Blackpool 2 - 1 Nottingham Forest One down, two to go - hopefully! Did we achieve damage limitation? Possibly. Could we have done better? Certainly. Are we out of it? Not by a long chalk.
Mixed feelings about today. It looked good right up to half time, and even better during the first twenty minutes when we really siezed the game by the scruff of the neck in a manner not seen since we de-bagged The Baggies, the significance of that occasion - in terms of our away form - needs little reminder.
I was also watching the game in the same pub as the aforementioned game (yes, I too was unable to get a ticket, and the temptation to try sneak into one of the home stands on the basis of having an address within 15 miles of Bloomfield Road was potentially more trouble than it was worth) presumably on the basis that it represented a lucky venue (but don't tell my girlfriend that as she just doesn't buy into that lucky footy omen mallarkey, even though she was willing to accompany me today).
In a week in which all sorts of rumours were bound to fly around from who was playing and who wasn't, to how and when deals would be made - and that's before the ballot papers were even counted on Thursday night - the general feeling seemed to be just what sort of result we could take into the second leg next Tuesday, and how big a part our superb home record would have to play to offset any damage to our aspirations as a result of our distinctly iffy away form.
With the welcome return of
Paul McKenna, the starting line-up was pretty much at full-strength, with a loose 4-3-3 spearheaded by Blackstock, flanked by Tyson and a Anderson, plus with Earnie on the bench we had something in reserve. This appeared to work pretty well, albeit we had a scare early on when Tyse was clattered by the cumbersome Evatt (for which he was rightly booked) which may have required a complete change of formation. The scare over, I wondered if perhaps some sensible refereeing might be on the cards today with Mr Dowd determined to stamp out reckless challenges during what was always going to be a heated affair.
But seven minutes later there was something to bring us much bigger smiles when a route one clearance gave us an early advantage. Camp started the move with a long ball out which ultimately saw our new permanent signing (another timely boost) intercept Baptiste before sliding the ball out to
Chris Cohen bearing down on the left corner of the box. One-two-three, and Cohen lets fly with a stunning shot which Gilks never even got a whiff of. It may have had some slight assistance from the Northeast wind blowing in over the exposed East Stand, but it curled beautifully into the top right hand corner. Not a bad contribution for someone only just risen from their sick bed!
Blimey! Are we about to break the habit of a lifetime by actually winning on our travels? We were certainly playing well, and Big Wes in one of his trademark forays forward nearly made it two just shortly afterwards when he narrowly missed getting on the end of a Cohen free kick, and this was not the only time he threatened during the first half, with Blackpool's Stephen Crainey having to clear off the line.
The back-and-forth football continued right up to the break, but by this time Blackpool had drawn level when some sloppy defending allowed that thorn in our side Seamus Coleman too much space to run right along the edge of the box unchallenged. By the time the ball was passed to Evatt we were in real trouble, though for a split second it looked like he'd chosen the harder route by passing to Southern in a by now crowded box. But Southern decided to have a go, Camp couldn't reach it, and neither could Wilson covering on the line. Back to square one.
In recent games we've tended to lose shape after conceding, but today we kept up the pressure, though once again it was a case of so many chances but not making them count, although you had to credit Blackpool for the way they defended during this period. Nonetheless, both sides were warmly applauded off at the half time whistle in what had up until now at least had been a very entertaining game of football.
Needless to say the second half was a different story, and ten minutes in came the first of several unsavoury incidents which was to cause a few tempers to fray. Once again it was the odious Coleman who decided that winding Blackstock up with a cynical shove deep in Blackpool's half might just land us in trouble. Predictably the incident escalated into manbags at dawn as several players on both sides piled in to break up the confrontation. One of the biggest perpetrators was Blackpool's Charlie Adam who really ought to have known better as a yellow card would have meant his participation in the playoffs would end today. Of course Mr Dowd bottled it and took the easy option of booking both Blackstock and Coleman whilst Adam went unpunished. Granted, there is much at stake, but allowing the perpetrators of these cynical sly jabs to get off scot free only promotes the win-at-all-costs culture, and it stinks to high heaven.
A couple of minutes later came the next incident which ultimately decided the game. This time it was DJ Campbell who provided the threat as he closed in on Camp's goal, and although not in an immediately obvious goalscoring position he went down easily enough when Perch moved in for the challenge. Yet another penalty conceded to this lot, though perhaps less dodgy than the cheating dive by Coleman three weeks ago. Then again Blackpool probably still thought it might compensate for the penalty they felt they were denied in the first half when an incoming cross hit the back of Perchy's arm whilst crouched in such a position he'd never even see the ball. How Blackpool can get away with making so many ridiculous penalty claims is just beyond me - I wonder how they'll fare at Old Trafford should they be the ultimate victors in this? Whatever - time to copy/paste the penalty taken three weeks ago, Adam on Camp and that was enough to give Blackpool a one-goal advantage to take to City Ground in three days' time. One-two-three.
With just over half an hour still to play you'd ration there was still a chance to get something out of the game, which we certainly deserved to do. Blackstock went close again, Cohen went closer still right at the end which took a full-stretch dive by Gilks to deny him, and McGoldrick when he came on predictably wasted chances as we resorted to speculative hoofs and repeatedly gave the ball away. Blackpool too spurned chances, most notably when Campbell ballooned the ball as if aiming for the top of Blackpool Tower whilst in acres of space, and late substitute Burgess also fired narrowly wide as our defence once more looked a little ragged.
OK, the tie has only reached it's half-way stage, so we mustn't panic. Damage limitation was just about achieved, although I wouldn't be surprised if the opening stages of Tuesday's game is more than a slightly nervy affair. An early goal to the home side should help calm things down. Yes, we're all fearful of a second-leg capitulation a la Glovers/Blunts, though on the other hand we are in unchartered territory of not having previously gone into the second leg in trailing position. Blackpool may well feel that three wins out of three will make a fourth easy to come by, but now is the time for that little sequence to come to an end.
The best is still yet to come. A typical home win will do the trick. Time to hold steady.
No fear.
And of course, Dont Stop Believing!
Ref Watch: Phil Dowd - one of our old favourites (not!) and dished those yellow cards out like confetti - unfortunately not always in the right direction and at times lacked the authority he is capable of (and should have been) asserting. At least we finished the game with eleven players, which is more than Blackpool should have done.
Entertainment Value: Good open first half with plenty of end-to-end football, which Forest undoubtedly had the best of in terms of chances.
Atmosphere: Difficult to tell from the confines of the pub, though that damned drum was audible through most of the game. I could hear the odd chant coming from the Gene Kelly Stand serving as sufficient proof the Forest contingent were in their usual good voice.
Highlights: Excellent first half with plenty of chances created; Cohen's opener was sublime, and the return of
Paul McKenna was about as timely a boost that we could wish for.
Lowlights: Some Alan Hansen sloppy defending on the right to allow Blackpool too much space, resulting in their equaliser; conceding a penalty at Bloomfield is becoming something of a habit, even if this one was a more bona-fide case than the one three weeks ago; likewise some play-acting by that little cheat Seamus Coleman who ought to have walked for the altercation with Blackstock.
Stinker: No-one played badly, though it's unlikely to go down as one of Perchy's favourite games of the season.
Stormer: Cohen and Big Wes made the most telling contributions today.
Premiership Chump Of The Week: Fulham's request for their final game to be rescheduled defies belief. How do they think they can defy convention when they know full well that all final league games have to take place simultaneously, irrespective of their Europa Leage commitments?
