PREVIEW: Blackpool vs Argyle
Having secured an important 2-0 victory over Bristol Rovers last time out, the Greens set off on a 642-mile-round trip to Bloomfield Road, where they take on Blackpool in Sky Bet League One.
Having defeated promotion-chasing Peterborough United 3-1 on Tuesday night, Neil Critchley’s Seasiders currently lie in the final League One play-off spot, on a ten-game unbeaten run.
Jerry Yates, who enjoyed a successful loan spell at Swindon Town last season, put the hosts ahead within 60 seconds of kick-off, striking a well-hit effort into bottom corner from the edge of the box, before Posh’s Joe Ward equalised two minutes into stoppage time with an excellent far-post strike.
Early in the second period, Yates grabbed his second of the game, converting a 52nd minute penalty after Peterborough’s Frankie Kent was adjudged to have handled in the box.
With Posh still reeling from Yates’ spot-kick, a third, and decisive, Blackpool goal arrived six minutes later as Luke Garbutt fired a thunderous effort home from range following a short set-play routine.
In our reverse league fixture at Home Park, the first league match of the 2020/21 season, the Greens secured a 1-0 victory, courtesy of top goalscorer Luke Jephcott’s third-minute winner.
Yates is currently Blackpool’s top goalscorer, netting 16 times so far this season in all competitions. Having been substituted in the midweek fixture against Peterborough with a dead leg, he is expected to be in contention for Saturday’s clash.
The Seasiders have a number of injury concerns ahead of the fixture, with a treatment list including James Husband, Marvin Ekpiteta, Kevin Stewart, Matty Virtue, Keshi Anderson, CJ Hamilton and Gary Madine, whilst Dan Ballard is away on international duty with Northern Ireland.
For Argyle, George Cooper and Gary Sawyer remain Argyle’s only reported injury absentees, although central defender Jerome Opoku will miss the fixture through suspension, having collected his 10th booking of the season last time out.
ARGYLE AWAY TO BLACKPOOL IN THE EFL
The record: P 25 W 5 D 12 L 8 F 24 A 32
The first time: 7 April, 1934. Division Two. Blackpool 1 Argyle 1
Bob Jack’s men drew 1-1 on our first EFL visit to Blackpool, with Jack Vidler our scorer in what was the first of 12 draws in this fixture so far.
The last time: 30 March, 2019. Sky Bet League One. Blackpool 2 Argyle 2
Derek Adams’ Argyle led 2-0 with just six minutes of normal time remaining. Goals from Ruben Lameiras, on four minutes, and future Tangerine Ryan Edwards (78) looked to have given us a vital three points. However, Marc Bola (84) set up a nervous finish and Curtis Tilt equalised two minutes into injury time.
Biggest win: 16 February, 1980. Division Three. Blackpool 1 Argyle 3
Stan Ternent’s Blackpool took the lead in the 32nd minute when substitute Paul Fletcher scored after coming on for future Pilgrim Tony Kellow.
Kevin Hodges equalised for Bobby Saxton’s Argyle on 47 minutes and the recalled Mark Graves gave us the lead after 73 minutes. Substitute Dave Kemp completed the scoring five minutes from time, extending our unbeaten league run to ten games.
Most goals in a single game: 28 January, 1995. Endsleigh Second Division. Blackpool 5 Argyle 2
The afternoon started well for Steve McCall’s Argyle, with right back Mark Patterson opening the scoring on 31 minutes. Substitute Paul Dalton (61 minutes) doubled our lead. However, just seven minutes later we were behind following goals from Andy Watson (62), Tony Ellis (65) and current Dundee United manager Mickey Mellon (68). Further, late goals by Mellon (86) and Watson (90) completed the rout for Sam Allardyce’s men, who included recent signing Jock Morrison in their starting line-up.
Saturday's Sky Bet League One fixture at Bloomfield Road is available to stream live and worldwide on iFollow Argyle. Click here to purchase your pass.