Steve Bruce takes to the dugout for the first time as Blackpool manager when they welcome Exeter City to Bloomfield Road for a League One fixture on Saturday afternoon.
The two teams meet for the first time since January when the Tangerines secured a 2-0 home victory over the Grecians.
Match preview
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A new era begins at Bloomfield Road with Bruce taking the reins of Blackpool almost two years on from being sacked by Championship side West Bromwich Albion.
The 63-year-old, who has penned a two-year contract, has admitted that he "needed to take a break" from football, but has 'realised that retirement wasn't for him' and "missed that buzz of getting up and getting on the training ground".
Bruce has succeeded Neil Critchley, who was relieved of his duties following a 3-0 home defeat to Stockport County on August 17, with Blackpool owner Simon Sadler stating that 'a change was needed' following "a number of disappointing results and performances" over the last 12 months.
Richard Keogh was placed in temporary charge for Blackpool's last four games in all competitions and in that time they have remained unbeaten, following a draw-win-draw-win pattern with both draws taking place in League One against Cambridge United (4-4) and Wycombe Wanderers (2-2).
Blackpool, who most recently beat Crewe Alexandra 4-1 in the EFL Trophy a week last Tuesday, will be confident of hitting the ground running under Bruce, as they have won each of their last four home meetings with Saturday's opponents Exeter.
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While Blackpool are down in 22nd place in the League One table, Exeter sit 10th after winning two and losing two of their opening four matches this season.
Competing in the third tier for the third consecutive campaign, the Grecians followed up an opening-weekend win over Rotherham United (1-0) win back-to-back 2-1 losses against Northampton Town and Peterborough United, but they have since bounced back and won their last two games in the league and EFL Trophy.
Exeter surprised many as they claimed a 2-0 away victory against Bolton at the end of August, before coming out on top via a 2-1 scoreline against fourth-tier side Swindon Town in the EFL Trophy on September 3.
Manager Gary Caldwell is expecting a challenging contest against Blackpool on Saturday, as he feels that the appointment of Bruce, someone who he has "so much respect for", will have a "big impact" on the Tangerines.
Exeter travel to Bloomfield Road having won five of their last seven away league matches, but they have never beaten Blackpool on the road in 10 previous attempts, losing eight and drawing two over a 46-year period.
Team News
![Oliver Norburn of Blackpool during the Pre-season friendly match Crewe Alexandra vs Blackpool at Alexandra Stadium, Crewe, United Kingdom, on August 3, 2024 [on August 8, 2024]](https://sm.imgix.net/24/32/oliver-norburn_2.jpg?w=640&h=480&auto=compress,format&fit=clip "Oliver Norburn of Blackpool during the Pre-season friendly match Crewe Alexandra vs Blackpool at Alexandra Stadium, Crewe, United Kingdom, on August 3, 2024 [on August 8, 2024]")
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Blackpool striker Ashley Fletcher has been handed a three-match suspension by the FA for misconduct during last month's clash with Wycombe, while Albie Morgan, Dominic Thompson, Kylian Kouassi and Andrew Lyons are all set to remain out with injuries.
It remains to be seen whether Bruce will stick with a three-man backline used under Critchley and Keogh or switch to a four-man defence, but the likes of Matthew Pennington and James Husband are set to start at the back, while Kyle Joseph, Lee Evans and Oliver Norburn could also feature in the first XI.
As for Exeter, new signing Pat Jones is facing "three or four months" on the sidelines after suffering a "bad" hamstring injury in training, while Yanic Wildschut remains a long-term absentee with an ACL injury.
Caldwell is expected to name a similar side to the one that started the win over Bolton, with Josh Magennis and Millenic Alli potentially leading the line as Jack Aitchison operates just behind in the number 10 role.
Blackpool possible starting lineup:
O'Donnell; Lawrence-Gabriel, Pennington, Husband; Apter, Norburn, Evans, Coulson; Joseph, Rhodes, Ballard
Exeter City possible starting lineup:
Whiteworth; Yfeko, Crama, Sweeney; McMillan, Doyle, Woods, Niskanen; Aitchison; Alli, Magennis
We say: Blackpool 2-2 Exeter City
Whether Bruce can immediately put his stamp on Blackpool after just a few days at the training ground remains to be seen. Nevertheless, an entertaining, end-to-end contest could be on the cards and we can see the spoils being shared on this occasion.
For data analysis of the most likely results, scorelines and more for this match please click here.
Oliver Thomas
![Rotherham United manager Steve Evans during the EFL Sky Bet League 1 match between Wycombe Wanderers and Rotherham United at Adams Park, High Wycombe, England, on 24 August 2024. [on August 25, 2024]](https://sm.imgix.net/11/29/1x1.gif?w=1&h=1 "Rotherham United manager Steve Evans during the EFL Sky Bet League 1 match between Wycombe Wanderers and Rotherham United at Adams Park, High Wycombe, England, on 24 August 2024. [on August 25, 2024]")
