Lee Steele was back in the starting line-up for Albion's bid to create a new club record at Bloomfield Road this weekend.

Steele replaced Daniel Webb upfront in the only change to the team which drew 0-0 at Queens Park Rangers on Boxing Day.

That result stretched the Seagulls' unbeaten away run in the League to nine games, equalling a record set in 1937-38.

Simon Royce made his debut in goal at Loftus Road on a month's loan from Leicester as cover for the injured Michel Kuipers.

Royce is ineligible for next Saturday's F.A. Cup Third Round clash against Preston at Withdean, but Albion expect Kuipers to recover from a pulled thigh muscle by then.

Blackpool made three changes to the side which suffered only their second home League defeat of the campaign against Oldham on Boxing Day.

Richie Wellens, Phil Thompson and Andy Payton came in at the expense of Gary Parkinson, Ian Hughes and the experienced Paul Simpson, who were all on the bench.

Payton has been signed on a month's loan from Burnley following a three-year ban for drink-driving.

He missed the Oldham setback through sickness but returned to partner recent signing Richard Walker.

Walker was bought from Aston Villa with £50,000 of the £1.75 million Blackpool received for Brett Ormerod to Southampton.

Walker has already played against Albion this season in a loan stint with Wycombe Wanderers.

Delays on the M6 held up many of the Albion fans and led to the kick-off being put back to 3.15pm.

Blackpool: Phil Barnes; Tommy Jaszczun, John O'Kane, Richie Wellens, John Hills, Phil Thompson, Lee Collins, Martin Bullock, Richard Walker, Ian Marshall, Andy Payton. Subs: Pullen, Parkinson, Hughes, Simpson, MacKenzie.

Albion: Simon Royce; Paul Watson, Danny Cullip, Simon Morgan, Paul Rogers, Charlie Oatway, Richard Carpenter, Lee Steele, Nathan Jones, Bobby Zamora, Robbie Pethick. Subs: Packham, Pitcher, Brooker, Virgo, Webb.

Referee: Mr. S. Mathieson (Stockport).