ROBERTO Di Matteo is hoping Saturday's match with Blackpool (ko 3pm) is as open as the reverse fixture at Bloomfield Road last month.

The Baggies finished on the right end of a five-goal thriller as Graham Dorrans' 83rd-minute penalty gave them a 3-2 win.

Now the seventh-placed Tangerines are looking to close the two-point gap on the play-off places and Di Matteo is an admirer of their attacking style.

But he is confident his men, who have smashed 84 goals in all competitions this term, have the firepower to pull off their fifth winning double this term.

"For the neutral the last game with Blackpool was a good game to watch because there was action and goalscoring opportunities," said the Albion boss.

"I like the way they play.

"They try to play football and play the right way.

"They create a lot of chances and have a lot of attempts on goal.

"They also give you chances as well and let's hope they're going to play like that when they come on Saturday, and it's going to be an open game rather than one team trying to be positive and the other being destructive or defensive.

"I said earlier in the season they have been the surprise team this year because they have done extremely well, in my opinion.

"It's nice to see the way they play as well."

Di Matteo is also looking forwarding to renewing touchline rivalries with the charismatic Seasiders boss Ian Holloway.

"He's very animated on the touchline - and he's not the only one," he added.

"Speaking to him after the game he seems a very nice man and a very grounded man as well.

"I had a long chat with him and he seems a good character."