'He's done a fantastic job': Blackpool's head coach Neil Critchley full of praise for Fleetwood Town boss Joey Barton ahead of Fylde coast clash

Critchley is preparing to take charge of his first game when Blackpool make the short journey up the Fylde coast to take on their local neighbours on Saturday.

He will come face-to-face with Fleetwood's head coach Barton, although the Cod Army boss will have to watch the game from the stands as he serves the first of his two-game touchline ban.

Fleetwood are enjoying a rich vein of form at the moment, their win at Ipswich Town in midweek seeing them climb up in the League One play-off spots.

The Highbury outfit are currently enjoying a 10-game unbeaten streak which has seen them win six of their last seven games - a run of form that drew the praise of Critchley.

“Earlier this season Liverpool’s Under-23s played against Fleetwood in the EFL Trophy, so I managed to speak to Joey briefly," he said.

“I think he’s done a fantastic job at Fleetwood, you only have to look at the team and how they’re playing recently.

“He’s got a real good set of staff with him there as well and we know we’re going to be in for a really difficult game on Saturday.

“We’re away from home and they’re in a really good run of form and are in the play-offs. That doesn’t surprise me when I know the type of work they’re doing there.

“That’s something I’m going to try and replicate here and obviously try and do better than.

“We know we’re in for a difficult game but from what I’ve seen in the last 48 hours I’m confident in the players that we’ll be ready for it.

“We’re on a good run of form ourselves, so it makes for a really exciting and interesting game.”

When asked what Blackpool supporters can expect to see from their team at Highbury on Saturday, Critchley replied: “High energy, a team that wants to play on the front foot and intensity. Over a period of time we will look to dominate the ball and have the ball.

“I’m very conscious of talking with cliches or football philosophies, but that’s something that is developed through the work we do in training every day.

“What you train is who you become and I’m a big believer in that. That will take a period of time.

“But I understand the Blackpool supporters will want to see certain things when we take to the pitch and I’m very aware of that.

“But if you look at my teams recently, albeit under the spotlight and under the radar, if I can recreate that here - which I’ve got every confidence I can - the Blackpool supporters will be having some exciting times ahead.”