Play Off Matches

So we know how the playoffs work out.  We are at home to Birmingham on Friday night.

We have booked a minibus for the Wednesday 9th May for the Birmingham away game. After today's meeting we already have 14 places booked, so please let Charlie or Phil know if you are interested in going with us to travel to St Andrews...

Tickets go on sale tomorrow to Band A STHs so that might influence your decision!

Should we make Wembley, we will be putting on transport and I'll be in touch, but let's not get ahead of ourselves.

Pool Panel - Millwall (a) Drew 2-2

Saturday didn’t really have an end of season flavour to it, with weather more suited to midwinter and a number of changes contributing to a disjointed start to the game.  With Millwall in good form going into the game, they started brightly and created a number of chances.  We also contributed to our own downfall with a number of misplaced passes and it was from one of those that they broke and duly scored with a coolly sidefooted finish from Keogh.

That seemed to wake us up and we took control of the game, winning plenty of possession in midfield and exerting pressure.  We equalised through a good header From Evatt as he threw himself at a cross from Crainey.  By half time we really should have been in the lead after a poor backpass was intercepted, but Ince failed to make the ost of the chance presented.

Second half we continued to dominate and duly took the lead with a lovely goal.  A number of passes culminated with a crossfield ball to Crainey who put it back across the face of goal first time, for Dicko to score from close in.  After that we were cruising until we decided to give a few players a run out ahead of the playoffs.  As a consequence we sat a little deeper and paid the penalty.

We are now faced with a double-header against Birmingham for a place at Wembley.  Without over-raising expectations, I think we have the capability to beat them, then it’s all to play for.

STARMAN: Keith Southern 

Pool Panel - Leeds (h) Won 1-0 & Burnley (h) Won 4-0

A great week for Blackpool in two contrasting games.  Tuesday saw us battle to three points by defending well against a physical side who tried hard to stop us at all costs.  The late goal from Martinez gave us a deserved win but it was close, with the result better than the style.

By contrast, in what was expected to be a close-fought local derby game, with pressure on the team to maintain their play off ambitions, the team went out and prevailed with an abundance of verve and class, scoring four goals, but again keeping a clean sheet and to a man, playing well, building on a great display from Gilks in the first half to go on and thrash Burnley.  It’s a great time to get back into form, with a place now confirmed in the playoffs and the fans starting to dare to dream again.

By contrast, the majority of our rivals have hit a bit of a lean spell, so we’ll go into the games in confident form.  Much of that is down to the manager keeping faith with certain players and also judiciously adding to the mix, whether by bringing back the likes of Martinez, or getting Dobbie in on loan, who has added that spark to our attacking play.

All the squad know that we have strength in depth in all positions, and are playing well to keep their shirts.

STARMAN (v Leeds): MARTINEZ

STARMAN (V Burnley) TAYLOR FLETCHER

PLAYER OF THE SEASON 2012

Still plenty of time to vote for the YORKSHIRE SEASIDERS 2011/2012 player of the season.

Please send all nominations to Charlie on charliemarkillie@eversheds.com

Thanks

Pool Panel - Notts Forest (a) Draw 0-0

An away draw at Forest doesn’t look the best of results, but they’ve been in good form recently and it showed.  The defensive solidity we’ve rediscovered stood us in good stead and we ground out a point that keeps us in the playoff spots for the time being.  While Forest had much of the play, I felt we defended strongly as a unit, making some great last ditch tackles and dealing comfortably with numerous corners.  When they did get in, Gilks was in fine form, although when he went down in the first half with what appeared to be a bad injury, you did worry for what it might mean for the rest of the season.  His reappearance at the start of the second half was one of the highlights.

For whatever reason, we just never got our usual flowing football going, frequently taking an extra touch, or checking back when it seemed a shot or opportunity to run was there.  The end result was that we failed to score for the first time in 2012, but managed our third clean sheet in four games and maintained our position in the table, with another round of games gone.

It’s all to play for now in the two remaining home games, starting with the game against Leeds on Tuesday evening.  They will be bursting for revenge after the mauling we inflicted in November, but I feel we have enough about us to get a vital win.

Congratulations to Fleetwood Town for their success.

STAR MAN:  Matt Gilks

Pool Panel - Watford (a) Win 2-0 & Barnsley (h) Draw 1-1

Monday 9th April 2012

All in all, a good Easter weekend, with four points gained and the teams below us failing to make up ground.

Friday at Watford was as accomplished a performance as we’ve put in all season, with a great travelling support rewarded with a skilful performance in the face of intimidatory tactics from Watford.  Dobbie’s first goal was worth the admission alone as he waltzed through the whole defence to score.  After that, we went on to dominate the game, with a good balance through the team, from a defence that stood firm to all that was thrown at them, and a pacy attack that looked likely to score at any point.  Martinez had a great game pulling the strings from midfield too.

The performance carried over to the home game with Barnsley.  After the early sending off of Keith Southern (harsh in my view, as both players were going for the ball, and nothing more), the expectation was that Blackpool would be under the cosh, but  we continued to run the game and created a number of chances.  To then fall a goal behind from a lucky deflection off Perkins’ face added to the pressure, but a well worked goal restored parity and in the end we were unlucky not to get all three points, with Evatt missing a golden opportunity late on.

Four games to go to the end of the season and we’re well placed to secure a play off position.  It’s in our own hands, and we’ve rediscovered our mojo.  Come on you Pool.

STARMEN:  Stephen Dobbie (Watford); Tom Ince (Barnsley) 

Pool Panel - Southampton (h) Won 3-0

Before Saturday’s kick off, I’m sure that most had seen the results coming in and thought that it had gone as well as it could have.  What was needed was a real performance from Blackpool to capitalise on others’ failings.  On hearing the team, I had real misgivings, but it goes to show that the manager really does know best.

Defensively, that was probably as good as we’ve been all season, with the hard work put in on the training ground coming to fruition, with the whole unit working well, attacking the ball and generally doing the right things.  In particular Harris came in for his first League start and played like a veteran with some great challenges, one in particular denying Billy Sharp a certain goal.

The defence were helped in no small part by a fine performance from the midfield with Angel and Southern harrying and getting right into the opposition’s faces, giving them no time to settle and impose themselves on the game.

We knew what to expect from Dobbie, of course, but the cool way he dispatched his chances shows what a valuable addition he will be for the run-in.  It was like he’d never been away, despite playing with new wing partners amongst others.

All in all, a great result that reignites the promotion hopes, so long as we can now capitalise over the Easter period.  The other contenders must have watched that performance and be hoping they don’t get us in the playoffs, as in that mood, we are irresistible.

STARMAN:  Stephen Dobbie