THE Blackpool defence is planning to be as solid as a rock today to keep Ipswich Town's misfiring attack at bay.The Blues have failed to score in more than four hours of football and the Tangerines are looking to extend that barren spell.

Derek Davis

By Derek Davis

THE Blackpool defence is planning to be as solid as a rock today to keep Ipswich Town's misfiring attack at bay.

The Blues have failed to score in more than four hours of football and the Tangerines are looking to extend that barren spell.

Blackpool boss Tony Parkes and his coaching staff have worked specifically on defence in the build up to the game knowing they have DJ Campbell, with four goals in five games, as their own scoring threat.

Rocks number two Steve Thompson said: “We've got a game plan when we play both away and at home. But you can't defend like we have sometimes been defending and that is the frustrating thing about it.

"You can't let people run from the halfway line and score. You've got to go with your runners. In this division you will get punished because there are good players.

"It is something that has got to be addressed if we are going to keep clean sheets.

"We worked on defending Thursday and Friday.”

Skipper Rob Edwards is likely to reclaim his place in the heart of the Blackpool defence and Claus Jorgensen is looking to get back into the midfield but Thompson warned no-one was nailed on to start.

He said: “We will also be making sure that the players know in no uncertain terms that no one is guaranteed their place in the starting line-up.

"We've got people desperate to get back in the team after long spells out with injury and we can't keep conceding the goals we are doing, so if it means chopping and changing then we'll do it.

"We can't continue conceding silly goals, especially at home. It is frustrating, both for the fans and for us."

Like many Championship team Blackpool are struggling with inconsistency, which is why they are 15th in the table. This was typified by their win at Crystal Palace which was followed by a home defeat last week.

Thompson said: “The frustrating thing is that from one game to the next we just don't know what we're going to get.

"We've got the ability, we know we've got the commitment and we know we've got the lads with us - so it's frustrating that we don't win games we think we will.”

Number one keeper Paul Rachbuka also returns from suspension and could oust Matt Gilks while Stephen Crainey, Brett Ormerod and Paul Marshall, on loan from Manchester City, are also keen to start.

Ipswich Town: R Wright, Supple, D Wright, Thatcher, Volz, Bruce, McAuley, Balkestein, Shumulikoski, Miller, Garvan, Trotter, Haynes, Walters, Lisbie, Counago, Stead.

Blackpool: Rachbuka, Gilks, Baptiste, Edwards, Coid, Evatt, Barker, Crainey, J Wright, Fox, O'Donovan, Jorgensen, Ormerod, Taylor-Fletcher, Vaughan, Marshall, Owens, Campell.