Bristol City v Blackpool: Back Blackpool to draw another blank and boost City to 2/1

• Alex Scott remains a reason to watch this game

• Mick McCarthy has provided no spark to Blackpool

• City's home form can boost the Robins up to 2/1

Starlet Scott the one to Watch

Bristol City come into this one off the back of two disappointing results, drawing a blank against both Cardiff and Huddersfield to take just one point from two winnable games.

Having been on a fantastic run of form before the 3-0 defeat to Manchester City in the FA Cup, it seems that the cup exploits may have taken their toll on Nigel Pearson's side, who looked destined for a mid-table finish.

With little to play for now this season, City fans will instead spend it appreciating the talents of Alex Scott, who will be subject of much Premier League interest in the summer.

The 'Guernsey Grealish' is maybe the most exciting talent outside the top flight, with his sublime ball-control and dribbling ability a joy to behold in the middle of the park.

With Newcastle and Spurs among those linked, Blackpool will have to stop Scott to get anything out of this game.

No new manager bounce for Mick

When Blackpool swapped Michael Appleton for Mick McCarthy in mid-January, it looked an understandable move to bring in the fire-fighter needed to stop their return to League One, yet in reality it has done little to improve their survival chances.

He has won just one game of the eight he has taken charge of in the league, and the performances have also been alarmingly poor.

The Tangerines now find themselves six points from safety, and their experienced manager is going to have to find a spark from somewhere to even stand a chance of staying in the division.

Fortress Ashton Gate

Bristol City are unbeaten in their last five home league matches (W3 D2), last enjoying a longer unbeaten run at Ashton Gate between August and November 2019 (eight unbeaten).

They also have a great record in this fixture, losing just of their last 14 home league games against Blackpool (W7, D5), last tasting defeat in 2012.

Mick McCarthy also has a very poor record against Bristol City, winning just two of his last 11 league matches against them, although he did win in his last visit to Ashton Gate in February 2021 (2-0 win with Cardiff).

Robins to ravage blunt Blackpool

Having often struggled for form at Ashton Gate, Bristol City are in great form at home at the moment.

They've won three of their last five and the last two of those have been 1-0.

Given that their opponents in those, Norwich and Hull, travelled to the south-west in much better shape than Blackpool will, it would be no surprise if Pearson's side were able to repeat the trick and win to nil for a third time.

Blackpool have lost their last five away games and in three of those they failed to score.

It wouldn't be a huge shock if McCarthy does get an improvement at some point, but all the evidence to hand suggests backing Bristol City to win to nil at 2/1 is the way to play this one.