Happy with a point

By Paddy
December 30 2008

In a tightly contested match in front of the sky cameras, you can normally expect the top side to come out on top, but "Plucky little Blackpool" came out with a deserved point against league leaders Wolves, who stretch their lead at the top to 7 points.

Blackpool made only one change to side that drew at Sheffield Wednesday, with young full back Joe Martin dropping the bench, and dead-ball specialist Ian Harte made his debut at left-back. Wolves were without Michael Kightly through suspension, but still looked a frightening prospect for the Seasiders.

 Pool made a good start, with Alan Gow nearly finding a way through in the first couple of minutes, only to be denied by on-loan Michael Mancienne, but it was Wolves who had the first real move into the box, and it brought about the opener. Referee Kevin Friend, who made many poor decisions throughout the game, decided that former Wolves defender, now Blackpool captain Rob Edwards, had hauled down Chris Iwelumo in the box, and gave a debatable penalty, the Sky cameras suggesting that Iwelumo had made a lot of it.

Despite jeers from Blackpool fans behind the goal, Sylvan Ebanks-Blake stopped up and blasted the ball past Rachubka, giving Wolves a 4th minute lead.

But if a viewer sat at home thought that Pool were going to capitulate, then they couldn't have been more wrong. Keith Southern's vast improvement in recent weeks meant that Blackpool started to take control of the midfield, something they have failed to do in recent weeks, and the added guile and creativity of David Fox in the middle gave Blackpool a touch of class in the midfield.

 Fox had his best game of the season, his long and short range passing were a joy to behold, and it was him who got the ball rolling on the Seasiders' 11th minute equaliser. A firm challenge and quick release after a Pool breakaway attack broke down, sending the ball wide to Taylor Fletcher, who earned a throw in. A much improved Shaun Barker launched the ball into the middle, which was headed away as far as Southern, who clipped a delightful ball into the back post which Wolves didn't deal with, and a rejuvenated Taylor-Fletcher nipped in to poke the ball past Wayne Hennessey, sending the Pool crowd into raptures.

How the score didn't change before half time is anybody's guess, with Blackpool taking complete control over the game. Wolves were struggling to deal with the threat down the wings of Taylor-Fletcher and Man-of-the-Match Kyel Reid, and Liam Dickinson and Alan Gow were causing problems up front in what may be both of their last games for the club.

Blackpool then had a penalty shout of their own, when a high ball was cleared over the head of Kyel Reid, who ran to retrieve it, only to be felled by Richard Stearman, but Mr Friend kept his whistle well away from his mouth on this occasion,doing nothing to appease Blackpool fans who were none too happy with his performance.

Another shout for a penalty was turned down when Taylor-Fletcher appeared to be shoved in the box as Pool plugged away, looking for a second goal. However, for all their pressure, Hennessey barely had to make a save in the Wolves goal.

The half nearly ended disastrously for Pool, who were caught cold when Matt Jarvis was given the freedom of Blackpool to run at Ian Harte, who had made a good start for Pool. Jarvis eased past him, moving into his top gear as he sprinted towards the area. Rachubka came charging out of his goal to narrow the angle, and did it to good effect, as Jarvis was only able to hit his shot just wide, with the aid of a deflection off the post.

Half Time: Blackpool 1-1 Wolves

Whatever was said by Mick McCarthy at half time, it definitely did the trick,as Wolves came out in the second half with extra pace, more crisp passing, and clearly far more self belief that they could dispatch the home side like they have done to so many other teams this season. Led by Karl Henry in the middle, whose passing and forward runs caused Pool problems all game, they started to get on top, and Blackpool were reduced to break away attacks which were few and far between.

It remains a mystery as to why it took Wolves so long to capitalise, as chances flowed freely. A mistake by the normally magnificent Evatt allowed Jarvis a free run at goal, only to see his drive magnificently saved by Rachubka as he turned it away for a corner, and Jarvis then had a shot put wide after trying to turn home a cross from the right.

In the end, Jarvis did finally get his goal. Taylor-Fletcher, clearly tired, lost the ball in the Wolves corner, and the break away at pace was breathtaking, as Ward held off Barker, releasing Ebanks-Blake, who threaded an inch perfect ball through to Jarvis, all in a matter of seconds, and Jarvis, having missed an almost identical chance in the first half, waited for Rachubka to commit himslef before guiding the ball over the American and into the bottom corner, making the Wolves fans believe that they were going 9 points clear at the top.

But Blackpool have a new vigour about themunder Parkes and Thompson. A fresh Ben Burgess on up front gave the Seasiders another option, which they used to good effect, and finally, they got their reward for plugging away with just 5 minutes remaining. As Alan Gow cut inside to shoot, the referee infuriated Pool fans again by pulling it back for a Pool free kick, when Gow was about to let the shot go.

Pool kept their nerve, and Reid's ball into the box was inch perfect, drawing Hennessey off his line, only for Burgess to flick the ball over his head, for skipper Edwards to pounce from a yard out to atone for his earlier error giving the penalty away, and to score his first goal for the club, against his former club.

Both sides had late chances to snatch the win, but in the end, a draw is probably a fair result between two battling teams. A performance to be proud of from Pool, who stay 17th, while Wolves go 7 clear at the top.

Final Score: Blackpool 2-2 Wolves

My Man Of The Match: Kyel Reid

Blackpool: Rachubka, Barker, Edwards, Evatt, Harte (Martin 74), Taylor-Fletcher (Vaughan 89), Southern, Fox, Reid, Gow, Dickinson (Burgess 81).
Subs Not Used: Gilks, Nardiello.

Booked: Martin.

Goals: Taylor-Fletcher 10, Edwards 84.

Wolverhampton: Hennessey, Stearman, Mancienne, Collins, Hill (Ward 57), Foley, Edwards (Jones 26), Henry, Jarvis, Ebanks-Blake, Iwelumo (Vokes 67).
Subs Not Used: Ikeme, Keogh.

Booked: Stearman, Jones, Ward.

Goals: Ebanks-Blake 4 pen, Jarvis 70.

Att: 8,906

Ref: Kevin Friend (Leicestershire).

Pool hold leaders Wolves to a point.

Discussion started by Tangerine-Planet.co.uk (IP Logged), 30/12/2008 17:19

Tangerine-Planet.co.uk
30/12/2008 17:19

What do you think? You can have your say by posting below.

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Lifes Little Jem
31/12/2008 01:18

Nice one Paddy.

www.wbabaggies.co.uk

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Badge32
03/01/2009 13:06

Well I think we held you to a point. We should have gone on and won it when we went 2-1 up but Blackpool just kept at it and i think they edged it.

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