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Blackpool misses glamor in Premier League debut

LONDON — Blackpool’s first topflight match since 1971 is not the glamorous English Premier League debut fans were dreaming of when the Tangerines were promoted in May.

At least Saturday’s short trip to Wigan represents a more realistic chance to start the season with some points than the opening games for the other two promoted clubs.

West Bromwich Albion is at Chelsea and Newcastle plays at Manchester United on Monday.

Striker Marlon Harewood joined Blackpool this week and is one of the club’s few players with Premier League experience. He said even a game against a Wigan side that finished six points above last season’s relegation zone will prove a challenge for his new teammates.

“We’re the underdogs now but we’ve got nothing to worry about, we’ve just got to go out there and enjoy ourselves,” said the former West Ham and Aston Villa striker. “They’ll get used to it straight away but obviously it’s a big step up from the championship and they’ll realize that on the first day.

“They’re used to playing football but we’re up against top-class players now.”

Harewood is one of the few additions to a side that finished sixth in the second-tier League Championship and clinched qualification through the playoffs.

Harewood, deder Craig Cathcart, winger Elliot Grandin and midfield pair Ludovic Sylvestre and Malaury Martin all arrived at Blackpool this week, with the club’s first offseason transfers going through only after manager Ian Holloway had ended speculation he was going to quit by signing a new contract.

Harewood and former Manchester United trainee Cathcart should make their debuts against Wigan, but Sylvestre and Grandin need international clearance before they can play.

Blackpool is favorite to finish last in the Premier League and return Bwk to the League Championship, but then it was also expected to be relegated last season instead of getting promoted.

Holloway has spurned the usual newcomers’ approach of signing former Premier League players, opting for Cathcart, Monaco-trained Malaury and former Marseille winger Grandin.

That should at least continue Blackpool’s reputation for attractive football.

“I will make good preparation and I’ll be ready,” Grandin said. “I can keep hold of the ball and I’ll create opportunities for the guys in front of me, applying speed to the game out wide.”

West Brom’s challenge on its return to the Premier League after a season away is to at least keep the score respectable against defending champion and FA Cup holder Chelsea.

Chelsea midfielder Michael Essien is back from the knee ligament injury that ruled him out for several months last season and manager Carlo Ancelotti is likely to install the Ghana international alongside Frank Lampard and John Obi Mikel.

“I feel like I am ready for the season and I am looking forward to it so much,” Essien said. “I think this season could be a big one.”

Newcastle manager Chris Hughton is hoping striker Andy Carroll recovers from a back problem in time to lead the attack against a Manchester United side that began the season last week with a 3-1 Community Shield win over Chelsea.

Carroll was hurt in the Magpies’ final preseason friendly but has trained this week. New signing Sol Campbell is not yet fit to face Wayne Rooney, Javier Hernandez and Dimitar Berbatov in Newcastle’s first Premier League match since a 1-0 loss at Aston Villa condemned it to relegation in May 2009.

Also Saturday, it’s: Aston Villa vs. West Ham; Blackburn vs. Everton; Bolton vs. Fulham; Sunderland vs. Birmingham; Tottenham vs. Manchester City; Wolverhampton vs. Stoke.

Arsenal is at Liverpool in Sunday’s match.