Blackpool midfielder Albie Morgan was absent for the 4-1 EFL Cup defeat to Lincoln City due to an ankle issue sustained last weekend. Manager Ian Evatt explained the situation after the Tuesday night second-round tie at Bloomfield Road, which saw the Seasiders reduced to ten men after Zac Ashworth's red card.
Blackpool currently sit 6th in League One with four points from their opening two matches, a position they will aim to consolidate in their next league fixture. They have scored three goals and conceded two so far this season, leaving them with a +1 goal difference and two points behind early leaders Bradford City.
Albie Morgan did not feature in the matchday squad for the cup tie following a minor problem with his ankle. The 26-year-old, who joined from Charlton Athletic in 2023, picked up the knock during the first half of Saturday's 2-1 league victory over Stockport County. "He slightly rocked his ankle on Saturday with a brilliant block in the first half, but continued through the whole game without any issue," Evatt told reporters. The manager confirmed it was a precautionary measure to leave Morgan out, with the player's history of injuries since arriving at the club also a factor. He had a separate spell on the sidelines during pre-season with another minor issue.
The cup exit was a disappointing follow-up to the positive league result at the weekend. Blackpool matched Lincoln for the first 50 minutes of the contest before the game turned. The dismissal of Zac Ashworth for a second bookable offence proved a significant moment in the match. Despite the setback, Evatt will have been encouraged by the availability of other squad members, with Jordan Williams, Karoy Anderson, and Dion Charles all named on the bench for the fixture.
Attention immediately shifts to the weekend's League One encounter. The most important game for us this week was Peterborough on Saturday, and that’s still the case," Evatt stated. Blackpool host Peterborough United at Bloomfield Road this Saturday, August 29th. Peterborough currently occupy 13th place in the table. This league fixture takes clear priority as the club looks to maintain its strong early-season standing. The full schedule of upcoming matches is available on our fixtures page.
Finley Munroe leads the team's scoring charts with one goal from his two appearances this campaign. The team's immediate objective is to respond to the cup defeat with a performance that secures points in the league. Their current form of a win and a draw from two games provides a solid platform, and the latest standings show they remain well-placed in the early season picture.
