After beating Reading last weekend, Blackpool will bid to open their campaign with consecutive victories when they travel to the bet365 Stadium to face Stoke City on Saturday.

The hosts, meanwhile, will attempt to clinch their first points of the season after falling to a 2-0 defeat to Millwall on the opening weekend of the season.

Match preview

Since being relegated from the Premier League four years ago, Stoke have finished no higher than 14th place in the Championship.

In fact, they ended their last two campaigns in 14th position, but they will be aiming to push into the top half of the table this term.

However, to achieve a top-12 finish, Stoke will need to avoid too many performances like the one that they offered up in their season opener against Millwall.

Poor defending from set-pieces ultimately cost the Potters, who conceded two Charlie Cresswell goals from corner kicks which condemned them to a 2-0 away defeat.

As they turn their attention to their first home game of the season, Stoke will look to draw inspiration from the end of last season when they lost just one of their final five home matches.

While Stoke were unable to achieve a positive result last weekend, Blackpool got off to a winning start under new manager Michael Appleton.

The former Lincoln City boss took over the reins from Neil Critchley, who joined Aston Villa as Steven Gerrard's assistant manager.

Appleton began his tenure with a home encounter against Reading, and it proved to be a successful outing, with a ninth-minute Callum Connolly strike guiding Blackpool to a 1-0 victory.

After winning his opening match in his second spell as Blackpool boss, Appleton will now set about achieving a successful away result on Saturday.

The Tangerines only managed to win five away league games last season, and an improvement in their away form this season could see them operate in the top half of the table.

Team News

Stoke are still without the services of Nick Powell and Harry Souttar, who are sidelined due to injury issues.

Ben Wilmot was forced off late on against Millwall with a groin problem, and as a result, the defender is a doubt for Saturday's contest.

Last season's top scorer Jacob Brown was used as a second-half substitute last weekend, but the 24-year-old is expected to come into the lineup for Stoke's first home game of the season.

As for Blackpool, they have a number of injury absentees to contend with, including Doug Tharme, Kevin Stewart and Jake Beesley.

Jordan Lawrence-Gabriel and Luke Garbutt are sidelined, while Keshi Anderson picked up an injury before the season opener against Reading, which will keep him out for two months.

James Husband is a doubt for the first away game of the season, although Richard Keogh is set to feature after missing last weekend's victory with a knock.

Stoke City possible starting lineup:
Bursik; Taylor, Jagielka, Flint; Clarke, Laurent, Clucas, Baker, Tymon; Campbell, Brown

Blackpool possible starting lineup:
Grimshaw; Connolly, Ekpiteta, Keogh, Thompson; Virtue, Fiorini, Carey; Bowler, Yates, Madine

We say: Stoke City 1-1 Blackpool

No side drew more away games in the Championship than Blackpool last season, and we think that they will continue that trend in their first away match of the season by playing out a draw with Stoke.

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