Blackpool and Preston North End meet in the first West Lancashire derby of the season on Saturday afternoon in the Championship.

Twelve places and six points separate the rivals coming into this clash, with Blackpool struggling in their second season back at this level.

Match preview

After six tumultuous years in the lower reaches of the English Football League, Blackpool are enjoying their second spell in the Championship following a respectable 16th-placed finish on their return last campaign.

Key departures in the summer however have left the Seasiders looking worse off than they finished in May and set for a battle to avoid the drop to League One.

Former boss Neil Critchley left in June to become part of Steven Gerrard's coaching staff at Aston Villa, and influential winger Josh Bowler was snapped up by recently-promoted Nottingham Forest.

Michael Appleton is the new man at the helm, and currently has his side hovering above the relegation zone in 21st position on the back of some indifferent results of late.

Bloomfield Road saw a 3-1 defeat to fellow strugglers Hull City on Wednesday, but before that Blackpool had taken a point off Sunderland and Sheffield United respectively as well as all three against Slaven Bilic's Watford.

Preston North End's unassuming mid-table position does not give away what an extraordinary start Ryan Lowe's men have had to the season.

The Lilywhites are both the worst attack (9 goals scored) and the best defence (10 goals conceded) after 16 games of their campaign, statistics that must make Lowe cautious of how he changes their impressive defensive organisation in order to gain attacking threat.

Preston's backline has shown frailties in recent times however, having conceded two goals in three of their last four Championship outings.

Last time out saw a reunion with their characteristic solidity as they beat Huddersfield Town 1-0 at the John Smith's Stadium courtesy of a Gregory Cunningham header.

Boasting the best away record in the second tier, Preston will not be fazed by a trip to their local rivals, who have only won twice in their opening seven home fixtures.

Team News

Blackpool forward Shayne Lavery will serve the second match of this three-game suspension following a direct red card after an altercation in the closing stages of the trip to Sheffield United last weekend.

Marvin Ekpiteta and Dominic Thompson will be gladly welcomed back to the Blackpool side after one-match bans following dismissals at Bramall Lane in what was a damaging day for Appleton's men.

Jordan Gabriel, Kevin Stewart, Keshi Anderson and Jake Beesley form a sorely-missed quartet in the medical room and are not expected to be seen until November at the very earliest.

Striker Troy Parrott will not feature for Preston until after the World Cup due to 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 an attacking midfield role.

Blackpool possible starting lineup:
Maxwell; Connolly, Williams, Ekpiteta, Thompson; Patino, Bridcutt, Corbeanu, Dougall; Yates, Madine

Preston North End possible starting lineup:
Woodman; Storey, Cunningham, Hughes; Potts, Ledson, Whiteman, Fernandez, McCann; Woodburn, Jakobsen

We say: Blackpool 0-1 Preston North End

Preston come into this derby match with the best away and defensive records in the Championship, with Blackpool coming off the back of a poor result at home to Hull.

If the Lilywhites can make this a cagey affair, we can see them earning their second narrow away victory in the space of four days.

For data analysis of the most likely results, scorelines and more for this match please click here.

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