The Football League have hit back after Albion boss Peter Taylor blamed them for handing promotion rivals Brentford an unfair advantage.

Blackpool were well-below strength when they were beaten 3-1 at home by Brentford last week.

Manager Steve McMahon rested most of his first choice players for the LDV Vans Trophy final against Cambridge United five days later.

Taylor pointed a finger at the League, claiming the Blackpool versus Brentford match should have been rescheduled for a later date.

League spokesman Ian Christon said: "I know Peter Taylor came on to complain, but it wasn't the League which said the match had to be played.

"The two clubs mutually agreed the date. It was not a case of the League forcing them."

League rules require clubs to be at full strength "unless some satisfactory reason is given" and an unofficial investigation has been launched into Blackpool's team selection.

Christon said: "We were advised by various newspapers that Reading and other teams were going to make formal complaints.

"There is a degree of confusion over whether they have, but if that is the case then we are duty bound to investigate.

"Although it is not a formal investigation yet, we are looking into why Blackpool fielded an under-strength side. We've had e-mails from fans as well, so we are fully aware of the complaints."

Brentford are a place and two points behind Albion from the same number of games and the Bees' position in the promotion race will be unaffected. The maximum punishment is a points deduction for Blackpool.

Meanwhile, the FA have still not made a decision on any disciplinary action against Bradford's former Chesterfield boss Nicky Law.

They launched a long-running investigation after Law was involved in incidents with Taylor, Albion players and fans during Chesterfield's 2-2 draw at Withdean on December 21.

Charlton reserve striker Charlie MacDonald, 21, is poised to make his debut for Colchester against Albion at Layer Road on Saturday after joining the Essex club on a month's loan.

Albion have missed out on one loan target to fill in for the injured Bobby Zamora.

Taylor was interested in re-signing Trevor Benjamin from his old club Leicester, but he has now been borrowed by West Brom.

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