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 8th in the Championship table, 2 points outside the playoffs and leapfrogging their opponents, who dropped to 10th, 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.
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