Luton Town 3-1 Blackpool as it happened as Stephen Dobbie takes charge of first game

And welcome to today’s live blog.

After an eventful weekend, Blackpool return to action with a new man in the dugout as they make the trip to Kenilworth Road this afternoon.

Follow our blog for build-up, team news, live match updates and post-match reaction.

Stephen Dobbie takes charge of his first game as interim boss as Blackpool make the Easter Monday trip to Kenilworth Road.

The club’s development squad boss has taken charge of the first-team until the end of the season following Mick McCarthy’s departure on Saturday.

That followed the disastrous 3-1 defeat to Cardiff City on Good Friday which all but confirmed Blackpool’s relegation to League One.

With only six games remaining, the Seasiders sit seven points adrift of safety. To stand any chance of staying up they’ll have to pick up three points today against the promotion-chasing Hatters.

Luton, who are now managed by former Seasider Rob Edwards, sit third in the Championship, eight points adrift of second place but a further eight points clear of seventh.

Andy Davies is today’s referee. He’s dished out 75 yellow cards in the 21 games he’s taken charge of this season, plus two reds.

One of those dismissals was shown to Marvin Ekpiteta during the 2-1 defeat to Wigan back in November. He also officiated Blackpool’s 1-0 win away to QPR.

Jerry Yates remains a doubt after missing Blackpool’s Good Friday defeat to Cardiff with what McCarthy described as a hamstring injury.

Jordan Thorniley was also missing for the second week running with a kidney infection, despite McCarthy claiming he should be okay.

Marvin Ekpiteta, Charlie Goode, Liam Bridcutt, Kevin Stewart, Tom Trybull, Shayne Lavery, Jake Beesley and Gary Madine all remain sidelined through injury.

As for Luton, their midfielder Jordan Clark will miss out with a calf injury.

“We’re back in front of our fans which will be great,” Luton boss and former Seasider Rob Edwards said.

“We will recover really well and then go again. We’ve got to show a lot of the same qualities as we did against Millwall and then hopefully have a bit more of an attacking threat as well as a team.

“We’ll have a look if there needs to be changes. We’ll see how everyone is and we’ll see what the game requires on Monday.

“There won’t be a lot of changes because we’re in a rhythm and in a flow and the group get that, because we’re all fighting and working hard whether that’s at the training ground or within matches.

“We’re in a good place.”

The Seasiders are down to the bare bones, with doubts over top goalscorer Jerry Yates after he missed Good Friday’s disastrous defeat to Cardiff City.

Jordan Thorniley was also missing for the second game running, while Marvin Ekpiteta, Charlie Goode, Liam Bridcutt, Kevin Stewart, Tom Trybull, Shayne Lavery, Jake Beesley and Gary Madine all remain sidelined.

It’s difficult to predict what Dobbie will do, but he’s preferred to play a 4-3-3 system while taking charge of the development squad this season.

With that in mind, here’s how the Seasiders are predicted to line-up at Kenilworth Road...

Stephen Dobbie has made five changes to Blackpool’s line-up in his first game in charge as interim boss.

The Seasiders make the trip to Kenilworth Road to take on play-off chasing Luton Town in the first of six games Dobbie will oversee as caretaker boss.

It comes after the club’s development squad coach took the reins from Mick McCarthy, who departed on Saturday following the disastrous defeat to Cardiff City.

The result leaves Blackpool seven points adrift of safety with only six games remaining.

Dobbie makes five changes from Friday’s 3-1 defeat, which all but confirmed Blackpool’s relegation to League One.

Jordan Thorniley recovers from illness to reclaim his spot at centre-back, while Lewis Fiorini comes in from the cold to start in midfield.

Andy Lyons, Keshi Anderson and CJ Hamilton also come into the side.

Jordan Gabriel, Dom Thompson, Callum Connolly, Charlie Patino and Ian Poveda are the five to drop out.

Top scorer Jerry Yates misses out for the second game running after injuring his hamstring prior to the game against Cardiff.

Marvin Ekpiteta, Charlie Goode, Liam Bridcutt, Kevin Stewart, Tom Trybull, Shayne Lavery, Jake Beesley and Gary Madine also remain sidelined through injury.

One of the key talking points prior to kick-off was whether Dan Grimshaw would come in for Chris Maxwell following the latter’s poor performance against Cardiff. But Dobbie opts to keep faith with the 32-year-old.

Curtis Nelson takes the captain’s armband from Connolly following his demotion to the bench.

Luton get today’s game underway.

Up the mighty Pool!