Notts County vs Blackpool - League One

Season-defining implications hang over this League One clash at the home ground, where Notts County host Blackpool on September 26, 2026 knowing the result could shape the run-in for both clubs. Manchester City face the K-League All-Stars in Seoul on Wednesday as part of their pre-season tour of Asia.

Notts County head into the contest positioned 16th in the League One standings, while Blackpool arrive sitting 10th. Notts County are mired in a difficult campaign, LDDWD over their last five and a paltry win rate of 16.67% painting a bleak picture. The visitors have been a mixed bag on the road, DLLWW in their last five and a win rate of 33.33% reflecting their unpredictability. The contrast in attacking output — 1.17 versus 1.83 goals per game — adds an extra layer of intrigue. Michael Carrick has spoken on why Marcus Rashford did not feature for Manchester United in the club's most recent pre-season outing.

The tactical battle could prove decisive. Notts County may lean on their home advantage to dictate the tempo, but Blackpool have shown they can be dangerous when allowed to play on their own terms. They were slightly found out against Amorim's Milan in pre-season, with the press not quite sharp enough - the fourth goal, in particular, came from just one ball over a high-lined defence.

With J. Marriott leading the league's scoring charts at 6 goals, the contest is unlikely to be short of attacking intent. Whoever wins the individual duel between the two sides' chief playmakers is likely to dictate the rhythm and, ultimately, the destination of the points. Romelu Lukaku completes the transfer from Napoli to FenerbahceThe sale of Lukaku means that Rasmus Hojlund and Lorenzo Lucca are now the only two senior centre-forward options available in Allegri’s squad.

Predicting an outright winner is no easy task given how little separates the two sides on paper. Blackpool look well-equipped to take the points on the road, with a 1-2 victory well within their reach. More than just three points is on the line at the home ground — this is a fixture that could shape the narrative of both clubs' seasons. Important qualities given that Bournemouth will expect him to be proactive.