Cardiff City's Malky Mackay aware of Blackpool play-off spice
Last updated on .From the section Football
Cardiff City manager Malky Mackay accepts that revenge will be in the air during his side's Championship visit to Blackpool on Saturday.
This will be the first meeting between the sides since the Bluebirds lost 3-2 to Ian Holloway's side in the 2010 Championship play-off final.
"I'm sure the fans will be [looking for revenge]," said Mackay, who watched the final as a pundit for BBC 5Live.
"Our fans obviously see Blackpool as a black mark in the back of their mind."
He added: "I'm sure we'll have a great little band of support going up to Blackpool on Saturday.
"Our away fans so far have been fantastic and we'll be doing everything we can to make them leave Blackpool with a smile on their face."
Blackpool's Premier League adventure last one season only after they were relegated on a dramtic final day of the season.
Life back in the Championship has started with three wins, two draws and a defeat from their six opening games - an identical record to Cardiff's.
That represents Blackpool's best league start for 20 years, achieved despite the loss of key players over the summer.
And Mackay said he fully expects Holloway's side to be pushing for promotion this season.
"They came down from the Premier League in relatively good working order in terms of not having to clear a whole team out," he said.
"Charlie [Adam] and David Vaughan are two very good players and I'm pretty sure Ian [Holloway] recognised that they might not be there [this season].
"But that apart, he's brought in real experience in Barry Ferguson and financially the club will be in a good place because they didn't overspend when they were in the Premier League.
"They didn't go gun-ho. I'm sure they will be there or thereabouts this season."
Mackay, who has been forced to re-build Cardiff's squad since succeeding Dave Jones as manager over the summer, says he has a selection dilemma in midfield for the visit to Bloomfield Road.
New singings Filip Kiss, who made his debut in last Saturday's 2-0 win over Doncaster, and Aron Gunnarsson are fit after injury.
Stephen McPhail, who has not played this season, is also approaching full fitness after illness but will not feature on Saturday.
"There's a big decision to be made, but it's good because competition for places is something we absolutely need," he said.
"We've probably got that in midfield, more so than in other areas.
"It's good to have good players back and I'm delighted Aron and Filip are back in the squad again."
Another new signing, defender Ben Turner, is also approaching full fitness after missing the start of the season but will not feature on Saturday.
"He'll need a few days of full training with us to sharpen him up," added Mackay.
