Blackpool 3 Leicester City 3
Report by Mike King
After the huge disappointment of the FA Cup defeat at Chelsea, how would the City's team react? Would heads be down or would they pick themselves up and launch a late challenge for a play-off spot? So an evening visit to bracing Blackpool, already attempting a play-off spot themselves, would be a severe test.
As usual, and even after the expense of visiting the Capital, the City faithful turned up in great numbers, filling their allocation in the "temporary" and hastily erected stand that was obviously built to comply with the requirements of the Premier League last season. At least it was covered unlike the last visit when we sat on benches open to the elements and praying for it not to rain! Support columns to hold up the roof at the front of the stand made viewing the action difficult at times – perhaps we are spoilt at the King Power!
Peltier returned at right back with St Ledger partnering Morgan in the centre with Bamba on the bench. Drinkwater started, replacing Gallagher. Surprised to see veteran Kevin Phillips starting as he usually comes on with 10 minutes to go to keep up his scoring run. His name sake, Matt, had been receiving good reports and Taylor-Fletcher can always be dangerous. Young Ince, son of Paul has been scoring well of late, but surely with Beckford and Nugent up front, the City would have enough fire power to prove a threat to the Blackpool defence.
On a bumpy and watered pitch, the game started fairly evenly with both sides sussing each other out. Dyer was on the right wing with Nugent playing wide left, trying to cut inside the full back on every opportunity to fire in to the far corner of the net, but all attempts were blocked. Danns carried on his good form from Chelsea and seemed to be everywhere, with Wellens and Drinkwater trying the killer pass to put Beckford through the middle.
Nugent, continually booed at every touch due to his Preston connections, burst into the box and was upended by Eardley, and it looked like a definite penalty from where we stood (yes stood at the back of the stand). But the referee walked over to Nugent and brandished a yellow card, which really got the home supporters going, but yet again, another poor refereeing decision, and we have seen enough of those this season!
However, Beckford, not for the first time, made a poor pass on the half-way line which lead to a Blackpool corner on the City's left after 33 minutes. Ince floated the ball to the far post, and there was the shortest player on the pitch to nod home past a despairing Schmeichel, his 16th of the season, Blackpool's first threat on the City's goal. Not for the first time, the City find corners very difficult to defend, no lessons from Sunday when Chelsea scored 2 goals from corner kicks. Training Mr Pearson.
The City players couldn't believe it, but thankfully for the loyal supporters they upped their game, with the midfield jolted into action, and after 38 minutes a delightful through ball by Drinkwater found Beckford who out-paced a defender to fire home past Gilks from 16 yards. Cue wide celebrations and the new song and twirling scarves. Also the unprintable chants against previous City manager Holloway!
Half-time arrived and probably, with the teams level, the correct score line. Holloway obviously gave his players a kick up the backside in the dressing room and they came out full of endeavour and attacked the City defence at every opportunity. Schmeichel had to be at his very best and made 2 superb saves from Taylor-Fletcher and Crainey to keep the scores level.
But after 53 minutes, the Foxes took the lead from a corner, a rarity these days. Over on the right, Drinkwater floated the ball over into the danger area and there was Nugent 10 yards out, without a challenge to nod the ball into the net, almost a duplicate of the Blackpool opening goal. Cue wild celebrations again.
This goal deflated the home team and the City really should have extended their lead on 2 occasions. An over-lapping Konchesky, having one of his better games, crossed to Nugent who headed down for an unmarked Danns, but he fired over the bar from 6 yards, albeit with his "wrong" foot. The home defence were all over the place now.
Beckford on the right ran through, out pacing a defender, and as we thought he would go it alone, he looked up, saw Dyer at the far post and his pass across the goalmouth found Dyer stretching but his effort went just wide of the far post. Would we rue these missed chances?
Then it was Phillips to spawn a good chance when he headed over when well placed from an Ince cross. The game was very open as the home side pressed for an equaliser. Ironic cheers from the City fans when Bednar (remember him when he came on loan to us – oh you don't?) came on and unfortunately he made an immediate impact on the game in the 69th minute. Put through on the City left with St Ledger chasing him, St Ledger should have bought the team a yellow card (cynical? – yes) but as both players entered the City box, St Ledger slipped and Bednar slotted the ball home past Schmeichel for the equaliser, his first goal for 2 years.
5 minutes later Bednar, after a Konchesky tackle, was injured and replaced by Lua Lua but Bednar's 5 minute cameo had brought the teams level. The City could have easily have thrown the towel in but continued to play well, with Morgan winning all headers in the middle, his forehead must have been aching with the number of headers he had to win.
Knowing 3 points were needed desperately, Pearson withdrew a tiring Wellens and bought on young Marshall, perhaps hoping for the same as at Chelsea, and he made an immediate impact, receiving the ball from Drinkwater, crossing from the right to an unmarked Beckford. Not the best header of the ball, Beckford rose and headed the ball down and home – Just! 2-3 Yes!
The game was very open as both sides went all out for goals, Blackpool for an equaliser, the Foxes for another goal to extend their lead and secure 3 valuable points. With 3 minutes to go, Bamba replaced Drinkwater in mid-field, then Nugent was withdrawn for Schlupp.
As the 4 minute board went up, disaster. Ince went down the Blackpool left, and he crossed into the box and there was Kevin Phillips, to side foot the ball home with one of his trade mark finishes. We couldn't believe it!
The final whistle blew and the City players were visibly upset, throwing away 2 points. Normally a draw away to a team at the top would be seen as a good point, but scoring 3 goals away from home and drawing seems like a massive disappointment.
Many on the way out of the ground were blaming Pearson for late and wrong substitutions as the team seemed to tire and Pearson himself was damning on his defence. Would Mills have done any better? Doubt it but this area of the team needs to be looked at.
So 8 points away from the play-offs, could have been 6, and with Hull next up and Leeds to come and with some "seemingly" easy games, these dropped points could prove the end of the season, and time for Pearson, if allowed, to build for next season. Perhaps now we will receive next Season's Season Ticket info, interested to see when the "Early Bird" discount, if any, will apply!
Blackpool: Gilks, Eardley (Bednar (Lua Lua)), Baptiste, Crainey, Evatt, Southern (Sylvestre), Ferguson(C), Taylor-Fletcher, K. Phillips, M. Phillips. Subs not used: Dicko, Cathcart
City: Schmeichel, Peltier, Morgan, St Ledger, Konchesky, Drinkwater (Bamba), Danns, Wellens(C) (Marshall), Dyer, Beckford, Nugent (Schlupp). Subs not used: Howard, Kennedy.
Referee: M. Naylor Crowd: 12,485
The views expressed in this report are the opinions of the Trust member nominated to file the report only and do not represent the views of the Foxes Trust organisation