Skipper Luke Chambers and five-goal joint-top scorer Gwion Edwards are dropped to the bench as manager Paul Lambert hands debuts to new loan signings Luke Matheson and Troy Parrott in this afternoon’s home game against Blackpool.

Chambers, previously the Blues’ only ever-present in the league this season, last missed a game he was available for in August 2019 when squad rotation saw him among the subs for the 2-1 home win against AFC Wimbledon.

The captain joins Edwards, Stephen Ward, who was also a sub for last week’s 1-1 at Crewe, on the bench with Matheson making his debut at right-back and Luke Woolfenden and Mark McGuinness the centre-halves. Myles Kenlock continues at left-back, with Tomas Holy again in goal.

In midfield, Flynn Downes wears the captain’s armband alongside Andre Dozzell with Alan Judge ahead of them.

Freddie Sears looks set to move to the left of the front three with Parrott the central striker and Luke Thomas on the right.

Josh Harrop is in a Town 18 for the first time having completed his 10-day self-isolation following his positive Covid-19 test.

For Blackpool, ex-Town midfielder Grant Ward and ex-loanee Luke Garbutt are both on the bench having recently been out with injuries.

Town: Holy, Matheson, Woolfenden, McGuinness, Kenlock, Dozzell, Downes (c), Judge, Thomas, Parrott, Sears. Subs: Cornell, Chambers, Ward, Edwards, Harrop, Drinan, Norwood.

Blackpool: Maxwell (c), Gabriel, Ekpiteta, Thorniley, Husband, Dougall, Stewart, Kaikai, Embleton, Virtue, Yates. Subs: Sims, Turton, Garbutt, Mitchell, Ward, Lubala, Simms. Referee: John Busby (Oxfordshire).

Photo: Matchday Images

johnwarksshorts added 14:28 - Feb 6 Wow. No Chambo.
5

braveblue added 14:29 - Feb 6 Well done PL. Brave decision and the correct one. Just wish you had gone 2 up front and left Judge out also.
12

happybeingblue added 14:29 - Feb 6 hallelujah
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Len_Brennan added 14:31 - Feb 6 Hell of a bench for a league 1 match.
6

arc added 14:33 - Feb 6 Wow, it feels like the changing of the guard, the passing of the baton, or some such cliché. Let's hope it's the start of better times.
6

miltonsnephew added 14:33 - Feb 6 Garbutt and Ward to come on and ruin the party 🙈
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drewcudders1963 added 14:34 - Feb 6 Is this the youngest back four Town have ever fielded in League fixture ?
2

masetheace added 14:34 - Feb 6 That team could start as a 4-4-2
1

LWNR2013 added 14:35 - Feb 6 Power to the people!!
0

Dockerblue added 14:37 - Feb 6 Should,ve dropped Judge who offers nothing and started with Norwood. Sears on the left? How many chances has he had there? Well lose today and surely Lambert goes!
7

airliner added 14:37 - Feb 6 Let's just hope PL is now not running the team and is on gardening leave. As the first team coach is doing the presser yesterday. God we need a proper coach to get this team moving.
4

DifferentGravy added 14:41 - Feb 6 Glad he has dropped Chambers but 4-5-1.......again........groan
3

Skip73 added 14:41 - Feb 6 Still 1 up front I see, although Sears could play up front with Parrott.
1

LimerickTractorBoy added 14:42 - Feb 6 2-0 👍
2

Bert added 14:43 - Feb 6 Good. Burley was a bit younger than LM when he made his debut. Last throw of the dice. Please make it work for everyone's sake. COYB.
3

heathen66 added 14:45 - Feb 6 Wow never thought i would see the day although I am sure they are only rested Edwards can count himself unlucky but it is about give and take. Just need the 2 up top and you never know !!! Kenlock and Matheson need consecutive games and these two should be persevered with for a number of games (>5)...if then it does not work then try something different. Well done PL, just months too late unfortunately !!!

2

RobsonWark added 14:47 - Feb 6 WOW!! Finally PL has at last seen the light, like all the rest of us over the past 3-4 seasons, and dropped Chambers :)
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runningout added 14:48 - Feb 6 Every time I have seen Kenlock he's had a poor game and seen a few. Hope it's just me!
1

RobsonWark added 14:49 - Feb 6 I'm now feeling a lot more positive about todays game now that Chambers has been dropped. I wasn't going to bother paying £10 to watch the game but I am going to now :)
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BlueInBerks added 14:52 - Feb 6 Is it just me, or is iFollow not working?
0

muhrensleftfoot added 14:55 - Feb 6 @Bert slight difference on Burley's debut. He was marking George Best !
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shakytown added 14:55 - Feb 6 Obvious what is going to happen. parrot will be left alone up front against 2 6 foot 6 defenders then get injured and be out for the season. Meanwhile Judge just crawls around and does nothing at all
1

RobsonWark added 14:56 - Feb 6 It took a while for me to get in and buy the match. It must be all the happy fans wanting to watch the match now that we have a chance with Chambers dropped :)
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BettyBlue added 15:15 - Feb 6 "Must win game" And we're resting players and putting injured players n the bench. And Judge, Holy and Sears.....
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Suffolkboy added 15:17 - Feb 6 Wow ! Those contributing appear much of one mind ,but we shall see .In our time ,and with restricted opportunities to be physically present to watch first hand , it's exceptionally difficult to justify AJ in the side .He brings little by way of invention , seems pretty well a ‘consistent ‘ fringe player AND can't hit the back of the net for ‘toffee ‘. Live in hope , doubts cast aside ahead of every match – but living in suspense about the outcome ! COYB

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