Blackpool will host their first home game back in League One on Saturday when they take on Rochdale.
However, they come into this game on the back of a chastening defeat in the Capital One Cup against Northampton Town, while Rochdale are looking to build on their penalty shootout win over Coventry City on Tuesday.
Blackpool
© Getty Images
Blackpool have rarely been out of the headlines in the past few months. Relegation, protests from fans and an attempted buyout are just some of the issues that have dominated the day-to-day activities on the Fylde coast.
However, the record-breaking relegation form from that ill-fated Championship season, in which they became the first Tangerines team since 1905 to finish without an away victory, could yet continue this term.
This League One campaign started somewhat better for Blackpool as they ground out a 2-2 draw at Colchester United last week, but the manner of the defeat to Northampton in midweek may worry supporters.
Neil McDonald, who succeeded Lee Clark in the close season, witnessed his side concede three goals in nine minutes as they crashed out of the Capital One Cup to League Two opposition.
He may take heart from the performance of Mark Cullen in the draw at Colchester. The 23-year-old forward scored twice on his senior debut for the club and, but for a Darren Ambrose equaliser, the ex-Luton-Town frontman may have proved a match-winner.
Nevertheless, Blackpool are now without a victory since January 31 and will hope to end that run as they try to put together a serious bid for promotion back to the Championship.
There is also doubt as to whether the Bloomfield Road pitch will hold up when they face Dale. Part of the playing area needed to be re-laid only a fortnight ago after the stadium hosted a Neil Diamond concert.
Recent form: DLLLLD
Recent form (all competitions): LLLLDL
Rochdale
Rochdale will happy that they appear to have put the poor form that dogged their 2014-15 run-in behind them.
Keith Hill's men finish last season meekly as they took three points in their last five matches - ultimately costing them a place in the League One playoffs.
However, it could be argued that Dale's form over the past 12 months has largely been promising for a side looking to play Championship football. After all, Rochdale were only six points away from a top-six place and spent much of last season in the running the make the playoffs.
In addition, the club embarked on a run to the fourth round of the FA Cup, springing an upset against Nottingham Forest before going out to Stoke City.
Their attempt to earn promotion this term started on the right foot with an opening-day victory against Peterborough United, as Callum Camps and Reuben Noble-Lazarus got on the scoresheet at Spotland.
And, although they needed a penalty shootout on Tuesday, Dale were able to beat a side in Coventry City, who have been tipped by some observers as a team to compete at the top end of League One.
Recent form: LLWLLW
Recent form (all competitions): LWLLWD
Team News
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Despite conceding three goals at Northampton, keeper Kyle Letheren in expected to keep his place in the starting lineup after replacing the injured Colin Doyle at Colchester. Doyle is likely to return to fitness within the next month.
Emmerson Boyce, who was an unused substitute, may return to the Tangerines' defence after making his competitive debut in the draw at Colchester.
Similarly, Henry Cameron and Bright Osayi-Samuel may be considered for a start, having come on during the half-time interval at Sixfields.
Keith Hill faces a potential selection dilemma of his own – whether to pick Donal McDermott after his goal against Coventry, or to pick Noble-Lazarus, who scored on the opening day after replacing McDermott.
The Dale boss may also decide between Joe Bunney or Calvin Andrew, scorer of the decisive penalty against City, in attack alongside Ian Henderson
Blackpool possible starting lineup:
Letheren, Boyce, Jones, Robertson, Ferguson, Cameron, Potts, McAlister, Osayi-Samuel, Cullen, Redshaw
Rochdale possible starting lineup:
Lillis, Kennedy, McNulty, Lancashire, Cannon, Allen, Camps, Vincenti, Noble-Lazarus, Andrew, Henderson
Head To Head
Blackpool's record against Rochdale is somewhat mixed, having won seven, but lost eight of the 21 encounters between the local rivals.
However, these sides haven't met since the Tangerines won an FA Cup second-round tie back in December 2001, with goals from John Murphy and Paul Simpson seeing the Fylde club through.
Rochdale's record at Bloomfield Road is one to forget. The Lancashire outfit have only picked up two victories away to the Seasiders and their only league triumph came when they beat Blackpool 2-0 in October 1983, when the teams were competing in the old Division Four.
We say: Blackpool 2-2 Rochdale
While the performance at Northampton was not a good indicator, their ability to score goals at Colchester, with a much-changed side from last year, may give Neil McDonald heart that his team can get something from this game and end their winless run. However, with Rochdale having a solid start to the season, it may be hard to see past a score draw.
Chris O'Keefe
