Clarets v Tangerines Match Preview.

[The Bedlington Terrier]

Clarets v Tangerines Match Preview.
Turf Moor, Burnley, BB10 4BX.
Kick-off 15.00 Saturday 20th August 2022.

The games keep on coming thick and fast in the Championship. Burnley entertain Michael Appleton’s Blackpool on Saturday afternoon following a rather disappointing mid-week 1-1 home draw against Hull City.
On the other hand, the Seasiders will arrive at Turf Moor in fine feckle following a Tuesday night 1-0 away win against Queens Park Rangers at Loftus Road. A Josh Bowler goal separated the two sides and Blackpool now hold a two-point advantage over the Clarets after just four games.

Blackpool have always sat well in my own football nostalgia remembrance; the Tangerines Stanley Matthews, Jimmy Armfield, Ray Charnley and World Cup winner Alan Ball compete well in the memory box stakes with the likes of Clarets legends Jimmy McIlroy, Jimmy Adamson, John Connelly, and Ray Pointer.
History will however mean nothing, as Appleton’s team who play on the counterattack will go head-to-head with Vincent Kompany’s possession-based Burnley team.

One’s to watch: Blackpool have in form right winger Josh Bowler who scored mid-week in the Tangerine’s victory and centre-back Marvin Ekpiteta who looks to have “Premier League” written all over him. It is hoped Burnley’s troubles to score goals will be solved by a resurgent local hero Jay Rodriguez who scored a deserved equaliser for the Clarets on Tuesday night.

Verdict: Lancashire derbies are always difficult to predict but a 2-1 home win looks to be on the cards for me. Home advantage might just provide the telling factor in what will no doubt be a hard-fought Red Rose encounter.

Footnote: Call me a sentimental old fool but I recall going to a game in the early 1960’s when the Seasiders visited Turf Moor and England’s Jimmy Armfield was playing at right full back for the Seasiders and a newly capped Ray Pointer was strutting his stuff for the Clarets. How much would these two stalwarts be worth today in an inflated transfer market?

From: The Editor’s Chair – Clarets Mad.

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