After the relatively relaxed win on Tuesday night, we all expected a tougher test today, against a side that has picked up materially in recent weeks, unbeaten in six - four consecutive draws rounded off with consecutive away wins – and back up to 13th in the table, presumably giving them thoughts of making the play-offs if they could sustain the recent momentum. They’d scored more (and conceded more) than us so far this campaign, but like us had no player in double figures, so the goals had been spread around. It would be a second consecutive game against a side which had already beaten us this season. But of course by now we’re getting greedy with six wins in eight having raised us to touching distance of a top-six spot, one which we could claim with a win and depending on other results (with Leyton Orient taking on Stockport and Bolton facing Reading).
Given all this, it was reasonable to suggest that ahead of the game a win would be fantastic, a draw not a bad outcome (depending of course on how it was secured), a defeat a setback but not the sort of kick in the teeth as the Rotherham game (again, depending on the nature of it) – although a defeat of any sort and no doubt the cries for signings before the transfer window closes would, justifiably, intensify.
In the event the spoils were shared and we were left with a real ‘glass half-full/-empty’ feeling. You can never be happy not to win when you have been 2-0 to the good, especially as both goals conceded were preventable, especially the second. Against that, Blackpool were dangerous throughout and understandably threw caution to the wind when chasing the game. For a period having gone two up we looked in complete control (sufficient to have us checking the league table); but once they got one back we were on the ropes – and once they’d equalised either side could have won it in a frantic finale. Doesn’t feel like it at the moment but it’s not a bad point, keeps the unbeaten run going. We have no choice in any event, take it, learn from it, and move on.
With Jones having retained the 3-5-2 formation for Bristol Rovers, it was always likely he would stick to that today, barring injury. The questions were perhaps whether Ramsay would be able to play a second full game in a week, whether Jones would go again with Godden and Campbell up front (the other Campbell heads north with our best wishes but at least it means we no longer have to talk of ‘CampbellT’ and ‘CampbellA’). He decided to go with the same starting X1 and squad.
The first half was a fairly even contest until the final 10 minutes, with few efforts on goal before then. Something of a contrast of styles and strengths, with Blackpool’s height advantage over our forwards encouraging us to play to feet and them looking most dangerous when catching us on the break. We had difficulty in getting Campbell and Small into the game to stretch them, which tended to leave Godden up against two central defenders, but we protected our box capably.
Towards the end of the half they did have clearly the better of things, coming close a few times. A Morgan free-kick got no touches but curled just beyond the far post, as did a header from a set piece, then a Blackpool break led to passes down their left side and a shot from a narrow angle that Maynard-Brewer managed to palm away, followed by a low cross which just had too much on it for their guy at the far post, who shot over. We did have a moment when Campbell played in Godden in a bit of space but his attempted pass across the box was blocked.
So we felt if not relieved at the break then for sure the happier of the two sides that the game was still goalless. The stats showed we had enjoyed 52% possession but much of that was in our own half. Our total of two efforts on goal (none on target) compared with seven (and one) for them. But once again at the back of our minds was the prospect of Aneke, Leaburn, Kanu to give us different options up front.
The second half was an altogether different affair, basically because from almost out of nowhere we scored twice in a couple of minutes. Fine margins as usual since before this happened Blackpool had a gilt-edged chance to go ahead themselves, their guy with a free header from close range from a corner, which he glanced wide rather than planted in the net. He scores and it’s a different game. Instead we took the game by the throat.
On 51 minutes Small crossed from the right. Their keeper palmed it away but it dropped to Docherty. His shot was blocked, Berry sent in another and Godden was on hand in the right place, as against Bristol Rovers, to turn it into the net. Two minutes later and we were two to the good. Docherty set up Campbell and his low cross from the left was deflected into his own net by a Blackpool defender.
For the next 15 minutes or so we kept things tied down, not giving Blackpool a sniff at getting back in the game. We were looking comfortable. But I guess there was just too long to go. Changes were made by both sides on the hour, with Aneke and Kanu replacing Godden and Campbell to offer a different threat with fresh legs. Chuks soon made his presence felt, bundling into their keeper, putting the ball in the net, then perhaps accidentally shoving the keeper over, getting a yellow for his pains.
Anderson replaced Berry on 69 minutes, but shortly after the unthinkable happened and Blackpool were back in it. Several challenges just failed to win the ball back and Morgan found himself able to look up. He picked out the right crossfield pass, to their guy on their left. In space but outside the box, still some work to do. Unfortunately he produced a dipping effort well placed which bounced just beyond Maynard-Brewer and into the net.
We now had 20 minutes or so to see out – or to notch a third and get the breathing space back. We didn’t manage either. We came close to the latter in the final 10 minutes as Docherty played in Kanu and from his low cross Docherty’s shot was blocked and Anderson couldn’t swivel sufficiently to score from the rebound. But at the same time Blackpool were looking threatening, having been revitalised by their goal. So it was no big surprise that they equalised, with four minutes of normal time left. Just unfortunate that it was the result of a clear error. We were pressuring them in their half and an aimless hoof forward seemed to carry no threat. But a backpeddling Gillesphey tried to control the dropping ball and failed. Their guy read the situation and took it in his stride, going on to crash his shot off the underside of the bar. For a moment it looked as though we’d get away with it, but the rebound fell to another and he made no mistake.
That ushered in a crazy final spell (with five minutes of added time) when either side might have scored a winner. A break by them had us scrambling, with plausible appeals for a penalty as Ramsay may have used his hand to assist his efforts, Small had a shot blocked then another. We were given a free kick right at the death and sent on Leaburn for additional height, replacing Coventry. The free kick came to nothing but as Blackpool pressed forward we sent the ball back into their half and suddenly had three on two. But a rusty, lame pass from Leaburn went to their guy, chance was gone, and the game was over.
We won’t know until the end of the season whether this proves to be a valuable point won or two crucial points surrendered. When the reckoning comes, if we miss out on the play-offs there will be many other performances and results to point to as responsible. As it is, with Stockport winning at Leyton Orient and Reading beating Bolton it has if anything all tightened up. Looking at the table you might say there are now eight teams (have to include Stevenage, who have rattled off three wins in a row) chasing three play-off spots, with three consecutive defeats having turned Huddersfield from cemented in third to now one of those eight.
In the next round of games we take on Stevenage at The Valley, Stockport host Barnsley, Huddersfield are at home to Reading, so six of the eight we play each other (Bolton have a home game against Crawley while Leyton Orient’s scheduled trip to Wrexham has been postponed due to the cup). We’re in the mix and in good enough form to ensure we stay there, may yet get a lift from a transfer window signing or two. But yes, you can’t help, for a little longer, musing on what might have been.
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