Scorers: Blackpool - Gnanduillet (27'), Moore (OG 90+6'). Southend - Kiernan (20'), Turner (48')
H.T: 1-1
K.O: 3.00 Saturday 09/03/2019
Attendance: 15,871
Referee: Chris Sarginson
Southend manager: Chris Powell
Stadium: Bloomfield Road
Form: LLW - DDL
Teams:
Blackpool XI: Howard, Turton, Heneghan, Tilt, Anderton (Daniels), Spearing, Virtue, Pritchard (Long), Feeney, Delfouneso (Thompson), Gnanduillet
Subs not used: Boney, Taylor, Evans, Dodoo
Southend XI: Bishop, Bwomono, Hyam, Turner, Dieng, Kiernan, Mantom (Moore), Lennon, Kelman (Demetriou), Hart, Cox (Bunn)
Subs not used: Smith, Kightly, Yearwood, Webo
Preview: https://theblackpoolblog.wixsite.com/theblackpoolblog/home/southend-h-preview-homecoming
Match Events:
It took a few minutes for the match to get going, with the opening few minutes not really presenting any chances of note. Blackpool would begin a spell of pressure in the 9th minute though, winning a corner. First, Tilt's header would be turned behind for another corner, and then that corner would find its way to Pritchard who brought a fantastic save out of Bishop.
This was only to be short lived though, as Southend would promptly take the lead. A corner would be whipped in and Kiernan, who had held back at the far post, would head into the bottom corner. Blackpool, having been in control, found themselves behind.
Blackpool did not only have the belief to fight back, but the support too. It would only take a matter of minutes to find an equaliser, but first in the 24th minute Gnanduillet would head wide from a corner. He would soon redeem himself though, finding some space in the area and blasting home with his left foot in the 27th minute. A goal of mass proportion.
Southend looked dangerous on the break and almost found a second on the 31st minute when Cox left Heneghan on the ground. The Shrimper's striker could not find his target with the cut-back though and this enabled Tilt to casually bring the ball away.
Blackpool would finish the half strongly though. In the 33rd minute Gnanduillet headed over after peeling away and the striker would appear to score in the 45th minute, only for the referee to determine a foul on the goalkeeper. Blackpool certainly had the upper-hand in play, but the scores were level at the break.
2nd Half:
Blackpool would be instantly in search of a goal as a fluid bit of interplay led to Turton drilling narrowly past the post. Blackpool would be undone by yet another corner and this time it would be Turner with the finish. The centre back looped a volley into the net on 49 minutes and gave Southend another precious advantage.
Blackpool would once again make an attempt to battle their way back into the match. In the 54th minute Southend were frantic, clearing off the line. Blackpool would continue to press for the second equaliser though and once more, in the 58th minute, Gnaduillet's header would be well dealt with.
Blackpool were persistent, but were not getting their rewards. In the 68th minute Long would have a shot saved on the turn and when Virtue drifted past his man 4 minutes later Bishop would save again.
Blackpool were quickly running out of time though and, even though a Turton shot was tipped over, they looked short of ideas. Southend almost doubled their advantage when Cox raced clear, but Howard would beat away and keep Blackpool in it, and how important that would prove.
A hopeful ball into the box in the dying seconds transformed the whole atmosphere in Bloomfield Road. The ball was headed into the bottom corner unintentionally by a Southend player and Bloomfield Road erupted. Fans were on the pitch, flares were set off and it was once and for all confirmed that Blackpool were back.
Player Ratings:
Howard 8 - Made a crucial save to keep Blackpool in it on 89 minutes and could not have done much abut the goals.
Turton 8 - A good match from him, but did not really slot in smoothly at left back.
Heneghan 7 - A slip almost let Southend in, but was solid otherwise.
Tilt 8 - Took the ball out from defence on a couple of occasions and looked assured.
Anderton 7 - Should not really have been taken off, as he seems to be improving in an attacking sense.
Daniels 6 - Much of the crossing was through him when he came on, but was largely pretty poor.
Spearing 8 (Star man) - Ran the show in midfield and got the ball out wide well.
Virtue 7 - Another great display from the youngster.
Pritchard 7 - Linked up well in midfield and is a good deliverer of corners.
Long 6 - Did very little when he came on, with nothing really falling to him apart from one half chance.
Feeney 8 - Feeney stepped up very well and was problematic throughout, having a hand in both goals.
Delfouneso 7 - His pace was a real asset in the first half, but was not so influential in the second.
Thompson 7 - His late volley that was blocked seemed goal-bound, and he adds creativity to the side.
Gnanduillet 8 - Took his goal well to say the least. Southend had numbers on him though and contained him for much of the game.
In Addition:
An emotional day. For many Blackpool fans this was their first match in years and for the match to finish like it did seemed so very fitting. This will be a day that lives long in the memories of all Blackpool fans and the occasion certainly did live up to expectations. I also noticed a few fans leaving before the end; what a terrible shame it must have been for them.
Blackpool were dominant, but there are issues. Blackpool had 61% of possession and 15 shots to Southend's 6, but still only came away with one point. They were chasing the match for the majority of the game and their defence of corners was abysmal. The service to the strikers was poor also, with Blackpool mostly adopting a long ball tactic, which presents little threat.
To those fans that ran on the pitch at the end. I am not quite sure what to make of this. I can truly understand the expression of emotion, but to disgrace the club like that adds a tinge of disappointment to the day. I really do not think it was necessary, but today was definitely a one off.
UTMP