Preview: Blackpool vs. Derby County - prediction, team news, lineups

Blackpool will attempt to record a third consecutive victory when they play host to Derby County in Tuesday's League One contest.

The visitors, meanwhile, will travel to Bloomfield Road with hopes of extending their unbeaten run to five matches in all competitions.

Match preview

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After being relegated from the Championship last term, Blackpool have experienced a mixed start to their first League One campaign since the 2020-21 season.

Their opening nine league matches have produced four victories, three draws and two defeats to leave them in 11th place ahead of the midweek round of fixtures.

Neil Critchley's side will head into Tuesday's encounter in a confident mood after they followed up a commanding 4-1 win over Reading with a narrow away victory over Barnsley on Saturday.

Jordan Rhodes dispatched his first-half penalty in what proved to be the only goal of the game, ensuring that the Tangerines could celebrate their first away league victory of the season.

Blackpool will now attempt to beat Derby County for the second time this season after winning 2-0 when the two sides met in the EFL Cup in August.

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Derby will be looking to leapfrog the Tangerines in the league table, with the Rams sitting one place and one point behind Tuesday's opponents.

While they may be unbeaten in four competitive matches, Derby will be disappointed to have won only one of their last four league matches.

The Rams began the month of September with a defeat to Bolton Wanderers and a draw against Portsmouth, before they returned to winning ways with a 2-0 away victory over newly-promoted Carlisle United.

Derby missed the chance to claim consecutive league victories, as they played out a goalless affair in Saturday's home meeting with Cambridge United.

Although they lost out to Blackpool in the EFL Cup earlier this season, Derby have won their last six league meetings with the Tangerines.

Team News

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Kyle Joseph and Jordan Gabriel remain sidelined for the hosts, while Andy Lyons is a doubt for Tuesday's contest.

Matthew Pennington is set to return after missing Saturday's win with a back issue, but Matty Virtue is set to miss a second straight game with a hamstring injury.

Having racked up five goals in his last four appearances, Rhodes will be looking to continue his fine form when he features up front against Derby.

As for the visitors, Callum Elder will be out for up to three weeks after undergoing surgery on a hernia, while Sunderland loanee Elliot Embleton will need an operation on a thigh injury.

Derby boss Paul Warne is also without the injured quarter of Joe Ward, Liam Thompson, Jake Rooney and Tyreece John-Jules.

In more positive news, Conor Hourihane is likely to feature among the substitutes after missing the last three matches with a hamstring issue.

Blackpool possible starting lineup:

Grimshaw; Pennington, Carey, Husband; Dale, Weir, Norburn, Dougall, Hamilton; Rhodes, Kouassi

Derby County possible starting lineup:

Wildsmith; Nyambe, Nelson, Cashin, Forysth; Fornah, Smith; Mendez-Laing, Waghorn, Sibley; Collins

We say: Blackpool 1-1 Derby County

With Blackpool and Derby separated by just one point in the league table, we expect Tuesday's contest to produce a close-fought affair, which may result in the spoils being shared.

For data analysis of the most likely results, scorelines and more for this match please click here.