Scorers: Nottingham (49')/Rowe(73')
H.T: 0-0
K.O: 7.45 Tuesday 12/03/2019
Attendance: 7,404
Referee: Peter Wright
Doncaster manager: Grant McCann
Stadium: Bloomfield Road
Form: LWD - LDL
Teams:
Blackpool XI: Howard, Daniels (Nottingham), Heneghan, Tilt (Pritchard), Anderton, Spearing, Virtue (Evans), Thompson, Feeney, Long, Gnanduillet
Subs not used: Boney, Kirby, Delfouneso, Dodoo
Doncaster XI: Marosi, Blair, Downing, Butler, Andrew, Whiteman (Kane), Rowe, Crawford, Sadlier (Coppinger), May (Smith), Wilks
Subs not used: Jones, Anderson, Beestin, Lewis
Preview: https://theblackpoolblog.wixsite.com/theblackpoolblog/home/doncaster-h-match-preview
Match Events:
As expected due tot the conditions, the match started in a scrappy and bitty fashion. It was Doncaster that would create the most in the early exchanges though, with Tommy Rowe having a huge chance to open the scoring. He twisted and turned just 6 minutes in, but his eventual shot was deflected over the bar.
The opening few minutes would continue in this pattern. In the 9th minute Wilks would run at the heart of the Pool defence and fire high and wide, before a dragged shot would find Crawford on 22 minutes, who blazed over a gilt-edged chance. Doncaster were looking to pose a real threat on the counter, but Blackpool were just about managing to contain them. In the 25th minute another chance would fall to Crawford and this time his long range effort was held onto by Howard.
The entire flow of the half changed direction and suddenly it was Blackpool who looked the most likely to find a breakthrough. A good cross by Thompson in the 27th minute was met by Feeney with a stooping header, heading narrowly wide of the mark. The left hand side was giving Blackpool much joy and the best chance of the half would be produced from it. In the 35th minute Feeney managed to cut the ball back into the path of Gnanduillet but, on such an unpredictable pitch, the best the striker could muster was a shot flying helplessly over the bar.
Blackpool finished the half with a flurry of corners and half chances, but Doncaster always presented that threat on the break and it almost payed off. It was the positivity of Crawford again that made the opening in added time, but his drive was straight at a relieved Howard.
2nd Half:
It was the ideal start for Blackpool in the second half. An early corner was initially headed against the bar and then stabbed home by Nottingham. The wind may have played its part, but it was an instinctive finish from Nottingham to give Blackpool the lead.
Blackpool simply tried to close the game out from this point onward. They had a half chance in the 53rd minute, when a long throw from Nottingham was headed over by Heneghan but, with Doncaster sustaining some pressure, Blackpool were playing a dangerous game.
Blackpool would be punished in the 73rd minute and it would be yet another corner that would prove their undoing. They seemed to have dispelled the danger originally, but Rowe would make something out of nothing, smashing past Howard.
Blackpool certainly responded well following the equaliser. In the 80th minute Long rolled his man and fired past the near post and then in the 88th minute Evans dragged a shot agonisingly wide.
It would end level, in a match that really could have gone either way.
Player Ratings:
Howard 7 - Not at fault for the goal and did well in tough conditions.
Daniels 6 - Early injury cut his evening short.
Nottingham 7 - Reacted quickly for the goal, but was caught out of position a few times.
Heneghan 8 - A great performance winning a number of headers in the swirling wind.
Tilt 6 - Was alright in the first half, but it was clear he was carrying an injury.
Pritchard 7 - Did well to slot in when he came on and played his role well.
Anderton 7 - He is much better in the middle of defence, but did well in both positions.
Spearing 8 (Star man) - On a blustery night, Spearing made some essential tackles and distributed the ball well.
Virtue 7 - Caught in possesion a couple of times, but otherwise assured.
Evans 4 - Very poor when he came on and losing the ball too often.
Thompson 7 - His quick feet and feisty attitude were essential on a tough night.
Feeney 7 - Not as good as Saturday, but still an excellent performance.
Long 8 - Tireless throughout and maybe should have done better with a couple of lat chances.
Gnanduillet 7 - It would have been the perfect performance from Gnanduillet had he found the net with that brilliant opening in the first half.
In Addition:
Daniels and Tilt worries. Blackpool can not afford to get too many injuries at the back as they are so sparse in this area. Tilt and Daniels both seemed to be in real discomfort and to take them off is concerning. Blackpool will struggle without this pair in the defence, especially Tilt, who has struck quite a partnership with Heneghan.
Blackpool playing to the conditions. The Seasiders are finally beginning to adapt to this playing surface and definitely edged the play against Doncaster. For the corners, Spearing put the ball between the sticks and this resulted in the Blackpool goal. Blackpool still need to be more clinical though, with a number of chances dissipating today.
UTP