Preview: Blackpool v Everton

After our failure to do a preview for the West Brom game on Monday night I suppose I better make this match preview extra special!

The Seasiders go into Saturday's game against an in-form Everton on the back of their first home win in the Premier League.

However, the win over West Brom was a nervy occasion despite the visitors being down to nine men for the majority of the match.

And unless Everton also have players sent off this weekend, the Seasiders will have to drastically improve on Monday night's performance to gain a result against David Moyes' men.

Despite a raft of injuries the Toffees are in good form and will present a stern test, especially with ex 'Pool loanee Seamus Coleman in the side, and you can guarentee that the talented youngster will have told Moyes all about the Seasiders... the question is; does Ian Holloway have a trick up his sleeve?

He has spoken about working with the players on shooting on the training ground, but maybe there could be scope for a tactical change; could ex Evertonian Keith Southern make his first start in the Premier League as a means of shoring up the defence and patrolling the space normally occupied by the likes of Arteta and Cahill?

Decisions, descisions, decisions...

Ian Holloway has criticised the Bloomfield Road faithful for criticising the players on Monday night... he might do well though to remember that some of us had travelled the length of the country in lashing wind and rain to be there on Monday night, only to see us nearly throw the game away against nine men! And to think that the players had had three days off as well...

'I can't understand some of the things I heard.

'A bloke behind me was shouting, 'Oh, this is embarrassing. Everybody is watching it on TV'.

'I don't care who is watching it - you've got to get real, mate.

'When a team has Scott Carson in goal, four defenders and another four across midfield, you still have to break them down.

'I don't care how many players West Brom had out there. Some of them are world class and brilliant individuals.

'West Brom went to Manchester United and came back from two down at half time to draw. They beat Arsenal away, so let's just get real and chill out, have a look at the table and look at who we have beaten.

'What was some of that (moaning) about? I don't understand. Who are we? It is the best trip we have ever been on and we shouldn't forget that.'

Ian Holloway has no new injury concerns, and Charlie Adam is expected to be available again after having painkilling injections in order to play on Monday night.

Suffering from a lack of confidence, DJ (and the rest of the squad) have been working hard on finishing all week. Will it pay off for the frontman who is looking to score his first Premier League goal at Bloomfield Road?

Jack Rodwell might make a return to the squad along with Victor Anichebe after both played in Everton Reserves' 5-0 victory over Blackpool Reserves earlier in the week.

The likes of Osman, Fellaini and Saha are all long-term absentees for the toffees though.

He'll know Stephen Crainey's weaknesses inside out. He'll get a heroes reception before the game... it'll be interesting to see how he gets on after!

The last time the two sides met was in the 1980/1 season when Everton beat the Seasiders in the League Cup, 5-2 on aggregate.

The last time Blackpool beat Everton was back in 1966/7, although we have to go back a further season to find our last win at Bloomfield Road against them.

In total, we have beaten Everton 15 times, shared 12 draws, whilst they have beaten us 21 times.

Villa away on Wednesday night.

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