Blackpool XI: Howard, Turton, Heneghan, O'Connor, Bola (Gnanduillet), Spearing, Taylor, Pritchard (Cullen), Bunney, Delfouneso, Dodoo (O'Sullivan)
Subs not used: Mafoumbi, Nottingham, Thompson, Sinclair-Smith
Portsmouth XI: MacGillivray, Walkes, Brown, Clarke, Taylor, Hawkins, Lowe (Wheeler), Curtis, Whatmough, Evans, Close (Rose)
Subs not used: McGhee, Burgess, Pitman, Dennis, Haunstrup
Well here we were again; another opening home game and another deafening reminder that the Oyston regime is far from gone yet. Thousands attended the protests before kick-off but just 4,154 were actually in the ground come 3.00 with 1,638 of those being Pompey fans. Not only this but this was the first game Blackpool would have to partake in without Gary Bowyer on the touchlines; making the challenge ahead a much more sizable one for the Seasiders.
Blackpool would start the brightest in this one as Joe Dodoo would find space in the opening seconds and blast a shot onto the post. Who knows what would have happened if this had found the net as Pool would then begin to look nervy; this could have given the Seasiders the confidence and momentum in the game to go on and win it.
But it was in fact Portsmouth who would be the ones who would crack on and give a good showing in the first half. In the 6th minute Pompey captain Gareth Evans would find Hawkins in the box who headed wide of the target. Set pieces were as good an opportunity as any for Blackpool to get on the scoresheet as Paudie O'Connor fired one over in the 8th minute after a cross from a freekick.
But Portsmouth were a side with a certain confidence about them and were not to be scuppered by any Blackpool set piece; instead they would take the lead in the 9th minute aided by Jay Spearing who seemed to be in a charitable mood. After being caught in possession, Jay Spearing could do little to stop Ronan Curtis bearing down on goal and firing past Mark Howard to give those 1,638 Pompey fans a goal they were anticipating like a dog does its treat.
Portsmouth would build on their breakthrough with further pressure, as in the 23rd minute Gareth Evans had an effort that was driven wide. The pressure would almost tell 4 minutes later as Jamal Lowe was denied a sight of goal by a scrambling Blackpool defence. Blackpool's defence would hold firm though as again, in the 30th minute, Curtis this time was denied by a Ben Heneghan block.
Portsmouth were an inspired side and Blackpool were looking less and less confident by the minute. When Curtis hit the post in the 37th minute the woodwork wasn't the only thing that looked rattled. The whole Blackpool team seemed drained and were left chasing shadows in what was a poor first half display from the Seasiders.
But whatever was said at half time did the trick as it breathed new life into what was a dead Blackpool side from the first half. This process of rejuvenation began in the 50th minute with a clever header from Delfouneso, but it only found the side netting. Joe Bunney would get in on the act 6 minutes later as he, who made up one of the front three today, saw his low powerful shot gathered up by MacGillivray. But Blackpool were simply not making these chances count as another one went begging in the 59th minute. Marc Bola sent a teasing ball across the 6 yard box but Delfouneso couldn't quite get on the end of it.
So, in predictable fashion, Blackpool would concede against the run of play as they were punished for not making the most of a positive spell. I say predictable style because, of course, it was courtesy of a Blackpool defensive error again. Heneghan this time was the man at fault and it was Curtis who was the man with his luck in again. Curtis was in clinicle form and only needed a half chance to smash it past the helpless Howard in the 59th minute.
But Blackpool would continue to bite away at the heels of Portsmouth and continue to create openings. In the 65th minute Bunney would have another go from distance but it again would fly narrowly wide. But Portsmouth would improve defensivly and Blackpool chances became few and far between.
But the chances were still there as in the 77th minute Gnanduillet had the ball under his spell but smashed over from inside the box. But finally, and deservedly, Blackpool would get on the score sheet for the game and indeed for the season, even if it was in fortuitous fashion. Cullen would be put through in the 82nd minute and the defender, in an attempt to clear the ball, could only hit it against Cullen's foot and the ball floated over the helpless MacGillivray.
Blackpool would indeed provide a late storm to provide some excitement for the few Pool fans inside Bloomfield Road. Taylor's freekick in the 88th minute, that he won himself, was the first of chances and it missed narrowly wide, bending away from the target. O'Sullivan, like last match, would also be provided with an opportunity but he too would miss the target. When the target was finally hit, with just seconds left on the clock, Cullen, who had done really well to work an opening and find the net was flagged offside. A deflating blow for Blackpool who were left empty handed here.
Normally I would say that I was encouraged by what I saw but it is difficult to say that when there is such uncertainty surrounding the club. Today Blackpool played poorly in the first half but were much improved in the second which, yes, it was good to see. But fast forward a month and we will have a new manager and probably the same old Oystons in charge of the club and that is something that no-one in their right mid would be encouraged by.
UTP
Comments