Blackpool will be looking for a win that move them away from relegation zone when they host Preston North End on Saturday, in what will be the first West Lancashire derby of the season.
Twelve places and six points separate the two teams heading into the contest, with Blackpool struggling in their second season back in the Championship.
After six hecting years in the lower divisions of the English Football League, Blackpool are enjoying their second stint in the Championship following a respectable 16th-placed finish last season.
However, key departures in the summer have left Blackpool looking worse off than they finished in May, with former manager Neil Critchley having left to become part of Steven Gerrard’s coaching staff at Aston Villa.
With influencial winger Josh Bowler also having been snapped up by recently-promoted Nottingham Forest, Michael Appleton is the new man in the dugout, and currently has his side hovering above the relegation zone in 21st place off the back of some indefferent results recently.
Meanwhile, Preston North End’s mid-table spot does not give away an extraordinary start that the Lilywhites have had to the season.
Ryan Lowe’s side are both worst attack and the best defence after 16 matches of the season, statistics that must make Lowe cautious of how he changes their impressive defensive organisation in order to gain attacking threat.
However, Preston’s backline has shown weaknesses in ecent times, having conceded two goals in three of their last four matches in the Championship.
Last time out saw a reunion with their characteristic solidity as they defeated Huddersfield Town 1-0 at the John Smith’s Stadium through a Gregory Cunningham header.
Having the best away record in the second division, Preston will not be daunted by a trip to their local rivals, who have won just twice in their opening seven home matches.
Blackpool vs Preston North End head to head
These two teams have previously met on 47 occasions across all competitions, where Blackpool have claimed 16 victories while Preston have won 20, and they have drawn in 11. Preston have scored 71 goals and conceded 67. In their last five meetings, Preston have won two, Blackpool one with two draws.
Blackpool 1-1 Preston North End 30/11/09
Preston North End 0-0 Blackpool 13/02/10
Preston North End 1-0 Blackpool 05/08/13
Blackpool 2-0 Preston North End 23/10/21
Preston North End 1-0 Blackpool 05/04/22
Blackpool latest home form
Blackpool have recently failed to keep a good run of form at home, having won just one of their seven most recent matches. They lost 3-1 to Hull City in their last home game in the league. In their last five matches, they have scored seven goals and conceded nine.
Blackpool 3-3 Bristol City 27/08/22
Blackpool 0-1 Blackburn Rovers 31/08/22
Blackpool 0-1 Norwich City 01/10/22
Blackpool 3-1 Watford 08/10/22
Blackpool 1-3 Hull City 19/10/22
Blackpool latest away form
Blackpool have recently failed to keep a good run of form on the road, having won just one of their six most recent matches. They drew 3-3 with Sheffield United in their last away game in the league. In their last five matches, they have scored five goals and conceded eight.
Huddersfield Town 0-1 Blackpool 04/09/22
Rotherham United 3-0 Blackpool 14/09/22
Millwall 2-1 Blackpool 17/09/22
Sunderland 0-0 Blackpool 04/10/22
Sheffield United 3-3 Blackpool 15/10/22
Preston North End latest home form
Preston have recently failed to keep a good run of form at home, having won just one of their nine most recent matches. They lost 2-0 to Stoke City in their last home game in the league. In their last five matches, they have scored two goals and conceded six.
Preston North End 0-1 Birmingham City 03/09/22
Preston North End 1-1 Burnley 13/09/22
Preston North End 0-2 Sheffield United 17/09/22
Preston North End 1-0 West Bromwich Albion 05/10/22
Preston North End 0-2 Stoke City 15/10/22
Preston North End latest away form
Preston have recently been on a relatively good run of form on the road, having lost just one of their six most recent matches. They defeated Huddersfield Town 1-0 in their last away game in the league. In their last five matches, they have scored six goals and conceded four.
Coventry City 0-1 Preston North End 31/08/22
Sunderland 0-0 Preston North End 01/10/22
Norwich City 2-3 Preston North End 08/10/22
Briston City 2-1 Preston North End 12/10/22
Huddersfield Town 0-1 Preston North End 18/10/22
Blackpool news
Blackpool forward Shayne Lavery will serve the second game of his three-match suspension following a direct red card in the closing stages of the Sheffield United draw.
Dominic Thompson and Marvin Ekpiteta will be welcomed back to the side after one-game bans following dismissals at Bramall Lane on October 15.
Preston North End news
Striker Troy Parrots is absent for Preston until after the World Cup after undergoing surgery following a hamstring injury sustained in the 3-2 win at Norwich City.
Daniel Johnson is still a doubt after picking up a knock against Bristol City last weekend, with Alistair McCann likely to retain his place in midfield.
Prediction and Odds
Preston enter the derby game with the best away and defensive records in the second tier, with Blackpool coming off the back of a poor result at home to Hull City.
If the hosts can come out strong in this contest, we can see them claiming their second away victory within four days.
Odds: 1 3.01 X 2.05 2 2.22
Probable outcomes
Blackpool 0-1 Preston North End
Blackpool 0-2 Preston North End
Blackpool 1-2 Preston North End
Blackpool 0-0 Preston North End
Blackpool 1-1 Preston North End
