Blackpool goalkeeper Bailey Peacock-Farrell has been nominated for the League One Player of the Month award for August. The Seasiders, currently 11th in the table with seven points from five games, are looking to bounce back from a recent defeat to Barnsley.
The Northern Ireland international's strong early-season form earned him a place on the four-man shortlist. His performances were vital in securing seven points from Blackpool's first three league matches. A standout display came in the 2-1 win at Stockport County, where he made several important saves to protect the lead.
Peacock-Farrell, 29, initially joined on loan from Birmingham City before signing permanently. He agreed to a further 12-month extension this past summer. His nomination puts him alongside former Blackpool defender Matthew Pennington, now at Bradford City, and attackers Jamal Lowe of Sheffield Wednesday and Joe Taylor of Huddersfield Town.
The club's unbeaten start to the campaign ended with a 2-1 away loss to Barnsley. Dion Charles hit the post for Blackpool in the first half before the hosts took the lead through Cameron McGeehan after 61 minutes. Josh Bowler equalised just four minutes later, but Amani Richards headed in a late winner for Barnsley in the 87th minute.
That result leaves Ian Evatt's side with a record of two wins, one draw, and two losses. They have scored nine goals and conceded seven, giving them a positive goal difference.
A preview from The Tilehurst End notes Blackpool travel to face Reading this weekend aiming to respond to that Barnsley defeat. The two sides finished close together last season, with Reading one place and three points ahead of the Tangerines in 12th. They split their meetings last term, each winning away from home.
Manager Ian Evatt, appointed last October, has brought in eight new players this summer including former Reading keeper Luke Southwood. The squad has several injury concerns ahead of the match, with defenders Fraser Horsfall, Michael Ihiekwe, and Hayden Coulson among those likely to be unavailable.
Blackpool's early form has them in 11th position, five points behind early leaders Sheffield Wednesday. Their recent sequence of results reads loss, loss, win, win, draw. The next opportunity to climb the table comes on September 12th with a home game against 21st-placed Bromley. Fans can track the evolving League One standings as the season progresses.
The focus now turns to preparation for that Bromley fixture at Bloomfield Road. Securing three points could provide a platform for a push towards the top six, a clear objective for Evatt's side this season.
