Blackpool at Villa Park: Team news and updates

A win tonight means sixteen points. Spurs have sixteen points and they are currently sixth in the League. However, Spurs supporters booed the team off the pitch last night at White Hart Lane, so maybe having the same points as Spurs isn't going to be good enough and when you consider our manager has only just taken over and not had a transfer window and has so many injuries, it probably isn't.

What I'm trying to point out is that regardless of result tonight it isn't as bad as some are making out and all things considered, it is time to accept that it is a transitional season.

I know I'm banging this drum, but it is. We are also going to have another one in three or four seasons, but it is just something we have to accept is coming, much like this one is happening.

Blackpool at Villa Park

With a bit of luck, not sure for who, Gabby will make an appearance tonight. He is due to start on the bench and chances are, again regardless of what happens, that he'll make an appearance, so I'm sure he'll get a good reception even if I'm not sure he's going to get his fourteen goals this season.

But as one player makes his way back from injury we are reminded that Nigel Reo-Coker, John Carew, Steve Sidwell, Emile Heskey and Stiliyan Petrov are all out injured and there is every possibility they would have all started for us tonight.

So instead, it looks like we will start with Marc Albrighton, Barry Bannan, Nathan Delfouneso and Ciaran Clark and you know what, my confidence in getting a win remains.

Team news and updates

As and when we get it, we will update this page with team news and Twitter will be used throughout the day, mostly to point to stuff we find or with match updates.

Update: Competition winners

The two names pulled out of the hat to win match day lunch and tickets to Arsenal and Manchester United in November were Paul Cooper and Daniel Wilson. You know who you are.

Team news

Brad Friedel, Luke Young, Richard Dunne, James Collins, Stephen Warnock, Marc Albrighton, Ciaran Clark, Barry Bannan, Stewart Downing, Ashley Young and Nathan Delfouneso.

On the bench: Lichaj, Guzan, Beye, Ireland, Agbonlahor, Hogg and Johnson.