Locked in a battle for promotion back to the Championship, recently-relegated Blackpool will host an in-form Peterborough United side at Bloomfield Road on Saturday afternoon in League One.

The Seasiders are beginning to find their stride in the third tier but had to hold on for a maximum against Cheltenham Town on Tuesday, while Posh were narrow winners at Port Vale on the same day.

Match preview

Facing a Cheltenham side who had scored just twice in 13 League One matches, it was no surprise to anyone in attendance at Bloomfield Road on Tuesday that Blackpool raced into a three-goal lead in the first half courtesy of strikes from Shayne Lavery, Jordan Rhodes and former Celtic wonderkid Karamoko Dembele.

The Seasiders were admittedly complacent after establishing a large advantage in the contest, which allowed Will Goodwin to bring the Robins back into the conversation with a brace, and Daniel Grimshaw had to be on high alert in the closing stages to secure the Tangerines back-to-back home successes.

Neil Critchley is back in charge of the Seasiders after departing the club last season in order to take over from Michael Beale at Queens Park Rangers, and the 45-year-old has been tasked with providing an immediate return to the Championship following a 23rd-placed finish in the second tier in 2022-23.

A key component to Blackpool's promotion push this campaign will be the goalscoring instincts of Huddersfield Town loanee Rhodes, who has already netted nine league goals since joining in the summer, with only Barnsley's Devante Cole managing more in the division during the opening months.

Currently occupying sixth position in the League One table after collecting 23 points from their first 14 games, the Seasiders could realistically rise to as high as fourth with another Bloomfield Road maximum on Saturday, and the hosts have won their last two home matches against Posh - both by 3-1 scorelines.

Despite extending their unbeaten run in League One to eight matches on Tuesday night with a 1-0 success at Port Vale, Peterborough boss Darren Ferguson was unpleased with aspects of his team's performances, including their inability to put the game to bed when they found themselves on top.

The visitors looked to exploit the big pitch at Vale Park with the pace of Kwame Poku and Ephron Mason-Clark on the flanks, with the former providing a looping cross for the latter, who rifled in his third goal of the league campaign in the 14th minute to hand Posh their seventh win of the term.

Following playoff heartbreak in their semi-final clash with Sheffield Wednesday back in May, Peterborough are looking to avoid any drama and secure their return to the Championship by finishing in the top two this time around, and the Cambridgeshire club are currently fifth in the standings, three points behind second-placed Oxford United.

Posh's promotion charges in recent years have been spearheaded by the attacking qualities of Jonson Clarke-Harris, and although the 29-year-old is his side's top goalscorer this term with four strikes, manager Ferguson is preparing for life without his star man as he seems destined for a move away in the New Year.

Key to Peterborough's upturn in form has been the centre-back partnership of Josh Knight and Ronnie Edwards, with Saturday's visitors keeping three clean sheets in their last five League One matches, with only Portsmouth, Oxford United and Barnsley possessing better defensive records than Posh.

Team News

After making five changes for the midweek win against bottom side Cheltenham, Blackpool boss Critchley has to decide whether Callum Connolly deserves to retain his place ahead of James Husband in defence.

Rhodes is a certain starter for the Tangerines but the battle to join the 33-year-old in attack rages on, although Lavery surely did enough last time out to warrant another spot in the XI at the expense of Kylian Kouassi.

Club captain Ollie Norburn could make his return to the matchday squad this weekend after suffering from a neck injury, although Albie Morgan is a capable partner for Kenneth Dougall in the engine room should the 32-year-old not be available for selection.

Following criticism of his side's ruthlessness at Port Vale, Peterborough manager Ferguson has a decision to make over who starts as the focal point of his attack, with Clarke-Harris representing a more experienced option compared to youngster Ricky-Jade Jones.

A certainty for Posh on the weekend is that Cyprus international Hector Kyprianou will need a new partner in midfield, with Archie Collins collecting his fifth caution of the term and a subsequent one-match suspension at Vale Park on Tuesday night.

There could also be some changes in Peterborough's backline for the trip to Bloomfield Road, with 19-year-old Zak Sturge pushing for a start ahead of Harrison Burrows at left-back.

Blackpool possible starting lineup:
Grimshaw; Pennington, Casey, Husband; Hamilton, Morgan, Dougall, Thompson, Dembele; Lavery, Rhodes

Peterborough United possible starting lineup:
Bilokapic; Kioso, Knight, Edwards, Sturge; De Havilland, Kyprianou, Poku, Randall, Mason-Clark; Clarke-Harris

We say: Blackpool 1-1 Peterborough United

Blackpool looked unconvincing in the second period against a Cheltenham attack who have managed just four goals this term, and the visit of Peterborough on Saturday will be a much sterner test.

Posh were uninspiring despite ultimately winning the game at Port Vale last time out, but Ferguson's men should be good enough for a point at Bloomfield Road on the weekend.


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