Point Gained - Thanks To Chuks

While the mood may have been more circumspect going into the Exeter game, yesterday, confidence bolstered, we, rightly or wrongly, expected a win. This may have been over-confidence as on Tuesday night we got the rub of the green in what was for a long time a close encounter, while Blackpool were not on an especially poor run, having won three of their last five. And after a pretty dry start to the season they had begun to score some goals to add to conceding few. And it did prove a tough encounter, one from which we emerged with IMO a point gained rather than two dropped.

Appleton described the game as a “great advert for League One”, reports have headlines of a ‘thrilling encounter’. I really wouldn’t agree. The entire first half was dull, we mustered no efforts on target (and just three attempts on goal), were contained by disciplined opponents with the front line simply not in the game, with Blackpool mostly content to hit long, hopeful balls in the direction of their wide men, most of which sailed harmlessly long. They managed one attempt on target in the first half – and scored with it, all rather reminiscent of teams last season coming to The Valley content to park the bus as they were confident we would offer up a chance or two sooner or later. In fact Blackpool’s defence spent the first hour of the game in complete control and on 70 minutes seemed to have sealed the points with another soft goal (from our perspective) from an individual error. That we came back and levelled the game with two goals in two minutes, and might have gone on to score a winner, is creditworthy. But in truth the game changed on 64 minutes when Aneke entered the fray.

After that Blackpool’s calm control was destroyed. They were incapable of handling him, he laid on our first and through his efforts brought others into the game who hitherto had been invisible, most obviously Blackett-Taylor. We ended up having had 18 attempts on goal, five on target. That Chuks should have scored one or two himself was clear, something he seemed to acknowledge as he showed his frustration at the end of the game. He may desperately want a goal, but I hope he reflects that his contribution resulted in us getting something from a match, something that had looked increasingly unlikely.

With it having been made clear that none of those on the injured list – Isted, Edun, Taylor, McGrandles, Camara – would be available for selection it was always likely that the team/squad would be much the same as on Tuesday. In the event Appleton opted for one change, with no surprise that Leaburn started up front and Aneke moved to the bench. Otherwise it was as you were, for the starting X1 and the subs, with the same 4-3-3 (4-2-3-1 if you like), with Leaburn flanked by Blackett-Taylor and Tedic, May playing in the hole. For the visitors Morgan would be among the substitutes.

We started brightly enough, especially as Blackpool appeared very limited in their ambitions in our half. But the initial enthusiasm seemed to wane as we struggled to actually create anything in their final third. It took us over 20 minutes to actually have a moment of danger, with May’s shot after a one-two with Dobson blocked for a corner. Then right on cue, just past the half-hour mark, Blackpool had their moment of danger and made it count, thanks to poor defending and astute attack play. Their guy advanced down their left side, not challenged, and for once they had runners and options. Tedic watched the ball as his opposite number ran in behind him, collecting the ball and getting to the byline. Hector and Jones prepared for a low, drilled ball in across the box. Instead Rhodes cleverly pulled slightly away from goal and the low cross picked him out, in space. It wasn’t the cleanest strike but wrong-footed Maynard-Brewer and went in. It reminded me of the goal Stockley scored against us recently, just by moving away from two static central defenders and being picked out.

For the rest of the half we huffed and puffed to absolutely no avail, Blackpool keeping their shape and discipline. No forward movement, CBT ganged up on, May unable to pull strings in the hole, Leaburn dominated by two centre-backs, Tedic just not in the game – and perhaps lucky to still be on the pitch after a sliding, studs-up challenge caught their guy. It was a good deal worse than the one which delivered a red card for the Exeter player in midweek (albeit that has been overturned). Would have been harsh, but I was slightly relieved when the card was yellow.

Might have been changes at the break but Appleton opted to wait until the 52nd minute before beginning the process, sticking to changing our right side as Watson(T) and Tedic were replaced by Asiimwe and Campbell(T). Nothing was happening – other than Blackpool almost extending their lead as first Thomas was caught out, leading to a curling shot just over, then Dobson just managing to intercept a ball into the box to their unmarked guy – and we had to wait another 10 minutes before Aneke entered the fray, along with Fraser and Ness, for Leaburn, Watson(L) and Jones (who it seemed had picked up an injury but with it later confirmed he had been ill during the week and had run out of gas).

It is no exaggeration to say the game changed immediately. Suddenly we were winning balls against their back line and finding space, with Blackett-Taylor set up by Aneke and shooting just wide, then Aneke brutally shoving their guy off the ball (fairly apparently) leading to CBT and May setting up Campbell for a shot over.

Just as things were looking a good deal brighter we went 0-2 down, a real sucker punch. A long ball out of defence was headed back by Ness, Dobson played it to Hector, perhaps a little too strongly. He took a touch and was suddenly pounced on by recently introduced sub Dembele. He made the most of the opportunity, shooting in off the bar. With around 20 minutes of normal times left that felt like game over.

It proved not to be, to the players’ credit. After another 10 had gone Asiimwe played the ball down our right side and Aneke beat the defender to it, touching it on and running on to the edge of the area. He then played a delightful ball in, managing something of a deft chip to take the pace off and allow the onrushing May to take it in his stride and adroitly fire home. It wasn’t a gimmee, easy one to hit into the stands, but he showed his Mendonca-like ability to shape his body in order to keep the shot down. Before we knew it we were level. Hector out of defence and on to Campbell. His pass to CBT, who cut inside and curled an absolute screamer into the far top corner of the net, giving their keeper no chance.

That still left almost 10 minutes plus stoppage time (proved to be six extra) and either side might have grabbed the winner. Aneke headed straight at their keeper, Morgan – who had been introduced at 0-2 – saw his powerful shot deflected just over the bar, one of theirs had a free header from a set piece, then a one-two between Fraser and Dobson saw the former put in a powerful shot tipped over. The final real chance fell to Aneke, but from a good position he shot over.

Undoubtedly the final 20 minutes or so had been very entertaining. Goals and chances at both ends, us looking capable of scoring each time we ventured forward. But that was all in stark contrast to what had gone before. In that extended period we had coughed up two more poor goals and had created nothing. Extending the unbeaten run was undoubtedly positive, but what lessons might be drawn?

I’d say still much work to do on the defence, our attempts to play offside were at times badly at fault and we continue to go to sleep at times. At the other end, perhaps at this point in time it’s asking too much of Leaburn to lead the line effectively on his own, against two centre-backs; and Tedic looked very much out of sorts starting in the wider role. We know Aneke isn’t available for a full game, but it’s not rocket science that he either starts and is replaced or comes on as sub. We need either Leaburn or Tedic as his replacement in the central role. Surely at least starting the game the wide right position can be taken by either of the two Campbells. That still leaves whether to have May play as an outright striker in effectively a 4-4-2, or in the hole in a 4-3-3; in practise there’s little difference, unless and until Fraser is on the pitch to be the No.10. And as a final thought, be nice if we were able to carry some sort of threat from set pieces.

There might be a break in proceedings now - aside from the EFL Trophy game, which will surely be used to give some gametime in their best positions; I’d like to see Tedic given a start as the central striker and for Campbell(C) to be involved, perhaps even Kirk (he is still around I think and we may as well try to use him). But plenty to occupy Appleton and his team on the training ground.