Blackpool v QPR RECAP: Updates from Bloomfield Road

Neil Warnock has left Middlesbrough following today’s 1-1 draw with West Brom.

Blackpool are down just one place to 11th following this afternoon’s 3pm kick-offs. They can leapfrog QPR and move back up to 6th with a win.

Neil Critchley makee four changes to the side from Wednesday night’s 1-0 defeat to Stoke City, some enforced and some unenforced.

In comes Owen Dale for his first Blackpool start, replacing Sonny Carey who drops to the bench. There he is joined by Jerry Yates, whose place in the team is taken by Gary Madine.

Elsewhere, Reece James comes in for the injured Richard Keogh, who suffered an achilles strain during the midweek defeat.

For James, it is his first appearance for the Seasiders since the end of August.

He comes into the side at left-back, which sees James Husband move into the centre where he partners Marvin Ekpiteta.

Josh Bowler, meanwhile, comes back into the starting line-up in place of Demetri Mitchell against the side he started his career with as a youngster.

Keogh is joined on the sidelines by Chris Maxwell (quad), Luke Garbutt (knee), Dujon Sterling (quad) Matty Virtue (ACL), Grant Ward (achilles) and Shayne Lavery (hamstring).

And while Kevin Stewart and CJ Hamilton are back in training, neither of them are fully fit.

QPR, who began the day in fifth place, but just one point ahead of the Seasiders, make two changes to the side that beat Cardiff City 1-0 in midweek.

What can we expect then?

There’s a good chance there will be a few changes. Richard Keogh and Luke Garbutt are likely to miss out, for a start, having picked up injuries during the week.

Does Neil Critchley keep James Husband at left-back? Or move him into the centre to partner Marvin Ekpiteta? If he does that, does Reece James come in at left-back?

But Husband has been in excellent form at left-back in recent weeks, so does Critchley keep him there and bring in Callum Connolly, Oliver Casey or Daniel Gretatsson? Plenty to ponder, for sure.

Elsewhere, I’d expect Josh Bowler and Gary Madine to come back in, but with Critchley you just never know do you?

It’s a blustery one at Bloomfield Road. The rain has been slashing down for most of the afternoon, but it appears to have stopped for now.

It’s forecast to remain pretty dry for most of the evening though, so fingers crossed we’re over the worst of it.