Pool V Preston

It`s the big one. It`s the one we`ve been waiting for. It`s the one they`ve been waiting for. It`s

he one no one wants lose. It`s BLACKPOOL V PRESTON.

Simon Grayson rested Paul Dickov for the midweek match at QPR, he`s got a slight hamstring strain but it won`t keep him from starting the match. Claus Jorgensen missed the game too with a slight knee problem. but again should be fit. Midfield partner Keith Southern did play in the match but was substituted early in the second half with a hamstring tweak, again he`ll be fit to face Preston for the first time in Blackpool coluors.

For the line up expect the regular back five, Chubs, Barker, Evatt, Gorkss and Crainey. In midfield Hoolahan and Taylor-Fletcher on the wing with Southern and Jorgensen in the middle. Upfront we are expecting Dickov to join McPhee.

For me the man of the match in the Preston game back in December. Evatt and Gorkss did play well, but with Crainey solid and putting his foot on the the ball helped when the pressure was piled on, expect more of the same on Saturday .

Liam Chilvers is out of the game and out for the next 9 months after tearing his Achilles tendons. Craig Beattie is also out, his loan spell at Preston lasted all of 38 minuets against Leicester when he suffered a double tear of his hamstring.

In recent weeks form has picked up for Alan Irvine, in the last four games they have risen from 21st to 15th in the league. Away from Deepdale they`ve only won 4 games so far.

Signed from Norwich in the January transfer window the former Sunderland striker has scored three goals for his new team. The last two came last Saturday at Charlton in a 2-1 win. Scoring has been the problem this season for PNE, so much so their top scorer is split between four players each with four goals each.

Eight seasons have passed since the last meeting of the sides, back in December we took all three points beating them 1-0 in their own backyard. Next Saturday they come to Bloomfield Road looking for their first win since 1992, thats not going to happen?

Our last win at Bloomers was in 1997 Preece and Philpott with the goals in a 2-1 win. The last match in 2000 at Bloomers, ended in a 0-0 draw watched by 9042 fans its a pity that the attendance on Saturday won`t be much more due to the lack of development at Bloomers.

L Probert - From Gloucestershire - Games: 30 Yellow Cards: 68 Red Cards: 3
C Sarginson and G Stott
Fourth Official A Hall

Blackpool 3 - 1 Preston

Football League Championship Stoke A 22-03-2008

Vital F1 Prediction League - Join now for Spain