TOWN will be hoping it is a classic case of 'after the Lord Mayor's show' when Blackpool arrive at the County Ground tomorrow.

The Seasiders lifted the LDV Vans Trophy at the Millennium Stadium on Sunday after a comprehensive 4-1 win over Cambridge United.

It was Blackpool's second successful trip to Cardiff in the space of 10 months.

Promotion to Division Two was secured at the same venue last May when Steve McMahon's men defeated Leyton Orient in the Third Division play-off final.

Tomorrow's clash promises to be a spicy affair with McMahon making his first return to the County Ground since parting ways with the club in 1998.

While he is likely to receive a frosty reception from large sections of the Town faithful, he can do no wrong at Bloomfield Road.

The Seasiders were widely expected to face a tough fight to retain Second Division status and while they have hardly set the league alight, they are just about safe from the drop with five games remaining.

Winning the LDV brought a welcome injection of cash to a club which has just spent a small fortune bringing Bloomfield Road into the 21st century.

It is the second time this year that Steve McMahon has celebrated a cash bonus. Leading scorer Brett Ormerod fetched more than a million pounds when Gordon Strachan took him to Southampton shortly after Town's visit to Bloomfield Road.

But the sale of Ormerod did not trigger a collapse in Blackpool's form.

John Murphy has struck 15 times this season (nine in the league) with four of those goals arriving in the last five games.

Former Aston Villa striker Richard Walker has rattled in 10 goals.

Walker actually spent part of the season at Wycombe and he was on target as Town drew 1-1 at Adams Park in October.

Former Blackburn forward Graham Fenton has five goals to his name this year.

The Blackpool line-up tomorrow is likely to differ from the one that tackled Town in December.

The goalscorer that day, Danny Coid, may miss out because of an ankle injury. Ian Marshall is almost certainly out with a ham-string injury.

Experienced winger Paul Simpson has moved to Rochdale while ex-Town midfielder Lee Collins starts a two-match ban.

It is difficult to argue a case for Blackpool being stronger at home or away.

They have notched up six victories at home and the same on their travels.

Recent form, much like their season, has been inconsistent.

A 4-0 thumping of Port Vale a fortnight ago was followed by a 3-1 defeat at home to Brentford.

History favours a Town win but the Seasiders have shown they are not to be taken lightly. In 1986/87, the visitors thumped their hosts 6-2.