Blackpool ,manager Lee Clark has set his players a points target ahead of a run of games where they face teams in and around them in the Sky Bet Championship.

Clark has set a points target

Clark's side sit rock bottom of the table and are nine points adrift of 23rd placed Birmingham, who they face at the start of December. Before facing Gary Rowett's Blues, Blackpool have games against Bolton and Rotherham and Clark wants his players to take full advantage of the six-pointers coming up.

“The next five games we've set ourselves a target in terms of where we want to be points wise, where we want to be goal difference wise, and we believe it's a realistic target,” he told the club website.

“Obviously it has to be started with that next win and the next three games are huge. Up until January there is a run of games where we've got teams in and around us.

“We can not only stop them gaining points, we can claw back the points deficit on them and that's what we've got to start doing.”

Clark feels that the international break will have done his players well and will give them a slight advantage going into the Christmas period, “I think we're better equipped since the break because the players are understanding what I'm after.

"They certainly will be fitter because of the work we've put into them in the last two weeks.

“We need to get to a position where we start challenge, putting them under a bit of pressure. If we can gradually start doing it and get on a run it breeds confidence into the club,”

Blackpool start this run of "huge" games with a visit from a new look, in-form Bolton who under the guidance of Neil Lennon have climbed out the bottom three, winning four of their last six fixtures. “It's not going to be easy on Saturday" he added.

"Neil has got them playing very well with lots of confidence, I know what they're about. Myself and Alan Thompson were at their last game and they recorded a terrific win against Wigan."