Blackpool v Cardiff City RECAP: Updates from the Seasiders' first home league game of the season

Ryan Giles is played through on goal for Cardiff and looks odds-on to give the visitors the lead, but his low effort is superbly saved by Chris Maxwell.

That stop earns a big roar from the North Stand.

Sean Morrison’s long throw is flicked on towards the unmarked Aden Flint, but his header is a weak one and it’s straight at Chris Maxwell. There looked to be a clear foul on a Blackpool player who was shoved to the ground, but the referee was happy for play to continue.

James Husband chips a ball over the Cardiff backline with CJ Hamilton almost reaches. But keeper Dillon Phillips is off his line quickly to claim.

It’s been a quiet few opening minutes here, with both sides feeling each other out.

It’s far from quiet in the stands, of course. The North Stand is absolutely rocking.

Kenny Dougall gets the game underway.

Come on Pool!

And kick-off is moments away.

Can the Seasiders get off to a positive start in their first home league game of the season? We’ll soon find out...

Up the mighty Pool!

...now the majority of the fans are in the house. The North Stand is already in fine voice.

This should be a cracker.

There’s already plenty of Pool fans milling around, despite there being over half an hour until kick-off.

It appears the home ends are virtually sold out, while Cardiff have sold in the region of 1,500 tickets, with away supporters also able to pay on the gate.

It promises to be some occasion.

After making wholesale changes in midweek during the convincing Carabao Cup win against Middlesbrough, Neil Critchley reverts back to the side that started the league campaign at Bristol City last weekend - with one change.

Kenny Dougall is the man to come into the side in place of Reece James, who drops down to the bench.

It comes after the Aussie made a successful return from injury in midweek, getting 45 vital minutes under his belt.

Elsewhere, Josh Bowler and Shayne Lavery are surprisingly left out and named among the substitutes despite their eye-catching displays in the cup.

Instead, CJ Hamilton and Tyreece John-Jules keep their place in the starting XI, the latter playing alongside Jerry Yates in attack.

It appears the Seasiders will be playing 442 this afternoon, rather than the 4231 they’ve utilised in pre-season and their opening two games of the campaign.

Daniel Gretarsson is now back from his shoulder injury, but the defender is still left out as he builds up his fitness.

Matty Virtue (ACL), Kevin Stewart (ankle), Demetri Mitchell (knee) and Gary Madine (groin) remain sidelined, while Teddy Howe, Oliver Sarkic, Bez Lubala and Joe Nuttall continue to be overlooked.

As for the visitors, Mick McCarthy opts to make just one change to the Cardiff side that drew 1-1 against Barnsley last weekend.