Blackpool v Sunderland

Blackpool host Sunderland looking to break the 30-point mark in the Premier League before the end of January.

Only eight teams have managed that already, with the Seasiders having games in hand on the majority.

The week running up to the visit of the Black Cats has been focussed on departures and arrivals but as we stand (at Friday lunchtime) nothing new has happened at Bloomfield Road, apart from the imminent departure of Dekel Keinan.

Charlie Adam is still a Blackpool player and will captain the side whilst Pool missed out on top target Adam Hammill - who moved to Wolves.

Steve Bruce's side will be looking to avenge the unfortunate 2-0 defeat at the Stadium of Light only a matter of weeks ago.

DJ Campbell was the tangerine hero that day, and he'll be looking to put right his missed chances at West Brom.

Ian Holloway talks about disparity in transfer fees after being knocked back in bids for George Boyd and Craig Mackail-Smith: 'We were only offered £3.5m for Charlie Adam. Peterborough want that for two lads who were in a team that got relegated from the Championship,' he told the Blackpool Gazette.
'I don't mean that as an insult at all but I'm saying let's have a look at reality.
'They know we're a Premier League side but they don't know where my chairman is. He likes to do good deals and are those players worth £2m (each)?
'Maybe they are, but who will buy them for that sort of price and what does that make Charlie (Adam) worth?
'This is why it is so hard to quantify anything you own. Your house is only worth what someone will pay for it, not what an estate agent tells you.'


Steve Bruce has been in angry form all week, as his top marksman Darren Bent engineered a move to Aston Villa. Bruce labelled the player 'selfish' whilst launching an attack on Gerard Houllier: 'A lot of people at our club are bitterly upset and disappointed, and rightly so,' said Bruce.

'My big disappointment, of course, is Gérard Houllier who up until this time I had the utmost respect for.

'I still haven't had a phone call from him.

'I would have thought, out of respect and as a manager of his status, I would have thought maybe a phone call from him to say, 'Listen Steve, we're after your centre-forward and your striker.'

'I would have thought, maybe that might have been the way forward, it usually is with the great managers I've had the pleasure to deal with in the past, that's usually the case.'

Ian Holloway has no fresh injury worries to worry him with Elliot Grandin seemingly fine after pulling up slightly in his two comeback games.

Dekel Keinan is about to finalise a move to Cardiff City and won't be involved, meaning Alex Baptiste and Rob Edwards are the only defensive cover for the time being.

Marlon Harewood is close to a recall after battling back from a lengthy lay-off and could take his place on a rather tepid attacking bench.

Cathcart has been one of the stand-out performers so far this campaign for the Seasiders but mistakes in the past couple of games have to be noted.

With no Keinan breathing down his neck for a starting berth, Cathcart's season could now go either way: will he thrive under no pressure or put in more blasé performances similar to the West Brom defeat on Saturday?

Sunderland have just one fit striker on their books in Asamoah Gyan. Darren Bent left to Villa in the week and Danny Welbeck is out for up to two months with a torn cartilage.

Jack Colback, rumoured to be a Blackpool target, will be amongst the substitutes.

The Ghana striker comes up against his international team mate Richard Kingson and will lead the line.

His seven goals in eight starts for the Black Cats have helped stabilise them in the top half of the table and Evatt and Cathcart need to be wary of his presence.

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Tuesday January 25
Manchester United (H)
19:45

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