Christmas cheer is still in short supply at Bloomfield Road as the usual festive fixture pile up approaches.

The Seasiders go to Port Vale on Boxing Day before welcoming Oldham Athletic to Bloomfield Road on the Wednesday - and urgently need to pick up points as they sit firmly in the league one relegation zone.

The Boxing Day game is a crunch tie as Vale are one of a string of clubs in mid table who could be sucked back in to the relegation fight with a bad run of results.

But Blackpool will be hit by the loss of Ian Morris, who returns to Leeds United after an often impressive loan spell. The midfielder may well be back for the rest of the season in January, but league rules prevent him from featuring for the festive period after his three month 'emergency' loan expired.

Panto season will be in full swing for the visit of Oldham Athletic in midweek. The Latics are expected to feature former Bloomfield Road favourites David Eyres and Richie Wellens, as well as Paul Edwards who blew hot and cold during his year at Blackpool.

Wellens is doubtful due to injury but Eyres is expected to feature - and an Oldham-Blackpool game without David Eyres (and his terrace detractors) would be like Christmas dinner without the turkey.