Blackpool fringe players set for opportunity in EFL Trophy tie at Accrington

Blackpool are set to hand opportunities to a number of fringe players in tonight’s EFL Trophy game against Accrington Stanley (7pm).
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The Seasiders head to the Crown Ground looking to get back to winning ways after back-to-back defeats in League One.

Neil Critchley’s side began their Trophy group G campaign with a 0-0 draw against David Dunn’s Barrow three weeks ago, picking up a bonus point after winning the penalty shootout.

James Husband is eligible to face Accrington Stanley this evening despite his red card at the weekendJames Husband is eligible to face Accrington Stanley this evening despite his red card at the weekend
James Husband is eligible to face Accrington Stanley this evening despite his red card at the weekend
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Accrington, meanwhile, got off to the best possible start by thrashing Leeds United’s Under-21 side 7-0.

The Seasiders are likely to make changes, with Jordan Thorniley, Teddy Howe, Luke Garbutt, MJ Williams, Oliver Sarkic, Dan Kemp and Gary Madine all in need of minutes.

“It’s something we’ll consider,” head coach Critchley said, when asked if there would be changes to the side that lost 3-2 to Lincoln City on Saturday.

“We need to give players an opportunity to play and we’ve got some players who deserve an opportunity to play.

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“It’s a competition we want to do well in. We drew our first game and Accrington won theirs.

“The next game is always the most important game and it’s an opportunity for us to bounce back, so we want to go to Accrington and pick up a positive result.”

One man who will be available is James Husband despite the defender’s red card in Saturday’s defeat to Lincoln.

The 26-year-old will serve his one-match suspension in Saturday’s rearranged home game against Ipswich Town, with the ban not applying for the EFL Trophy.

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With Blackpool leading 2-1 against the Imps with seven minutes to go last weekend, Husband was dispossessed by Lincoln’s Brennan Johnson on the edge of his own box.

The centre-back desperately tried to recover but, in his attempt to win the ball back, hauled the forward to the ground in the 18-yard box.

Husband was subsequently shown a straight red card by the referee, who also pointed to the penalty spot.

The spot-kick was converted by Jorge Grant, his second penalty of the game, before the Imps went on to claim the three points against the 10 men of Blackpool with an 88th-minute winner from Lewis Montsma.

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The FA has confirmed Husband will now serve a one-match ban for denying an “obvious goalscoring opportunity”.

The defender will now miss the Ipswich game, brought forward from midNovember.

The Seasiders were scheduled to visit Sunderland this Saturday but three Black Cats players have been called up for international duty and Pool’s trip has been rearranged for December 22.

Rather than have a free weekend, the Seasiders agreed to face Ipswich, whose scheduled game against Charlton Athletic has been postponed because of the Addicks’ call-ups.

n Curtis Tilt has been linked with a shock return to Bloomfield Road.

The defender, who is well down the pecking order at Rotherham United following hip surgery, joined the Millers in January.