CARETAKER Blackpool boss Terry McPhillips is hoping he will be facing the Bantams as the club’s permanent choice.

McPhillips was due to hold talks with the board late yesterday after an impressive start since being handed the reins.

He stepped up after Gary Bowyer suddenly walked away from the club following the first game of the season.

It came as a huge blow for the Tangerines to lose the manager who had taken them back to League One at the first attempt before finishing mid-table last season.

And all that against the ongoing backdrop of unease between the supporters and the club’s ruling Oyston family.

His number two McPhillips succeeded him on a temporary basis – and after losing his opening game at home to Portsmouth, has made smooth progress.

Blackpool are unbeaten in the four league outings since, with three draws, and are through to the third round in the Carabao Cup following wins over Barnsley and Doncaster.

A reshuffled side lost on penalties to Macclesfield in the Checkatrade Trophy in midweek after scoring twice in the last five minutes to force a 3-3 draw.

McPhillips has promised extra work on crossing and finishing ahead of City’s visit after squandering a series of chances at Moss Rose. “We probably could have won 8-5 or 8-6,” he said.

But Blackpool did provide the best goal of the bunch with a spectacular long-range effort from former Bantams loanee Callum Guy on his debut.

City surprisingly didn’t pursue an interest in bringing Guy back from Derby, even though he was one of the bright spots of Simon Grayson’s short reign in the second half of last season.

Instead the midfielder, who played 17 times for City, joined Blackpool on an initial loan which will become a permanent 18-month deal in January.

Guy said: “I was very excited and knew it was a great opportunity for me. I didn’t think too much about it – I just wanted to get down here.

“Hopefully my performance has given the manager something to think about for Saturday.”