Goals form Leon Cort and a thunderbolt from Chris Solly were enough to give Charlton victory at Blackpool in early October.

The Seasiders have had a difficult season and events this week will not have helped them in their quest to avenge that defeat at Bloomfield Road.

Charismatic manager, Ian Holloway, left to join Crystal Palace and was replaced nine weeks ago by Portsmouth’s Michael Appleton. Appleton has been courted by Blackburn this week and did not take training on Thursday. Blackpool gave Rovers permission to speak to Appleton and it seems certain that he will be unveiled at Ewood Park sometime on Friday.

So for the second time this season the Addicks will face a side at The Valley who have lost their manager on the eve of the match. Ironically, the last occasion was when Blackburn were the visitors.

Blackpool have probably not fared as well as they expected but can still be dangerous foes on their day. Tom Ince is arguably the best player in the division and is likely to move to Liverpool before the end of the month. Veteran striker, Kevin Phillips, still knows where the goal is and former Charlton loanee, Nathan Eccleston, can always cause problems with his pace.

Chris Powell is short of options in several areas due to loan players returning to their parent clubs, injuries and Dorian Dervite’s suspension.

Ben Hamer is likely to have Chris Solly, Matt Taylor, Michael Morrison and Cedric Evina in front of him. Taylor and Morrison are the only available senior central defenders and unless Powell brings a loanee in on Friday, Semi Ajayi will probably be on the bench. Rhoys Wiggins played in the Under-21 match at Tottenham in the week but is still short of match fitness.

Lawrie Wilson will be pushed forward into midfield, with Dale Stephens, Bradley Pritchard and Johnnie Jackson completing the midfield quartet.

Yann Kermorgant will probably have Ricardo Fuller as his partner in attack with Bradley Wright-Phillips dropping to the bench.

Charlton could line-up like this:

Hamer; Solly, Taylor, Morrison, Evina; Wilson, Stephens, Pritchard, Jackson; Kermorgant, Fuller.

Subs: Button, Ajayi, Green, Kerkar, Cook, Wagstaff, Wright-Phillips.

Premier League whistler, Mike Jones of Chester, will be the referee.

Charlton have a poor home record this season and given the disrupted preparation that Blackpool have had, the Addicks could scarcely have wished for a better opportunity to improve their form at The Valley.