!
7.12pmBurnley deserved their win today. It wasn't vintage stuff from Sean Dyche's side, but they ground out that win. Blackpool were poor. Their only real chance came from Andy Halliday's outrageous volley in the 94th minute, which Kieran Trippier somehow headed off the line.
7.14pmThat's all from me in this game, and thanks for staying with me through that! There is still more Championship football today though. Why don't you head across to my second live commentary of the day as Doncaster Rovers take on Derby County. Go on, you know you want to...
