The Game
Argyle v Blackpool. Home Park. Saturday, 23 August. 3pm. Sky Bet League One.
The Opposition
Blackpool finished ninth in the table last season, and would have been hoping for a strong start to this season to underpin a play-off push. However, it has not been the most ideal of openings.
The Seasiders started with a 3-2 home defeat to Stevenage, and then followed by a 4-1 reverse away to Exeter City. Having lost 1-0 at home to Port Vale in the Carabao Cup, Blackpool picked up their first points at home to Huddersfield Town last Saturday.
In a whirlwind first half, Blackpool went a goal down, raced into a 3-1 lead, were pegged back to 3-2 and then had former Pilgrim Niall Ennis, who had already scored twice in the game, sent off for serious foul play. The game finished 3-2 in Blackpool’s favour, but Ennis will be suspended for the trip to his old club.
In midweek, Blackpool went to Mansfield and were beaten 2-0, with a double early in the second half by Jamie McDonnell.
The Gaffer
Former Manchester United centre-back Steve Bruce has been in his post at Blackpool since September 2024. As a player, the defender spent nine years at Old Trafford, winning both the Premier League and FA Cup three times. Other clubs that Bruce played for include Gillingham, Norwich City, Birmingham City, and Sheffield United.
Having retired in 1998, Bruce became manager of the Blades during the 1998/99 campaign. He would go on to spend the following season at Huddersfield Town, and the subsequent seasons after that at Wigan Athletic and Crystal Palace respectively. Bruce became Sunderland boss ahead of 2009/10; he would go on to spend the next two-and-a-half seasons at the Stadium of Light before being sacked.
Four years were spent at Hull before two at Aston Villa, the former where he won two promotions from the Championship. After a brief spell at Sheffield Wednesday, Bruce arrived at his boyhood club Newcastle United in 2019. Two tricky seasons followed at St. James Park before he departed the club by mutual consent after the club’s takeover. After a short break, Bruce spent eight months at West Bromwich Albion before arriving at Bloomfield Road early last season.
The Squad
Attacking midfielder George Honeyman (below), 30, made his name at Sunderland, being named club captain in August 2018. Hull signed the playmaker in August 2019, and he would spend three seasons at the MKM Stadium before joining Millwall. 117 appearances came across three seasons in London, before he was snapped up by Blackpool this summer. He has started all four league games so far, scoring once.
Northern Ireland goalkeeper Bailey Peacock-Farrell began his career in Yorkshire with Leeds United. After a loan spell at York City, the goalkeeper departed Elland Road to sign for Burnley permanently. Further loans came at Sheffield Wednesday and AGF in Denmark, before a permanent switch to Birmingham City last summer. After a season with the Blues in which they won League One, Peacock-Farrell joined Blackpool ahead of the 2025/26 campaign, and is their first-choice goalkeeper.
Welshman Lee Evans broke through with Newport County, helping his hometown side return to the EFL. He moved to Wolverhampton Wanderers, had loans with Bradford City and Wigan Athletic before a permanent departure in 2018. After six months with Sheffield United, he was loaned back to Wigan, who made him their own the following year. Time was spent with the ‘Tics and with Ipswich Town before Evans pitched up at Portsmouth. Having only made four appearances for Pompey, Evans left for Blackpool last summer, and he played 45 times in the heart of their midfield last season.
Previous Meetings
The last time Argyle met Blackpool was in the 2020/21 season, during Covid protocols and with Ryan Lowe as Argyle manager. At Home Park, early in the season, the Greens won 1-0, with a Luke Jephcott goal, and then drew 2-2 at Bloomfield Road later when the sides met again.
Argyle TV
Argyle TV’s coverage will begin with Argyle Breakfast, starting at 10am, brought to you by Erin Black and Aaron Cusack. Erin will return for the pre-match show, with Katie Middleton, from 2.30pm, with commentary of the game coming from Charlie Price and former Argyle defender Marc Edworthy.
Match passes to watch this game are available outside of the UK & Ireland, while domestic supporters
