The Game
Blackpool vs Argyle. Bloomfield Road. Saturday, 19 September. 3pm. Sky Bet League One.
The Opposition
Blackpool finished last season in 13th and were led, for the most part, by Head Coach Ian Evatt. Since dropping down to the third tier in 2023, the Seasiders have failed to make the top six under various coaches. The aim therefore for Evatt, will surely be to breach the play-offs and push towards promotion back to the Sky Bet Championship.
So far in 2026/27, a mixed bag for the Tangerines - two wins, two draws and two defeats in the league. This means that after six games, they are still quite a hard team to gauge. Back-to-back wins in league and cup meant it was a great start to the season for Blackpool, they followed this with a win against fast-starting Stockport County. They crashed out the Carabao Cup in round two to Championship side Lincoln City before beating Peterborough United 4-0 at Bloomfield Road.
However, in the past few weeks results have turned for Evatt's side. Back-to-back away defeats at Barnsley and Reading came before a 2-2 draw against Bromley last weekend. Blackpool will be hoping to secure their first win of the month at the fourth time of asking when Argyle travel to Lancashire on Saturday afternoon.
The Gaffer
Former defender Ian Evatt had a 19-year playing career which saw him feature for a variety of Football League clubs, most notably Blackpool and Chesterfield. The now 44-year-old retired in 2018 and went on to become caretaker manager at Chesterfield. After his temporary stint ended with the Spireites, Evatt took charge at Barrow. In his two years in Cumbria, Evatt managed to lead the Bluebirds into the EFL for the first time in 48 years after winning the National League.
Bolton Wanderers came calling in 2020 and agreed a compensation package with Barrow, allowing Evatt to take charge of the Whites in League Two. He oversaw great success at Toughsheet Community Stadium, returning Bolton into the third tier. He consolidated in League One before mounting a charge up the table, eventually breaching the play-offs in 2024.
They lost in the play-off final to Oxford United, the beginning of an eventual downwards curve for the Whites under Evatt. Less than a year later, he left Bolton by mutual consent and had a short stint as a loan advisor for a variety of clubs. He retuned to Blackpool, a club which he played 214 times for as a player, to become head coach last October.
Since then, Evatt has improved the Tangerines and cemented them as a solid League One outfit. Last season they finished the campaign in 13th, but closer to the bottom four than the top six. Evatt's task now will be to do as he did with Bolton, lead them further up the table and threaten the play-off picture.
The Squad
After coming through the academy at Fulham, Josh Bowler was released by the Cottagers and subsequently joined Queens Park Rangers. He made his senior debut in the Championship before joining Everton in 2017, where he was sent on loan to Hull City. He would go on to join Blackpool, spending a season at Bloomfield Road where he impressed, before moving to Nottingham Forest. He never featured for Forest, instead spending time on loan at Olympiacos, Blackpool, Cardiff City, Preston North End and Luton Town. Last summer, his contract at The City Ground was terminated and the winger re-joined Blackpool for a third time. Since then, the 27-year-old has made nearly 50 appearances, scoring six times.
Striker Dion Charles was at Blackpool as a junior but was unable to break through, instead being released in 2014. He built his career in non-league with AFC Fylde, scoring 19 goals in 61 games prompting a move to Fleetwood Town. There, he had a loan at Halifax Town before being allowed to join Southport permanently just over a year after signing. He once again shone in non-league, earning a move to Accrington Stanley where he really kicked on. Charles signed for Bolton Wanderers in 2022, going on to score 57 times in three years for the Whites. A shorter stint at Huddersfield Town came next, before he was allowed to return to Blackpool on loan ahead of the 2026/27 campaign.
Versatile midfielder Albie Morgan has been with Blackpool for a number of years now. His career started at Charlton Athletic, where he signed his first professional deal in 2018. Next came his senior debut, before Morgan was able to break into the Addicks first-team as they achieved promotion into the Championship. He would go on to feature 146 times for Charlton across five seasons before eventually opting to leave upon the expiry of his contract in 2023. Blackpool came calling; Bloomfield Road is where the 26-year-old has since remained becoming an integral part of Ian Evatt's team.
Previous Meeting
Our last meeting with Blackpool was certainly one to remember. Tom Cleverley's side put four past the Seasiders at Bloomfield Road in a Valentines Day treat in Lancashire. Alex Mitchell opened the scoring (STANCH) when he converted a Herbie Kane free-kick from close range. It was 2-0 when Bim Pepple was in the right place at the right time to head the ball over the line after Bailey Peacock-Farrell saved from Mitchell. Malachi Boateng scored a fairly similar goal to the one previous, following in Kane's shot and converting after the Blackpool keeper spilled. Caleb Watts rounded off an excellent afternoon at Bloomfield Road, volleying into the back of the net after he was picked out in the box by Joe Edwards.
The Strip
Argyle will be debuting their blue and white away kit for this game.
Argyle TV
Supporters unable to attend Argyle's Sky Bet League One fixture against Blackpool on Saturday can follow the action live on Argyle TV.
Our hour-long pre-match show will be live on Argyle TV and YouTube from 2pm.
2pm - Charlie Price and Aaron Cusack are joined by Ian Stonebridge for the Pre-Match Show, bringing you all the team news, exclusive interviews, and thoughts from inside the camp.
3pm - Kick-off at Bloomfield Road, with live commentary from Rob McNichol, who will be joined on co-commentary by David Norris.
UK & Ireland Supporters
Due to EFL broadcast regulations, live video streaming is unavailable in domestic territories. However, you can listen to every Argyle game live throughout the season with an Argyle TV subscription - available for £5.50 per month or £55 for the year.
If you’re not a subscriber, you can still purchase an individual audio match pass for £2.50.
International Supporters
Live video streaming is available overseas - You can watch every Argyle game live with an Argyle TV International subscription, available for £30 per month or £200 for the year.
If you prefer, you can buy an individual video match pass for £10 per game.
Audio match passes are also available overseas for £2.50, giving you full commentary wherever you are in the world.
Click here to access Argyle TV and view our subscription and match pass options.
