‘Sick as a Blackpool Donkey’ was a phrase I was hoping not to use, but once I saw Rovers line-up I knew it would appear somewhere.
Despite assertions that Rovers would be out to win every game this season, even in lesser Cups, the truth was somewhat different as the personnel that stuffed Scunthorpe were ‘unavailable’ leaving a crowd 50% down watching a team 50% down too.
Still, on sight of our starting team I was still optimistic, though Blackpool had rocked up with a strong XI and bench. Alfie May, seemingly keen to prove a point, offered early hope – firing off shots and scoring a great goal before setting up further chances which should have been taken.
Blackpool had started the game well; always threatening in possession they should have had the lead early on, but spurned one particularly glorious chance before May struck on 23 minutes. After this Rovers purple patch Blackpool had a further pier-iod of possession and deservedly ruined the bets of those who had Rovers to keep a clean sheet, equalising on 35 Minutes. The rest of the match belonged to them.
The second half was dreary. Blackpool had a plan with Armand Gnanduillet involved everywhere, but Rovers never figured out that hopeful high balls to May would never work against a towering defence, which they couldn’t play round either. And so the visitors wrapped up the game with 30 minutes left. Victory to the Seasiders over the C-Side-ers.
by John Turner
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