People on here posted the day before and on the morning that some fringe 1st teamers might play and then that a strong squad was expected, so it was hardly a big secret.
https://www.blackpoolfc.co.uk/news/2023/september/25/central-league-details--seasiders-take-on-preston-north-end/
avftt.co.uk
We played a strong Barrow side and lost 5-3 the other week and
your lot did the same thing and went stronger last season too. Teams do it often.
Also,
you've been in the championship for many years now. The whole point of reserve / development squads is to develop players good enough to play at your level, eventually.
We're in League 1, put out a few of the first team squad, some right on the fringe who hadn't played a lot, mixed with some of our dev squad.
By all accounts it was men against boys.