Preview:Blackpool vs Stevenage - prediction, team news, lineups

Blackpool will get the 2025-26 League One season underway when they welcome Stevenage to Bloomfield Road for Saturday's contest.

The Tangerines finished in ninth position last term, while Stevenage ended the campaign in 14th place in the standings.

Match preview

Blackpool are set to compete in League One for a third consecutive season after they fell 11 points short of the playoffs last term.

Steve Bruce took over the reins in the early stages of last season, going on to oversee 17 wins, 14 draws and 11 defeats in 42 matches.

Bruce will now be looking to push on for a top-six spot in the upcoming campaign, and he has made a number of additions to give his team the best possible chance of achieving their goals.

Bailey Peacock-Farrell and Franco Ravizzoli have bolstered the goalkeeping department, while the defence has been strengthened by Danny Imray, Fraser Horsfall and Michael Ihiekwe.

Jordan Brown, George Honeyman and Niall Ennis have also arrived ahead of the new season, which Blackpool have warmed up for with an unbeaten pre-season schedule.

The Tangerines recorded victories over AFC Fylde and West Bromwich Albion before they played out consecutive draws with Salford City and Doncaster Rovers.

Stevenage are featuring in League One for a third successive season since winning promotion from the fourth tier in 2022-23.

After finishing in ninth spot in 2023-24, Stevenage slipped out of the top-half of the table last term, settling for 14th spot after winning 15, drawing 12 and losing 19 of their 46 matches.

Stevenage boss Alex Revell has welcomed eight new additions ahead of the 2025-26 campaign, including the arrivals of Jordan Houghton, Bez Lubala, Chem Campbell, Phoenix Patterson and Mathaeus Roberts.

Jasper Pattenden and Saxon Earley have arrived to shore up the full-back positions, while goalkeeper Filip Marschall has joined from Premier League side Aston Villa.

Stevenage have experienced mixed results in pre-season, recording two wins, one draw and two defeats in their five pre-season outings, including a narrow 2-1 victory in last Saturday's meeting with MK Dons.

The Boro will enter the first day of the season with hopes of claiming their first-ever away win against Blackpool, having drawn one and lost two of their previous three head-to-head away meetings.

Blackpool pre-season form:

W W D D

Stevenage pre-season form:

L W D L W

Team News

Blackpool are unable to call upon the services of CJ Hamilton, Albie Morgan and Tom Bloxham due to injury.

The defensive duo of Imray and James Husband have also been ruled out with knee and hamstring issues respectively.

Ashley Fletcher was the only Blackpool player to reach double digits in League One last season, and he will be hoping to hit the ground running in the new campaign when he features in the front two on Saturday.

As for the visitors, Jake Young will have to be assessed after he picked up an injury in last Saturday's friendly with MK Dons.

Revell could decide to select a back four featuring Luther James-Wildin, Charlie Goode, Carl Piergianni and Dan Butler.

At the opposite end of the pitch, Jamie Reid is likely to be given the nod to spearhead Stevenage's attack, with the striker looking to better last season's eight-goal league tally.

Blackpool possible starting lineup:

Peacock-Farrell; Casey, Horsfall, Ihiekwe; Lyons, Honeyman, Evans, Brown, Coulson; Ennis, Fletcher

Stevenage possible starting lineup:

Ashby-Hammond; James-Wildin, Goode, Piergianni, Butler; Houghton, White; Roberts, Kemp, Campbell; Reid

We say: Blackpool 2-0 Stevenage

Blackpool have won four of their six competitive games against Stevenage, and we believe that they will add another win to that impressive record by making full use of home advantage on Saturday.

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