Blackpool need to focus against Terriers

Blackpool welcome Huddersfield Town, with their trio of familiar faces, to Bloomfield Road tonight in front of the Sky cameras, but have much more on their mind than playing happy reunions.

The Seasiders can go to the Championship summit with a win tonight – capitalising on Blackburn’s defeat against Middlesbrough on Friday.

All the talk in the run-up has been on Simon Grayson, Peter Clarke and more poignantly Keith Southern returning to the seaside with the Terriers.

On Grayson, Ian Holloway said: ‘The groundwork he and Tony Parkes put in gave me a fantastic base to challenge the boys and keep moving forward. I’m delighted to have taken up the reins.

‘I’ve done a couple of events with Simon and he`s a fantastic fella. The staff who were here when he was the manager speak very highly of him.’

Southern will receive an excellent reception from the home crowd in his first competitive game back since the summer move, but Pool’s midfield should have too much for him and Adam Clayton, who have both previously played under Grayson.

The former Blackpool boss is all too aware of the task that lies before his team against a side who have a 100% record on their own patch.

‘Blackpool have got players operating to a very high standard, and Bloomfield Road is a difficult place to go, so we will be tested to the full,’ said Grayson.

‘A lot of teams can’t deal with Blackpool’s movement and rotation in midfield and up front, and they’ve definitely got goals in them, but we are looking forward to the challenge.

‘Our players know they will have to be on their guard, and on top of their game, because Blackpool have turned over some good teams already, 
and are favourites to go up.’

As for Southern, in typically diplomatic fashion he said he refuses to celebrate should he score in the fixture. “It would be disrespectful to Blackpool’s fans if I was to celebrate, but I’m due a goal so I might pop up with one,” he told the Gazette.

“Don’t get me wrong, it would be lovely for me to score at Bloomfield Road, but I don’t think I’d have it in my heart to celebrate.

“That would not be what Blackpool Football Club deserve from me and it’s not what the fans deserve. They have been ever so good to me over the years.”