Blackpool boss makes admission ahead of Sunderland clash as Peterborough aim to put pressure on rivals

Watch more of our videos on Shots!
and live on Freeview channel 276

The Tangerines are unbeaten in their last 15 league games and have climbed to fifth in the League One table ahead of the match at Bloomfield Road.

Embleton, who joined Blackpool at the start of the campaign, has played a key part in recent weeks, with the 22-year-old midfielder starting the side’s last seven games.

“He will be a miss, but we’re used to missing important and big players this season," said Critchley when asked about Embleton.

"We knew he was never going to play in the Sunderland games, we’d already been preparing and thinking ahead in terms of the solution we’ll have to find for these games.”

Blackpool will still be without long-term injury absentees Kevin Stewart (ankle), Matty Virtue (ACL), Keshi Anderson (hamstring), CJ Hamilton (metatarsal) and Gary Madine (groin), while Bez Lubala is unavailable due to a 'club matter'.

Peterborough looking to put the pressure on

Before Sunderland’s game at Blackpool, promotion rivals Peterborough will have a chance to move eight points clear of the Black Cats.

Posh sit second in the table and have played the same number of games as Sunderland ahead of their home meeting with Northampton on Friday (7:45pm kick-off).

“I wasn’t thinking about the chance to put pressure on anyone else when we moved the game to Friday night,” said Peterborough boss Darren Ferguson. “I didn’t know when anyone else was playing when we made our decision.

“I was more concerned with getting extra rest before we play Gillingham and they don’t now play until 5.30pm tomorrow so we will almost have an extra day’s rest on them before we play them.”

Dan Neil scores winner for under-23 side against Norwich

Finally, a stoppage-time winner from Dan Neil secured a 3-2 win over Norwich for Sunderland’s under-23 side.

In-form midfielder Josh Hawkes twice levelled the contest at the Lotus Training Centre.

The result moves Sunderland up three places to sixth in the Premier League 2, Division 2, table.

A message from the Football Clubs Editor

Our aim is to provide you with the best, most up-to-date and most informative Sunderland AFC coverage 365 days a year.

This depth of coverage costs, so to help us maintain the high-quality reporting that you are used to, please consider taking out a subscription to our new sports-only package here.