Hard earned point.

Betting, they say, is a mugs game. The bookmaker will always end up making more money than they lose. The sheer weight of people who put stakes on will cover for the small number that will win on their hunch. The problem for the bookmaker is if something happens that has huge odds, they are going to be giving out large sums of money, costing them more than if the small odds that had plenty of bets on it would do.

So when Stephen Crainey beat the offside trap down the left hand side and finished with the outside of his left foot like a veteran striker, local bookies could have been forgiven for cursing their luck. Even for Crainey to score at any time will have been at least 25/1, and in putting Blackpool on level terms, he scored his first goal in over 4 years.

It was only his second goal in Blackpool colours, his first coming in just his seventh game, a well struck free kick against Sheffield United in 2007, so when he broke free of Stephen Carr and found himself one on one with Boaz Myhill, he could have been forgiven from suffering from a crisis of confidence, but instead, he let Lomana LuaLua’s inch perfect through ball run across him, and guided the ball into the bottom corner, to the delight, and surprise of everyone in Bloomfield Road. The club itself couldn’t believe it was Crainey, giving the goal to Jonjo Shelvey originally, and Crainey himself, who can’t exactly have a plethora of celebrations ready to go, and just strolled over to the South Stand with his arms in the air.

LuaLua was again involved in Blackpool’s second. His neat interplay with Shelvey on the edge of the penalty area led to the loanee teeing up Neal Eardley, who also doubled his Blackpool account after his free-kick against Everton last season, with a magnificent right-footed strike, curling away from Myhill and into the top left corner. Eardley since has dedicated his goal to his former national team manager Gary Speed, whose tragic passing this weekend has affected the world of football.

For all of Blackpool’s neat build-up, however, Craig Cathcart was missed at the back. He brings a calming influence to the back four, both in possession and when on the back foot. His marking and football brain would have prevented both goals, the first where Ian Evatt stopped forward to close the man in possession, leaving Marlon King onside, and clean through, to score, and Evatt was at fault again for the late equaliser, not learning from his mistake moments before, allowing Zigic to get a run on the defence,  as he got in front of Evatt to score.

A point, however, against a team who will undoubtedly be in and around the promotion picture come May, is not a disaster. Birmingham’s position outside the top 6 is false, as they have 2 games in hand on most around them due to their Europa League exploits. They have a fantastic manager at this level, who knows how to get teams into the top flight, and a squad filled with talented players. There will no doubt be a sense of it being two points dropped, however, due to losing a lead late on at home, and having plenty of chances to kill the game. Barry Ferguson’s desire to score against his former club got the better of him as he shot wide when Taylor-Fletcher was better placed, before Taylor-Fletcher’s spectacular volley from a moment of genius by LuaLua to play him in was denied by the offside flag. The less said about Matt Phillips’ chance that was squandered after half time, the better.

Despite Blackpool’s injury problems, with Cathcart joining Southern and Kevin Phillips on the sidelines, Blackpool posed a significant threat to a side who have serious pace and ability out wide in Burke and Beausejour, strength in midfield from Fahey and Elliot, and quality up front in Adam Rooney and King. Birmingham were good value for their point, as they caused countless problems on the break, defended well for the majority of the game, and it was only thanks to the reflexes of Matt Gilks that the visitors were not out of sight.

Leicester away on Tuesday night is another important game, as they all seem to be in the run towards Christmas. They will pose a different threat to the one posed by Birmingham, with pace up front from Beckford and Nugent, technical skill in midfield from Paul Gallagher and Richie Wellens, and momentum from their new manager. Blackpool will have to be at their very best to pick up anything from the King Power Stadium. 

Momentum, momentum, momentum.

In both of Blackpool’s promotion seasons in the last 5 years, the most important thing that they managed was the momentum they garnered by stringing together good performances back to back. In the relegation season from the Premiership last season, they were unable to put wins together, only winning back to back games once, with remarkable wins away at Stoke City and Sunderland. After the euphoria that surrounded the resounding thrashing of Leeds United on Wednesday night, the visit of Millwall was certain to be a serious test. The Lions were coming into the game on the back of scoring 10 goals in their last 3 games, only conceding 1 goal in the process. They possessed the Championship’s in form striker in Darius Henderson, who is finally starting to prove his potential as a goal scoring target man.

Blackpool, however, seem to be close to stumbling across their best starting eleven. In my opinion, the fact that the massive improvement in the side since the Burnley debacle last weekend has occurred when Ludovic Sylvestre returned to the midfield three is no coincidence. The nearly forgotten Frenchman has slotted into the team almost seamlessly, providing Barry Ferguson and Keith Southern more license to move forward in possession, whereas with Jonjo Shelvey, both have had to sit deeper to cover for him, and when on the ball, Sylvestre is capable of beating a player, picking a pass, and moving forward with purpose. Also capable of being strong in the tackle, Sylvestre could be proof that the man needed to cover for the loss of Charlie Adam may have been at the club all along.

The main fear that Blackpool were likely to face against the in-form Millwall was their undoubted physical presence, a problem heightened by the fact that Ian Evatt picked up his fifth booking of the season against Leeds, ruling him out. Alex Baptiste moved to his preferred position in the back four as part of the central pairing, and the more attack minded Neal Eardley returned at right back. The lack of Evatt’s power and height at centre back, Craig Cathcart was charged with being the enforcer in the defence. Lomana Lua-Lua kept his place after his impressive display on Wednesday night, as Ian Holloway left his front three interrupted, as Shelvey continued in his new position on the right hand side of the forward line.

In what was billed as a physical encounter, it was the pace of Millwall that Blackpool first had to be wary of, as Liam Feeney caused Crainey and Eardley problems down both wings, but after negotiating the early pressure, Blackpool started to impose themselves on the Millwall midfield, both Brian Howard and Nadjim Abdou struggling to deal with Sylvestre and Southern breaking from midfield, the latter twice finding space in the final third to get shots in on goal, one flying over the bar, the other drawing a good save from Lions’ keeper David Forde, as he parried the Blackpool stalwart’s left footed drive wide. From the resulting corner, Forde was lost in the crowd of players, and Southern powered another effort on goal as he rose above his marker, only to see full back Jack Smith clear off the line.

With Lua-Lua and Callum McManaman causing problems with their pace and trickery, Blackpool looked a constant threat on the break, and it took another Forde save to deny the Congan a third goal in a week after his incisive run from the right resulted in a step over and a left-footed, rising drive which was tipped over. Blackpool’s back four were solid, allowing Henderson to receive the ball with his back to goal, and forced him away with their almost patented high line, allowing Southern and Ferguson to drop back and win the ball.

For all of their good play in the first half, Pool couldn’t break down a very organised Millwall side, who gave the kind of display that can always be expected from a Kenny Jackett team. Well organised, not afraid of the tackle, and always ready to give 100%. Indeed, they could have gone in at half time in front, but Henderson’s back post header from 6 yards was magnificently saved by Matt Gilks.

After half time, The Seasiders continued to press to go for the goal they probably deserved, though Ian Holloway can’t have been too impressed, hauling Keith Southern off just before the hour, bringing Kevin Phillips on, moving Jonjo Shelvey back into the midfield, with Lua-Lua out wide, and it paid immediate dividends. The game’s first display of real quality put Blackpool into the lead. Callum McManaman fed Phillips, who shimmied, spun, and let fly all in one movement, from the edge of the penalty area. Forde’s dive was purely for show, as he waved the ball past him into the top corner.

‘Pool looked to try and push on, but it was Millwall who carved out the chances late on, with both Brian Howard and Liam Trotter being denied by a combination of Gilks and Baptiste, but in the end Mr Haines blew the final whistle to give Blackpool another 3 points, making it 2 wins, 6 goals scored and none conceded since last weekend. Back into the top six, and starting to look like a confident team again, Holloway will be thinking about where to strengthen to continue Pool’s hopes for a playoff finish.

Away nights like these...

While listening to the commentary on Leeds United Vs Blackpool last night on the home side’s radio station last night, it struck me as being one of those nights that only a blessed few are fortunate enough to experience. Be they those who go to every away match, rain or shine, in the fervent hope that their team can produce the kind of display that they have proved they are capable of, only to leave the ground at full time disappointed 99% of the time, but can’t stop themselves from paying big money to make the next long trip, because this one might just be it, or the exiled few, there because it is one of few games within reach of where they are based.

Sadly for me, I was unable to witness the incredible scenes at Elland Road on Wednesday night. Blackpool, Little Blackpool, went to the mighty Leeds United, to a ground which staged a Champions League semi-final less than ten years ago, and inflicted their worst home defeat in over 30 years. I sat, in a kind of trance, as I listened to Jonjo Shelvey complete his hatrick with Blackpool’s fifth, thinking how good it would be to be a part of the Blackpool fans, and that the experience being had by those in the away section must be something similar to the ones I experienced in the corner of The City Ground about 18 months before, when DJ Campbell scored his third of that amazing night to clinch Blackpool’s place at Wembley.

It will be interesting to ask those who were at both which one they think was better, but for me, football will never get any better than Nottingham Forest away in the playoffs, and in a way, knowing I was there that night made up for the fact that I couldn’t get to Yorkshire, because I know that many Pool fans were not able to attend that night in Nottingham, and I was one of the very fortunate few.

For all of Blackpool fans’ delight after last night’s proceedings, which saw the Seasiders rise to 8^th in the Championship table, 2 points outside the playoffs and leapfrogging their opponents, who dropped to 10^th, there is the horrible feeling on the other side, and it is impossible not to feel dreadfully sorry for the man who only managed 45 minutes last night in the Leeds United goal. Paul Rachubka served Blackpool magnificently for 4 and a half years, 3 of which were served as the unquestionable number 1. His arrival at the club, under his current manager at Leeds, Simon Grayson, coincided with Blackpool putting together second half of the League 1 season that would lead to their return to the second tier of English football for the first time in 29 years.

Rachubka will be hounded in the Yorkshire press and on every Leeds Utd message board, with some saying he is the worst player to ever pull on the colours of the famous Elland Road side, but the fans that are making this kneejerk reaction must realise that judging a player after 3 and a half games, after coming in for a goalkeeper in Andrew Lonergan who has made an excellent start to his Leeds career, is incredibly harsh. Rachubka has never been good under the high ball, but in the past he has made up for it in quality shot stopping. A goalkeeper who won Player of the Year at Bloomfield Road after almost singlehandedly keeping Blackpool in the Championship in 2008 does not become a bad player overnight.

If Leeds fans are looking for the problems that led to their heavy defeat last night, they should start with their midfield and defence. The 8 players in front of Rachubka gave Ludovic Sylvestre as much time and space as any player, let alone one with the quality that Sylvestre possesses, could possibly need to pick out Jonjo Shelvey with a glorious pass with the outside of his right foot, and after Rachubka had parried the on-loan Liverpool man’s shot, an unfit 30 year old Lomana Lua-Lua was faster to the ball than both of Leeds’ static centre haves to tap into an open goal.

The only goal that the blame does firmly lie at Rachubka’s feet for is Blackpool’s second. An innocuous, looping cross from the Blackpool right took a deflection, sending it sky high. It is the kind of ball that goalkeepers practice catching day in, day out in training. Tom Lees even made it easier for the American by holding off the nearest Tangerine shirt to give Rachubka all the space he needed to gather, but he inexplicably fumbled the ball straight to Lua-Lua, whose instinctive shot was magnificently palmed wide by the unfortunate Lees, earning Blackpool a penalty and Lees a straight red card.

Lees was understandably upset, and took so long to remove himself from the pitch that the referee allowed Shelvey to take the penalty without realising Lees had yet to extract himself from the playing area. Shelvey was away celebrating when Mr Roger East called him back to take it once again. Shelvey stuck to his guns, and found the inside netting of the right hand corner, giving Rachubka no chance whatsoever.

Just when Pool fans everywhere thought it couldn’t get any better than that, it did. Lua-Lua was given a criminal amount of space just 20 yards from goal, and he gleefully let fly, only for Rachubka to parry once more. Shelvey was on hand once again to move beyond the stricken keeper and roll the ball into the empty net, in front of a stand full of furious Leeds fans.

Mr East finally put Rachubka out of his misery by blowing the half time whistle, saving him from more abuse from his own fans behind his goal, and according to those present at the game, Rachubka gathered his towel, and left the pitch in tears. One can only hope that Rachubka recovers from the horror show that he suffered in the first half, as he does have enough quality in his game to be a good Championship goalkeeper.

Grayson was left with a difficult conundrum at half time. Withdraw Rachubka, bringing on an 18 year old for his professional debut, saving the American from more pain in the firing line, but with the problem of possibly ending any chance of recovery, or send him out to try and prove the masses wrong, the game already as good as over, and hope that he can salvage some pride. Grayson plumped for giving Alex Cairns his first team debut.

There was very little that Cairns could do about either shot that beat him in the second half. For 25 minutes, Leeds came out with fire in their bellies, and made it as difficult for the visitors as they must have prepared for before the game. Blackpool fans of the last 20 years must have been wary of a comeback, as stranger things have happened, and will have hoped for another goal to ease the nerves.

The goal arrived, and it was without doubt the goal of the night. Barry Ferguson found space in midfield and played one of the passes of the night, inside the full back who was tracking Lua-Lua’s run, who then took a couple of touches to get inside his man, before firing a quite exquisite strike from the edge of the penalty area into the top right corner, before celebrating with a somersault in front of the Pool faithful.

Lua-Lua left the pitch, along with Callum McManaman, to a standing ovation, as he was replaced by Tom Ince, with Bogdanovic replacing McManaman, and Angel Martinez getting the chance to impress in what was a magnificent midfield display by the Seasiders, thriving on the extra creativity and forward nature of Sylvestre, making his first start of the season. Martinez replaced Southern, who proved to Leeds fans that they maybe should have taken the chance on him when they were linked with him last season.

The man known simply as Angel then tried to rival Ferguson in the passing stakes, as he split the Leeds defence with a quite magnificent through ball to Shelvey, who gleefully swept home his third, to send the Pool fans into dreamland, as they, as Ian Chisnall so gladly put it, went nap. Holloway got it spot on from the start, which has been something of a rarity this season, and hopefully he can resist the temptation to tinker against Millwall. Certain things will be taken into account, such as whether or not Lua-Lua can start two games in 4 days, whether Gary Taylor-Fletcher is ready after his back injury. Ian Evatt will be unavailable due to suspension, so the defence that was so solid despite their shambolic display at Burnley, will have to be broken up at the weekend.

The most important thing that Holloway must stick to, in my personal opinion, is the midfield 3 of Keith Southern, Barry Ferguson and Ludovic Sylvestre. All are defensively astute, which allows each of them to have freedom going forward, safe in the knowledge that those behind them are capable. The addition of Matt Phillips and Billy Clarke when they return from their loan spells can only aid the front three, adding pace and form, putting Blackpool in a good position ahead of a tough Christmas schedule.