BLACKPOOL have another chance to end their six-month wait for a home victory on Saturday when divisional dark horses Colchester United head for town.

The Essex side have shot to fifth place in the league, despite selling leading scorer, Wayne Andrews, to Crystal Palace.

Under the management of an old Lancastrian head, former Reading midfielder, Phil Parkinson, they have established a free-scoring reputation, although like Blackpool they have five defeats behind them already this term.

Despite sterling efforts by Simon Grayson at Boundary Park, the midfield position is still Hendry's major area of concern, with a pressing need for a younger man alongside Richie Wellens.

Midfielder Keith Southern is well on the road to recovery, but Saturday may still prove a little too early for the former Everton man.

Sunday saw Blackpool come from behind to snatch another victory on their travels.

The Seasiders dominated the opening stages at the previously happy hunting ground of Boundary Park, with John Murphy forcing a great early save from big Australian keeper, Les Pogliacomi.

But the large travelling army of more than 1,600 Pool fans feared a return to the bad old days when Oldham went ahead with their first meaningful opportunity.

Inevitably, David Eyres had a role to play. Eyres, given the usual icy reception by the travelling faithful - was ineffective in general play, but always looked dangerous from set pieces.

His near-post corner was met by Will Haining and, despite claims for handball and a push on keeper Lee Jones, his goal was allowed to stand.

But anything less than three points would have been a travesty, and the Seasiders levelled the score four minutes before the break, when returning John Murphy collected a Simon Grayson throw-in before turning and despatching a deflected shot past Pogliacomi.

Blackpool continued to win their battles after the break and, despite the fact that the excellent Haining kept leading scorer, Scott Taylor, on a tight leash, created chance after chance. As always when Blackpool are at their best Richie Wellens was pulling all the strings. He could have earned two penalties in as many minutes, firstly hacked down inches outside the area, then apparently tripped while bursting past two defenders in the box. The referee Mr Atkinson (who had a shocking game from start to finish) saw nothing wrong with the challenges.

But Wellens wasn't to be denied, and opened his account for the season on 68 minutes. His first effort hit a defender but Oldham could do nothing about his second, which flew past Pogliacomi.

Oldham rallied late on could create little as Peter Clarke and Mark McGregor stood firm, despite an exceptionally niggly performance by Latics' John Eyre, whose constant pushing and shoving could have led to more than the booking he eventually got.

So, for the third time in a little over 12 months, an unusually sunny and warm (ie about two degrees above freezing) Boundary Park saw celebrations from Seasiders players and fans.

Blackpool stay third from bottom, but now have a mid-table position in their sights, especially if they win their game in hand against Wrexham next month.

But for Oldham a long, hard winter looks like a certainty.

Next week sees a red letter day in the calendar of many Seasiders fans as the club finally gets a chance to get its own back on Bradford City.

No Blackpool supporter will ever forget (no matter how many pills they take or therapy sessions they endure) the humiliating 3-0 home play-off defeat by the Bantams eight years ago.

With a Wembley visit all but certain, the Seasiders blew a 2-0 lead and let Chris Kamara's side play for a place in the first division.

Since then, Bradford have endured even more of a rollercoaster ride than the Seasiders. With two seasons in the Premiership and two spells in administration life is never dull in West Yorkshire (contrary to popular belief).

One familiar face at Valley Parade will be Aussie keeper, Paul Henderson, who had a brief trial at Bloomfield Road in the summer.