PREVIEW: Blackpool v Luton Town

Blackpool are starting to get their home form in order once more as the Tangerines are making what looks like a pretty decent fist of their second season back in the Championship.

Recording 11 wins at Bloomfield Road last term was the main reason why the then newly-promoted side finished in 16th place, some 18 points clear of the drop, and it looked like they would carry that on with an opening day 1-0 triumph over Reading.

However it was their results away from Lancashire which gained them the majority of their points early on, as they picked up excellent 1-0 successes at QPR and Huddersfield before the campaign ticked into October.

In front of their own fans, Blackpool found it strangely tough going though, losing three out of four, beaten by Swansea, Blackburn and Norwich, with a 3-3 draw against Bristol City seeing them take just one point from 12.

A 3-1 victory over Watford got the Tangerines back up and running, although they did then surprisingly lose to Hull, going on to respond with a 4-2 win over Preston to make it two victories from three.

They also registered a third win on their travels when seeing off Coventry 2-1 recently, just two less than they managed throughout the whole of last season, before a 1-0 defeat West Bromwich on Tuesday night finds Luton’s hosts sitting in 16th place ahead of this weekend’s contest, three points clear of the bottom three.

The Tangerines were forced into a managerial change in the summer, Neil Critchley opting to leave his post to move to Aston Villa as assistant manager to Steven Gerrard, a job that didn't last long, the former Liverpool and England midfielder, plus his coaching staff, sacked late last month after a poor start to the season.

Blackpool didn't waste a huge amount of time looking for a replacement as they appointed Michael Appleton for his second spell in charge of the club having left Lincoln a few months earlier.

There weren't too many permanent incomings joining the former Portsmouth and Oxford manager, Dominic Thompson arriving from Brentford, with Callum Wright (Leicester) and Andy Lyons (Shamrock Rovers) also on board, while Liam Bridcutt linked up again with the manager after the pair were at Lincoln together,

Appleton did use the loan market well, as ex-Hatter Charlie Patino joined from Arsenal, the midfielder impressing greatly since arriving along with Rhys Williams (Liverpool), Lewis Fiorini (Man City), Theo Corbeanu (Wolves) and Ian Poveda (Leeds).

Team news: Luton will be without defender Sonny Bradley after he suffered what had initially looked like a serious knee injury against Reading on Tuesday night, although has thankfully since revealed no ligament damage or a break.

Tom Lockyer is also a doubt following his clash of heads with Andy Carroll, while Gabe Osho is still suspended, as Cauley Woodrow (calf) and Reece Burke (hamstring) are out, as are long-term absentees James Shea and Glen Rea.

For the Tangerines, former Barton Rovers forward Keshi Anderson could be available to make a first appearance of the season, but ex-Luton youngster Charlie Patino is 50/50 after a sickness bug.

Liam Bridcutt is out with a hamstring injury, while Jordan Gabriel (knee), Kevin Stewart (fractured foot and calf), Lewis Fiorini (hamstring) and Jake Beesley (fractured foot) all remain sidelined.

Top scorers - Hatters: Carlton Morris (8). Tangerines: Jerry Yates (9).

Man in the middle: Tim Robinson - referee has taken 13 games so far this term, 12 of them in the Championship, showing 60 yellow cards and three reds

Officiated Luton five times last season, the 3-1 win over Middlesbrough plus 2-0 victory at Reading, also in charge of the 3-2 defeat to WBA, 2-1 loss to Bournemouth and 7-0 hammering by Fulham.

Had 37 matches in total, with 166 yellows and seven reds.

Took Luton three times in the 2020-21 campaign, the 3-0 Carabao Cup defeat to Manchester United, a 1-1 draw with Nottingham Forest, sending off the visitors Nikolas Ioannou and 2-0 home defeat to Cardiff.

Prior to those matches, he had the Hatters six more times, Town earning just one win, with two draws and three defeats.

Referee's assistants are Jonathan Hunt and Matthew McGrath, with the fourth official Bobby Madley.

In charge: Michael Appleton – had a playing career that saw him start with Manchester United, then have spells at Wimbledon, Lincoln City and Grimsby Town, before heading to Preston North End for £500,000 in 1997 and then West Bromwich Albion for £750,000 in January 2001.

Suffered a cruciate ligament injury in training for the Baggies later that year though, before eventually having retire at the age of 27 in 2003.

Stayed at the Hawthorns in a coaching capacity, working with the club's youth side, named first team coach in 2009.

When Roberto Di Matteo was sacked, he had one game in temporary charge of the first team, then taking his first job as manager of Portsmouth in November 2011.

With Pompey relegated from the Championship and the club in administration, he was named Blackpool manager a year later, resigning after just 11 games in charge, to move to Blackburn Rovers in January 2013.

Relieved of his duties just four months later, in the dug-out for just 15 games this time, lasting a mere 67 days, two more than his time in the Blackpool hot-seat.

Became new head coach of Oxford United in July 2014, as he finished runners-up in the Checkatrade Trophy, then going to Leicester City as assistant manager in June 2017, taking over as caretaker for two matches, although departed a year later.

Named first team coach of former side WBA in April 2019, then moving to be coach of the U23 squad, as he returned to management in September 2019, taking over at Lincoln City.

Spent almost three years at Sincil Bank, as he left at the end of last season, named Blackpool head coach in June this year.

Managerial record: Luton boss Nathan Jones has taken on Michael Appleton twice in his career so far, both when his opposition number was at Oxford United.

Town won their first game 3-2 in League Two in April 2016, before losing their Checkatrade Trophy semi-final 3-2 at Kenilworth Road in March 2017.

Jones has gone up against Blackpool seven times so far as Luton manager, with three wins, three daws and just the one defeat, that coming in the first leg of the League Two play-off semi-final in May 2017, with the Tangerines then going through following a 3-3 draw at Kenilworth Road.

Appleton has gone up against Luton five times, the only time he has won being that cup clash, as he has drawn two and lost the other two.

View from the opposition: Michael Appleton talking to the Blackpool Gazette – “One thing for sure, we know what we’re going to be up against on Saturday.

"But it’s a home game so I expect the place to be rocking and I’m sure the players will respond to that.

“I expect exactly the same from them as what they’ve been doing this last two or three seasons.

"They get the ball forward early but they do it with quality.

“They have two strikers who are a handful for anyone at this level, real powerful boys who can run in behind or play with their backs to goal as natural number nines.

“It’s a difficult game, but we will be ready for it because the lads are disappointed, but more so with the manner of the goal we conceded (against West Brom) rather than performance levels because they gave everything without the ball, we just lacked a little bit with the ball.”

Friendly faces: Town’s head of recruitment Paul Hart joined Blackpool in 1973 after leaving Stockport County.

He spent five years with the club, playing almost 150 games for the Tangerines, before a £300,000 move to Leeds United in 1978.

Town's head of coaching and player development Adrian Forbes joined Blackpool from Swansea in June 2006, spending two years at Bloomfield Road, with 46 appearances, scoring once, then moving to Millwall.

For the hosts, young midfielder Charlie Patino started his career at Luton, heading to Arsenal as an 11-year-old back 2015.

Impressed the Gunners in their various youth ages and has made three cup appearances so far, also representing England at U15 to U20 level, getting a loan move to Blackpool in the summer.

Has really caught the eye so far with 13 appearances and two goals.

Tangerines keeper Stuart Moore joined Luton on loan from Reading in January 2017, playing 10 times, including against Blackpool in the League Two play-off semi-final, where his errors saw the visitors reach Wembley.

Went to Barrow on a free transfer from the Royals in July 2017 and had spells with Swindon, MK Dons, Wealdstone before heading to Bloomfield Road in February 2021, although has only played twice so far.

Played for both: Lloyd Jones - defender started his career at Liverpool as he went on loan to Cheltenham and Accrington Stanley before borrowed by Blackpool in July 2015.

Played nine times for the Tangerines, as he then returned to the Tangerines for a month the following season as made another two outings to feature 11 times in total.

Went to Luton for an undisclosed fee in January 2018, but only made 14 appearances, scoring once in two years at Kenilworth Road, with loans to Plymouth and Northampton.

Signed permanently by the Cobblers in December 2020 spending 18 months at Sixfields, before moving to Cambridge United in June 2021, and has now played 47 times, scoring his first goal for the U's in a 3-2 win at Wycombe recently.

One to watch: Jerry Yates - 25-year-old striker who started out at Rotherham, scoring just five goals in 52 matches during his six years at the club.

Had two good loan spells at Harrogate during that time, on target five tines in nine outings, then joining Carlisle in July 2018, scoring seven goals in 29 matches for the Cumbrians.

It was at Swindon where he really hit the ground, as in the 2019-20 season he bagged 14 goals in 35 matches, eventually leaving the Millers to move to Blackpool for an undisclosed fee in July 2020.

Scored 23 goals in his first season as the Tangerines won the League One play-offs also bagging eight goals last term in the Championship.

This campaign he had two goals in opening 12 games, before a double in the 3-1 win over Watford as he has now seven in his last six matches to be on nine overall from 18 appearances.

We've got form: Luton have found it tough going at Blackpool over the years, starting with a 1-0 Division Two defeat in April 1898.

They won their next game 3-2, but victories were few and far between following that game, as they went on a 10-match winless streak from 1971 to 2003, including a 5-2 Division Two reverse in August 2002.

Finally, the Hatters triumphed 1-0 in December 2003 thanks to Steve Robinson, which led to an upturn in results, Town winning three in a row, before a 3-2 League Two play-off semi-final defeat, former striker Mark Cullen notching a hat-trick.

Since then, Luton have had the better of things, with a goalless draw and handsome victory, making it just one defeat in their last six trips.

In total, the Hatters have eight wins to their name from 27 trips in total, drawing seven and losing 13.

Last time out: Luton ran out comfortable 3-0 winners in their Championship clash at Blackpool last season.

The visitors led through Sonny Bradley’s header from Kal Naismith’s corner late in the first half, before James Shea made some superb stops to keep the visitors in front.

Elijah Adebayo then finished from close range on 52 minutes to double Town’s advantage score, before Jordan Clark volleyed home Admiral Muskwe’s cross late on.

Hatters: James Shea, James Bree, Reece Burke, Sonny Bradley, Kal Naismith, Amari'i Bell, Jordan Clark, Allan Campbell, Henri Lansbury (Pelly-Ruddock Mpanzu 46), Carlos Mendes Gomes (Admiral Muskwe 77), Elijah Adebayo (Danny Hylton 82).

Subs not used: Harry Isted, Gabe Osho, Dion Pereira, Fred Onyedinma.