Holloway gives three debuts against Wigan

Ian Holloway ended up with three new signings in his starting line-up for Blackpool’s first top-flight appearance since 1971.

Marlon Harewood, Craig Cathcart and Elliot Grandin were part of a rapid recruitment policy this week as Holloway finally injected some new blood into a squad that secured Premier League status by beating Cardiff in the play-off final at Wembley.

Wigan were not even a league club when the Seasiders were relegated from the old First Division but were embarking on their sixth Premier League season on the trot, although wantaway midfielder Charles N’Zogbia was not included.

Wigan: Kirkland, Boyce, Alcaraz, Gohouri, Figueroa, McCarthy, Diame, Moses, Watson, Rodallega, Boselli.

Subs: Al Habsi, Thomas, Gomez, McArthur, Scotland, Stam, Golobart.

Blackpool: Gilks, Baptiste, Evatt, Cathcart, Crainey, Taylor-Fletcher, Adam, Vaughan, Grandin, Ormerod, Harewood.

Subs: Rachubka, Eardley, Basham, Euell, Sylvestre, Edwards, Demontagnac.

Referee: Mark Halsey (Lancashire)