Line-Ups
Despite Ian Evatt returning to fitness, Danny Wilson retained his place in the back four, possibly to combat the added pace of Fryatt, MacLean and Stewart, giving Crainey extra cover on the left side of the defence. Keith Southern started his first league game since November, while Roman Bednar returned up front. Brett Ormerod also started for the first time since the Burnley horror show.
Key Battle:
Keith Southern Vs Robert Koren:
Making his first start in the league start since the away draw at Middlesbrough in November, Keith Southern showed exactly what he brings to the team. Tireless running, excellent anticipation and a man willing to put his body on the line whenever necessary. For seventy minutes, the creative and elusive Koren saw very little of the ball due to Southern and Barry Ferguson's constant control of the area in front of the back four. After Ferguson's injury, however, and as Southern's lack of football caught up with him, Koren found more space which allowed him to move the Hull full backs forward, allowing them to overload Crainey and Eardley in the Blackpool back four.
What went well...
There have not been many half times this season where Blackpool fans felt wholly satisfied with their team's performance, but this was certainly one of them. The home side kept the ball well, managed to take the difficult pitch out of the game, largely through moving forward at pace, using the strength of Roman Bednar well, while Kevin Phillips and Brett Ormerod used their experience to manipulate the Hull defence, allowing Tom Ince to wreak havoc whenever he was on the ball. The movement from the four of them brought about the Blackpool goal, with Ince's run sparking his fellow striker's movement, dragging defenders out of the way, while Phillips dropped off his centre back to play the one-two with Ince, allowing the former Liverpool winger the space to guide home his 5th goal of the season.
and what didn't.
The standard of the final ball from Blackpool needs to improve, or those who are trying to get on the end of it need to adjust their position. Countless times, when Blackpool managed to work the ball into wide areas, whether the ball was whipped in early by Eardley or Crainey up from the back, or taken further inside and drilled across by Ince, the man aimed for is standing at the back post, only for the cross to be cut out at the near post. Changing the angle of the run to attack the near post could result in far more dangerous positions being translated into goals.
Who impressed...
With questions being asked of whether or not the big wages of Roman Bednar are being spent wisely, some even saying he is this season's answer to James Beattie and Sergei Kornilenko, the big Czech striker put in his best Blackpool display by far. He held possession well, created chances for others and one or two for himself as well. Certainly Blackpool struggled when he was taken off, losing the out ball that takes pressure off the Tangerines' defenders.
Tom Ince continued his recent resurgence, his wonderful goal coming in an excellent performance which continues a run that is showing he is capable of covering for Matt Phillips in the pacy winger role. Kevin Phillips and Brett Ormerod worked tirelessly, while Barry Ferguson and Keith Southern were both outstanding in front of the back four.
and those who didn't...
Questions will have to be asked why Danny Wilson was chosen over Ian Evatt when the reliable Blackpool hero was available. Evatt was only given a place on the bench, while the inconsistent Wilson was chosen to start. Wilson regularly was caught out of position, causing the quicker Baptiste to sometimes have to do the work of two centre backs.
Matt Gilks is one of the best goalkeepers at this level, but he will be very disappointed with his efforts for the Hull goal in stoppage time. When the ball drops in the penalty area, the defenders need the goalkeeper to take charge of the situation, but poor communication between Gilks and Baptiste, two of Blackpool's more solid performers this season, led to Matty Fryatt poaching a goal that stole a possibly undeserved point.
The Managers:
Ian Holloway will have questions to answer on his substitutions in such an important game. With Blackpool looking comfortable in the system they were playing, he made the choice to revert to the classic 4-3-3 by replacing Bednar with a midfielder in John Fleck, who made no noticeable impact in stemming the flow of late Hull attacks. Lomana LuaLua coming on was probably the right decision due to a tiring Brett Ormerod, and Pool fans will have been reassured to see Ian Evatt ready on the touchline. The decision, however, to slot him into a back five instead of the expected move of Neal Eardley into midfield caused traffic and therefore panic in Blackpool's defensive third, which led to Blackpool failing to clear on a number of occasions.
Nicky Barmby went his players out in the second half with a changed system, with Aaron MacLean looking to push further forward to partner Matt Fryatt. Cameron Stewart was withdrawn early in the second half as Josh King came on to form a three man front line. They looked far more solid defensively in the second half, with Blackpool only creating two clear cut chances through Kevin Phillips and Bednar, although it took until the late goal before Hull really tested Gilks.
Next Up:
A trip to out-of-form Derby County on Tuesday night will give Blackpool a chance to continue their remarkable recent away form. The Seasiders' last three away games have all ended in 3-1 wins at Cardiff, Doncaster and Bristol City, and they will draw on fond memories of their last visit to Pride Park when a Brett Ormerod brace gave Blackpool a Boxing Day win in 2009.
Recently, Derby have slipped from a good position to make a charge on the playoffs back into the midtable obscurity expected at the start of the season.They were the first team to take any points from Bloomfield Road this season when Craig Bryson's rebound settled a dour Tuesday night affair. Blackpool will have to be wary of the pacy Nathan Tyson out wide, while striker Steven Davies scored in their impressive 2-2 draw at Birmingham.
