Sat 17th October - Blackpool


Another Saturday, another win. 

Apart from last Saturday at Wrexham we haven’t lost at the weekend.  In fact our last two Saturday defeats have been in Wales and Scotland. European adventure at it’s finest.  

Blackpool were the visitors today and were pretty disappointing. They created very little in the first half and although they had a lot of the ball in the second period they only forced one save out of Jimmy Walker. This was a pretty tame game all round with the mighty Saddlers taking the lead through Darren Wrack late in the first half and then inviting the Seasiders to try and break us down.  They couldn’t. 

Pingu had his best game so far in the red shirt and Keates did well on the left hand side. The back four were tight and it appeared that they were playing an offside game at times.  I'll have to keep an eye on that one. To be fair, Blackpool didn’t get behind us until Aldridge forced the save from Wacka and that was the one and only time. Generally this was another top performance defensively. 

In attack we had no Rammell or Brissett so Platt and Watson started again. Since his injury Watson hasn’t looked all that sharp and he although clearly isn’t fully fit his pace is deceptive. He is even slower than he looks. We probably lack pace throughout the side but seem to be coping well enough at the moment. We aren’t creating dozens of chances in a game but seem to be hitting the net as much as anyone else.  It is apparent though that when the chances come we have to take them.

Stoke come from behind at Lincoln (ooh er!) and Preston also win so we stay third. It’s all a dream,  I’m sure of it. 

Elsewhere, or more specifically on the south coast, Portsmouth defeat the lesser ones. Golden Graveyard striking legend Stevie Claridge is tripped in the penalty area and this leads to a dismissal for the curly one. Claridge, in a successful attempt to find a place in my heart, turns to the visiting fans and waves a sarcastic ‘fuck you’ salute and Pompey win it from the resulting spot kick. Ring those Pompey chimes.