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.
No comments:
Post a Comment