Preston North End v Blackpool: Live match updates from Deepdale

Kenny Dougall gets the derby up and running.

Up the mighty Pool!!!

And what a noise!

It’s time...

And I’m already struggling to hear myself think. What a noise.

I just hope we get a game to match the occasion.

Blackpool have been dealt two selections blows ahead of tonight’s derby against Blackpool.

Both Dujon Sterling and Kevin Stewart have been ruled out through injury.

Sterling isn’t entirely unexpected as the defender was forced to hobble off with a sore ankle during Saturday’s defeat to Nottingham Forest.

With Jordan Gabriel only just returning from a five-week lay-off, Critchley opts not to risk him and instead goes for Callum Connolly at right-back.

That is one of four changes, as Richard Keogh also replaces Jordan Thorniley at centre-back having returned from a calf injury at the weekend.

Ethan Robson is the man to take Stewart’s spot in midfield alongside Kenny Dougall, while Keshi Anderson makes his first start since January in place of Jerry Yates - starting in the number 10 role off Gary Madine.

There is a spot on the bench for Matty Virtue, who last played for Blackpool in March of last year when he ruptured his ACL at Oxford.

Luke Garbutt, Grant Ward and Sonny Carey all remain sidelined.

Preston, meanwhile, make three changes from their weekend defeat to Derby County. Former Seasider Brad Potts is one of those to come into the side.

Ryan Lowe’s side started the night one point and one position below the Seasiders in the league table, having played one game more.

Coming off the back of a defeat, more players available, three games in a week...this game is ripe for a Neil Critchley team selection curveball!

A lot, of course, depends on which defender is fit to start at right-back. Dujon Sterling and Jordan Gabriel are both doubts, so if neither can make it then Callum Connolly would slot in there, you would think.

Elsewhere, does Richard Keogh come back in for Jordan Thorniley? A lot of Pool fans seem to think so and I’d be inclined to agree. The Seasiders lacked that little bit of experience and know-how on Saturday.

If Connolly isn’t required at right-back, there’s a strong argument to suggest he deserves to start in central midfield alongside Kevin Stewart, as Kenny Dougall wasn’t at his best against Forest.

If Keshi Anderson is 100% fit, it’s surely a no-brainer to put him straight back in on the left wing. But CJ Hamilton, Charlie Kirk and Owen Dale will all be putting their names forward.

In attack, given Jerry Yates has failed to find the back of the net in 14 games, Shayne Lavery is surely worthy of a start alongside Gary Madine.

Here’s how we think the Seasiders might line up.

“I believe it’s going to be a packed Deepdale, loads of our fans there, and I’m really looking forward to my first derby as Preston North End manager,” Ryan Lowe said.

“We’ve said we want to bring the fans back, we’re slowly and surely doing that, and when you’ve got a packed house in Deepdale with all our fans screaming and shouting for us and our players, that’s what you want and hopefully they can be the 12^th man to help us get through.

“The derby will find its own way after the first five or 10 minutes, it’ll find its own rhythm. I don’t want any gung-ho pressing at the wrong times and trying to do things they wouldn’t normally do.

“We’ve still got to stick to the plan and if we stick to the plan we’ll hopefully be fine.

“I’m sure there’s going to be plenty of tackles, plenty of argy-bargy if you like, but ultimately we’ve got to make sure we keep cool heads and play our football first and foremost.”