Blackpool v Burnley RECAP: Updates from pre-season friendly at Bloomfield Road

It’s good to see the two sets of supporters trading some good-natured barbs early on. The last time these Lancashire rivals took on one another in a competitive outing was back in 2014.

James Husband sets CJ Hamilton free down the left. The winger uses his pace to beat Matt Lowton to the ball, but his eventual cross is deflected and dealt with by the visiting defenders.

Promising signs though.

Burnley’s Josh Brownhill gets tonight’s game up and running.

And kick-off is just moments away. The home stands are looking a little sparse, it has to be said. Perhaps there might be some last minute entrants.

Can the Seasiders spring a pre-season upset against their top flight neighbours in their penultimate friendly of the summer? We’ll soon find out.

Up the mighty Pool!

The Seasiders are boosted by the return of a handful of first-teamers who were absent for the weekend win at Carlisle as a result of the recent Covid outbreak among the squad.

Daniel Grimshaw, Oliver Casey, Reece James, Cameron Antwi and Shayne Lavery all come back into the fold, a timely boost for Pool who were without 16 players at the weekend - although not all were Covid related.

The likes of Daniel Gretarsson (shoulder), Matty Virtue (ACL) and Gary Madine (groin) are still out injured, while Bez Lubala remains unavailable due to a mysterious ‘club matter’.

Keshi Anderson, meanwhile, misses out after taking a whack to his quad during Saturday’s friendly against Carlisle, while Marvin Ekpiteta is also missing.

Elsewhere, Teddy Howe and Joe Nuttall continue to be left out, while Stuart Moore, Jordan Thorniley, Kenny Dougall, Kevin Stewart and Josh Bowler all remain absent.

Neil Critchley hands a first start to summer recruit Richard Keogh, who partners James Husband in the centre of defence.

Trialist Mitch Clark begins the game at right-back, which will see Callum Connolly push into midfield alongside Grant Ward, with summer recruit Sonny Carey playing a little further ahead.

Youngster Tayt Trusty, who impressed at Brunton Park at the weekend, is named among the substitutes along with fellow youth-teamers Antwi, Brad Holmes and Ewan Bange.

Burnley, meanwhile, name a strong side full of top flight talent, handing a debut to summer signing Wayne Hennessey in goal.

The likes of Matt Lowton, Ben Mee, Jack Cork, Josh Brownhill, Dwight McNeil and Jay Rodriquez are also handed starts.

Starting XI:

Maxwell, Trialist (Clark, I'm assuming), Keogh, Husband, Garbutt, Connolly, Ward, Mitchell, Carey, Hamilton, Yates