Blackpool caretaker manager Steven Thompson has been forced to make four changes to his side to face Cardiff City this evening after a virus swept through the squad this week.

Three of Blackpool's first-choice defence miss out, with Alex Baptiste, Neal Eardley and Stephen Crainey all unavailable through injury.

Ludovic Sylvestre, Craig Cathcart and Bob Harris come in to a new-look Seasiders backline. Veteran striker Kevin Phillips has also been affected by the bug and is not picked in the 18-man squad.

Cardiff boss Malky Mackay starts with Joe Mason and Tommy Smith in attack with Craig Bellamy unavailable for selection with a stomach bug.

Blackpool: Gilks, Basham, Cathcart, Broadfoot, Harris, Osbourne, Sylvestre, Gomes, Taylor-Fletcher, Ince, Delfouneso

Cardiff: Marshall, McNaughton, Hudson, Connolly, Taylor, Conway, Kim, Gunnarsson, Whittingham, Smith, Mason