Blackpool kick off their home Championship campaign against old play-off adversaries Cardiff City

A packed out Bloomfield Road will play host to Blackpool’s first home Championship fixture since 2014/15 against Mick McCarthy’s Cardiff City.

Neil Critchley’s Tangerines pulled off the perfect snatch and grab away at Bristol City on the opening day as Shayne Lavery’s 93rd-minute debut goal took a point back to the North West in a 1-1 draw.

An exciting 3-0 dominant display over Middlesbrough in the Carabao Cup in midweek sets up this weekends’ game well against a Cardiff side who also picked up a point on the opening day against Barnsley.

Seasiders fans can see the promise coming from their side, particularly with a number of key players still absent through injury, especially in the central midfield area, and expect to see the standard of play only increase as they settle into life back in the second tier.

Josh Bowler put on an impressive display in midweek with three key passes and an all-round pacey and direct approach to wing play, following up his substitute assist for Lavery in Bristol, and he will be expecting to start in this one.

The aforementioned Lavery looks like the standout purchase so far this summer.

A renowned goalscorer in his native land of Northern Ireland with Linfield, he has taken the jump into the Championship with ease, looking to grab hold of a second chance in English football following a failed youth spell at Premier League side Everton.

Lavery is another player who will be looking to make his first start for Blackpool and the main question on many people’s lips is whether he will partner Jerry Yates or replace him, depending on whether Critchley decides on a 4-4-2 or a 4-2-3-1.

Another summer signing in the form of Callum Connolly has been playing in a less-favoured right-back spot with the club still yet to bring in an out-and-out right full-back following the departure of Ollie Turton and Jordan Gabriel.

However, in his midweek cup performance, he looked to be improving in the role, providing four interceptions and four shots at goal evidencing his ability to get up and down the flank when required although you still have to say his best position is at centre half, especially in a back three.

Talking of back three’s, Cardiff will line up in one more than likely, with their 3-4-2-1 formation working well for them on the whole under the experienced McCarthy.

The signing of the experienced target man James Collins from Luton Town suggests that their physical, direct approach will continue, with Welsh international Kieffer Moore providing further ammunition from set pieces or balls into the box.

A lot of the Welsh sides’ goals came from set-pieces last season under McCarthy and they will look to take advantage of that in this one.

Having said that, should Marvin Ekpiteta come in for Richard Keogh, following the latter’s mistake against Bristol City, then stability in aerial duels for the Seasiders will pose a challenge to Cardiff’s main avenue of threat.

The Tangerines look to be building momentum and the new signings so far have complimented the promotion squad well. Should they get the ball down and play progressively in tight areas through Kenny Dougall, who will return for his first league start, then there is no reason why they can’t put a marker down.

A raucous atmosphere is expected with Cardiff fans also travelling in large numbers, in what could be Blackpool’s highest home attendance since their homecoming game following their five-season boycott against Southend United.

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