KEITH SOUTHERN could get his first taste of a Lancashire derby between Blackpool and Preston on Sunday after he missed out on both games through injury last season. The midfielder spoke to matchday magazine Up The Pool about the game and here is some of what he had to say.

Keith, what was the feeling like in the dressing room after the game against Ipswich Town?

Disappointing. We were poor to be honest and never really got going, we created one or two things and could have nicked a draw but it was disappointing, really. We've been on a decent little run and we've been scoring goals but we weren't quite at it against Ipswich.

The team have bounced back from defeats pretty well already this season, I suppose there's no better game to bounce back from than Preston?

Well, we've got to because if we're not at it and we don't perform like we did against Watford and in the last few weeks, we'll be well beaten. Under Simon Grayson at Blackpool we've always been creating chances and have had that spark but against Ipswich we were lacking. It's only one game and we've now put that behind us and we're up for the derby game, that's for sure.

You missed both of the derby games last season, how much are you looking forward to playing one this season?

Yes, I'm looking forward to it. I'd have looked forward to it a bit more if we'd have picked up three points against Ipswich going in to it. But it will be a special day, I know the fans love it and they will be desperate for us to get a win. We want to bounce back because we've got something to prove and we've got to come out all guns blazing. If we can't get ourselves up for a Preston versus Blackpool game then we shouldn't be in football, but I'm sure we'll bounce back.

Last season Blackpool were unbeaten against Preston with four points taken from a possible six, I suppose you want to extend that as well?

Yes, I know that the statistics show that we've got a good record - four points from six is a decent record - but that's gone now, it's a new season, a new game, different players.All that will be forgotten and, hopefully, we can come out of it with a win.

And both sides are now level on points with each other, it couldn't be much closer, could it?

There's probably not too much between the sides as well, it's just whoever performs on the day and whoever takes the chances in the game, if they come along, will win the game.

You can read the full interview with Keith in this Sunday's matchday magazine, Up The Pool. As well as the interview with the midfielder, there are also interviews with Rob Edwards, Marlon Broomes, Mike Flynn, Tony Green and Tony Ellis.

The derby day edition of Up The Pool will be available to buy around the ground on Sunday, priced £3.50