Planet Swans ArchivesBlackpool, the land that time forgot? Well, not really but for the signs that led into the city proclaimed it as “Britain’s Number 1 Tourist Destination” (or words to that effect) you realised just how much work the British Tourist board have to do if they are to sustain that part of our country completely into the 21st century.
Don’t get me wrong, I am sure Blackpool is very nice in summer but in the middle of December on a cold, windy and wet Saturday afternoon it is pretty poor to say the least. A small chuckle has to be raised when you realise that the “Kiss me quick” hat shops are still open in December, thankfully I saw nobody with one on as I wandered around a ground that made Oxford’s look almost finished!
But enough of the insults, this was football and this was a chance for the Swans to put behind them the horror display of Tuesday night that saw them beaten at Brighton but it was always going to be a game that was to prove tougher than maybe it may suggest on paper with Blackpool coming into the fixture off the back of a decent run and knowing that three points would lift them above us in the table.
With Lee Trundle and Izzy Iriekpen both back in the starting line up the side was jiggled around a little from the team that faced Brighton on Tuesday and we came up with this formation to kick us off
Big Willy
Amankwaah Izzy Lawrence Austin
Leon Tatey Craney Robbo
Rory LT10
Subs: Oakes, Bayo, Watt, Macdonald, Meslien
On the opposition side we saw Adrian Forbes, a man lamented for his lack of crossing ability during his time here, but a skill he has developed since arriving in the North with several dangerous crosses placed into the box from his right boot.
But onto the game itself. The Swans pretty much always found themselves with backs to the wall (maybe a tactic normally reserved for Brighton!) and facing Blackpool onslaughts. It seemed only a matter of time before the seasiders would open the scoring as the ever dangerous Kiegan Parker, assisted by Forbes and Trundle’s former strike partner – Andy Morrell.
Parker had the ball in the net once early on in the game but the linesman’s flag was already waving in the icy wind whilst Morrell, and Parker again both looked odds on to score previous to that but on both occasions there was no shot on target to challenge Willy.
So it was somewhat against the run of play that the Swans took the lead. A shout for a penalty was turned down with the referee deciding that the ball had been won and therefore a corner. Trundle took the corner and succeeded only in finding the head of Dickinson who glanced a perfect header past his own keeper and into the corner of the net to send the 500 or so Swans fans into celebration. Out of jail already at a goal to the good totally against the odds at that moment in time.
Unfortunately, the rest of the first half took the pattern of the opening periods with Blackpool on the front foot but not able to find a way through a Swansea defence, with Izzy and Austin looking far more composed than either Amankwaah or Lawrence. There were no further breakaways from our point of view and as the rain emptied on the uncovered stand, the half time whistle surely would give us the chance to assess the first forty five minutes.
Maybe it did, maybe it didn’t but it didn’t make a lot of difference one way or the other as Blackpool became more committed in the second half. Parker had a second chance disallowed not long into the second half, shortly after Willy was booked for time wasting. The Frenchman’s protests that one of the balls was almost flat was dismissed by Mathieson – the referee – who batted one away much to the amusement of the crowd.
Blackpool pushed, and pushed some more, and as they did small gaps opened up at the back and on two occasions left Trundle with a chance to double the scoreline – both times Evans being on hand to deny him. But they were small restbites as Blackpool kept on coming at us and short range shots were presented but always straight at Willy. The ball was being returned all too often for our liking and it did seem only a matter of time before we were pegged back.
Bayo replaced Fallon and Watt (remember him?) replaced the injured Izzy and the second chance gave Blackpool what they wanted – a break in our defence. Vernon replaced Jackson as Blackpool looked to increase the pressure and within two minutes he had made the difference. Swansea’s defence was again static as he ran through and slotted a low shot past Willy to give Blackpool the very least they deserved in an equaliser.
Robbo had a chance when he bent a free kick just over the bar to restore an unlikely lead for the Swans but the reality was from here that the game just petered out into a draw – a point I am sure the Swans will take from a performance that possibly didn’t warrant that point. For sure, Blackpool will feel hard done by in not winning the game but they had the chances and through their own poor finishing they failed to take them.
Man of the match for me was a close call between Izzy and Tatey with the former probably just edging it for a pretty solid performance at the back and had he stayed on maybe we wouldn’t have conceded. Having said that had we left with three points yesterday then I would have expected the team to leave with stripy shirts, black eye masks and carrying bags marked “Swag”
A point gained moreso because we probably didn’t deserve it rather than we played well enough to win it. If that makes sense. Couple of home games to follow – two wins becomes pretty much a must.
