League One Game Week 7 brings Blackpool and Plymouth Argyle together at Bloomfield Road on 19 September 2026, with Blackpool tenth on eight points and Plymouth seventh on ten after six matches apiece. The home side has had a mixed start, whereas Plymouth arrive off the back of a 3-0 win over Barnsley. Whether Blackpool's high pressing home game can unsettle Plymouth's back four is really what this fixture is about.
Evatt and Cleverley haven't faced each other before, Evatt having taken over at Blackpool in October 2025 to replace Steve Bruce while Cleverley arrived at Plymouth in June 2025 following Miron Muslic's departure. The philosophical contrast is sharp: Evatt wants the ball won quickly and high, Cleverley more patient, building through shape and set piece organisation.
Blackpool's last five in the league reads D L L W W, ending in a 2-2 draw against Bromley on 12 September, whereas Plymouth's stronger W W L W D was capped by that 3-0 win over Barnsley on the same date. Plymouth have been converting chances more reliably in that stretch, while Blackpool have looked solid in some games and shakily exposed on the counter in others.
Both squads are fully fit, which at least removes any excuse making from the post match press conferences. Ashley Fletcher leads the line for Blackpool, with Josh Bowler starting on the right flank, Leighton Clarkson operating through the middle and Bailey Peacock-Farrell in goal. Plymouth's most interesting selection is Julio Pleguezuelo, whose return to full fitness completes their first choice back four, while Oli Irow starts up front after scoring against Barnsley and Owen Oseni comes in alongside him.
Blackpool under Evatt press high and like to win second balls, using the atmosphere at Bloomfield Road as an extra gear. Fletcher works as a target in the box while Bowler's runs pull Plymouth's full back across, which is where Clarkson is meant to arrive late. Plymouth, by contrast, don't need to dominate the ball to create chances, Cleverley's side defend in two compact lines and, with Pleguezuelo back, have their preferred defensive shape restored. Irow's recent form means Blackpool's midfield will need to track runners, which pulls Plymouth's midfield across and frees Blackpool's left channel.
The central contest is probably Clarkson versus Plymouth's midfield screen and if Blackpool win that battle Bowler gets more room, whereas if Plymouth keep it tight in the middle, Oseni on the counter becomes the likeliest route to a goal. Full squads on both sides mean neither manager is forced into a makeshift shape, so whatever these tactical patterns look like in the first twenty minutes is probably what they'll look like in the eightieth.
Plymouth have won both recent meetings, 4-0 in February 2026 and 1-0 in August 2025, though Evatt only arrived in October 2025, so that four goal loss is not a useful reference point for either side. Set piece delivery is at full strength on both sides, meaning one well placed delivery could easily settle this given how tight it is likely to be in open play.
0-0. Plymouth's defensive discipline should keep Fletcher isolated, Blackpool's press should stop Plymouth building through midfield and neither manager looks likely to open the game up chasing a win when a draw costs them nothing at this stage. Unless a set piece or a single piece of skill from Bowler or Irow breaks the pattern, both teams take a point and move on.
Ryan Baldi
Football Writer
Ryan Baldi is a professional football writer with years of experience and has been featured by respected outlets such as the BBC, The Guardian, Sky Sports, DAZN, FourFourTwo, ESPN, Yahoo Sport and Football365. He has also written several books including Arsène Who?.
