Championship preview: Leicester City v Blackpool

Ian Holloway

No one has started the season better than Blackpool, but how Leicester City would love to disrupt their momentum.

Ian Holloway is intent on getting Blackpool back into the Premier League, and after coming so close to doing so last season when losing in the play-off final, he wants to secure the automatic route back next summer.

Three games, three wins and 10 goals scored, Blackpool have hit the ground running, but they come up against a side previously managed by Holloway who have ambitions of becoming the first team to take anything off the Tangerines this season.

Hollloway was only in charge of Leicester for a season, and despite negativity surrounding his time there he still regards it as a marvellous period for him.

One of the stars of Blackpool’s impressive start so far has been Thomas Ince, and surprise surprise there are clubs that want to prize him away from the club, but, Holloway insists he will keep him.

“The transfer deadline doesn't bother me because he's got his dad (Paul Ince) who understands what is best for him. He knows that Tom needs games to develop and he's at a very good place at Blackpool to do that. I had a conversation with his dad and he wants his boy to stay here,” said Holloway.

Blackpool will take some stopping, but Leicester will be up for the fight, and have extra incentive to get one over their former boss.

However, they will need to snap a three match losing streak, a run that has seen them exit the League Cup and suffer two league defeats. Goalkeeper Kasper Schmeichel says they need to be “ruthless” against the league pace setters.

“It's that ruthless streak that we need and we've been talking about it ever since I first came here,” said the son of goalkeeping legend Peter. "It's something that we have to work on as a group and that will be done.

“It's something that has to come from the players, it's not something that the management can instil in us. It's something that we have to have in our hearts and our minds.

"There was a lot of us that need to buck our ideas up if we want to go anywhere this season. The coaching staff and the management are very capable and I have complete faith that they know what they're doing,” he added.

The Championship schedule kicks off with Millwall playing Middlesbrough in the day’s early start. Second placed Sheffield Wednesday face an away trip to bottom of the table Crystal Palace, and Blackburn are away to Leeds United.

Bristol City face Barnsley, with Burnley taking on Brighton and Hove Albion, and Derby facing Watford. Hull and Bolton will do battle, as will Ipswich and Huddersfield, with Nottingham Forest facing Charlton.

İsmail Vedat

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