Match Report |
Blackpool 4, Wrexham 3 (AET)
By: Mark Currie, Daily Post
WREXHAM surrendered possession of the LDV Vans Trophy in shambolic
fashion as they paid the price for an appalling defensive performance in
an exciting period of extra time at Bloomfield Road.
Having previously gifted twice-winners Blackpool an early lead, two
goals from Mark Jones late in normal time seemed to have turned the tie
in the Dragons' favour, but former Wrexham defender Mark McGregor popped
up to force the extra half-hour.
Dragons captain Darren Ferguson restored Wrexham's lead with a fine shot
in the 96th minute but two horrendous defensive mix-ups in the space of
six crazy minutes allowed Keith Southern and Scott Vernon to snatch
victory with 15 minutes to spare.
With Andy Holt passing a late fitness test to play, there was only one
change for the visitors - Trinidad international Dennis Lawrence
returning in place of Paul Linwood, who was recalled on Monday by
Tranmere Rovers.
Although there few other defensive options open to Dragons boss Denis
Smith, the switch was looking decidely dodgy after only 90 seconds when,
with keeper Mike Ingham odds-on favourite to collect a long ball, the
big central defender inexplicably headed it over his team-mate and Matt
Blinkhorn had the simplest of tasks to score.
Lawrence was immediately moved to the right of the back three, with Dave
Bayliss given the task of directing defensive operations as Wrexham set
about repairing the damage.
But long-range shots from Chris Armstrong and Jamie Burns were a timely
reminder not to throw caution to the winds and when Holt surrendered
possession to Tommy Wright on the by-line who picked out Simon Wiles,
the defender did well to recover his ground and complete a goal-line
clearance.
Wrexham wasted a great opportunity to level the game on the half-hour
when Ferguson picked out Jon Walters' run, but the striker was being
harried by two defenders going into the box and drove the shot wide of
Les Pogliacomi's goal.
Bayliss and Wright were both booked after a tussle which reflected the
tension bubbling just under the surface as Wrexham gained more of a
foothold in the game and it needed a fine challenge by Peter Clarke to
deny the turning Walters just six yards out.
The visitors continued to force the pace from the restart, but the
anxiety of chasing the game was creeping in. Too often passes went
astray at the vital moment and composure on the ball was at a premium.
And when Wrexham did get it right, Jones threading the ball through for
Walters in the 55th minute, Clarke was there once more to protect his
keeper.
The Dragons striker was involved again when picking up the ball 60 yards
out and feeding Alex Smith down the left before running on to meet the
return, only to fire high and wide from the edge of the penalty area.
The introduction of substitute Lee McEvilly for Simon Spender after 62
minutes gave an added presence up front, but it signalled a revival by
the home side and former Racecourse favourite McGregor saw his goalbound
effort through a crowded box blocked.
McEvilly went desperately close in the 69th minute, sticking out a boot
to meet Holt's low cross but the ball skidded inches past Pogliacomi's
right-hand post.
But when Robbie Foy replaced Bayliss with 17 minutes left to create a
4-3-3 formation in the clearest indication of Wrexham's desire to get
back on terms it quickly paid dividends with two goals in as many
minutes.
Just as they did at Barnsley on Saturday - conceding a brace in quick
succession - Blackpool fell apart again after Walters found space on the
right to pick out Jones' run and his shot from 20 yards slid under
Pogliacomi's body.
Two minutes later Walters was on the other flank and, though his cross
missed Ferguson, Jones obliged once more with stunning accuracy to the
delight of the 200 or so travelling fans.
Jones should have completed his hat-trick eight minutes from time when
he raced onto Foy's ball, but screwed his shot wide. And it was to prove
costly when the home side equalised two minutes later, McGregor turning
on a poor defensive clearance to lash the ball past Ingham and force
extra time.
MAN OF THE MATCH: Darren Ferguson. Led by example and kept going
to the end. |
Match Reaction |
Denis Smith: "I thought we were easily the better
side, playing the better football, but just gave goals away. The first was
plain comical, while the other three should all have been cleared! I could
make excuses and the back four that we finished with would not have been my
choice, but it was what we were left with. We needed to do something to get
back into the game, so I took off Dave Bayliss because he had been booked
and hoping that Dennis Lawrence could make it through to the end of 90
minutes. We had to give it go and it was a move that worked well, as we
scored twice through Mark Jones to give us a chance of winning it in normal
time. But once again we made mistakes and showed that we struggle to hold
onto a lead at times. Even then Mark had a chance for his hat trick and to
kill it at 3-1. While Lee McEvilly's header in injury time was another
golden opportunity. Dennis had to come off at the start of extra time
leaving us with little alternative, but to switch things around once again.
Having said that, we should still have prevented their goals. We appear to
have gone from one of the best defences in the league to one of the worst -
and I think you can put that down to the continuous injuries we seem to be
picking up. There were plenty of bad things in our game, but I can still
look the many good points. Yet the papers show that we lost and have gone
out of the competition. To score three goals away from home and to come back
with nothing is not good enough. When I think of the chances we had, then we
could have scored six or seven, but then again had we done that, we would
have found a way to give away more. Overall though it was ridiculous to lose
in the manner we did and goodness knows who I'm going to put against Bristol
Rovers at the weekend!" [Source:
Wrexham AFC]
Colin Hendry: "I CAN certainly say that the punters
who have come along and parted with their fiver have got their money's
worth. I can also tell you that I take this competition seriously. Anything
in football I take seriously and I felt it was important that we win this
game.
By winning we have done better than a lot of teams, regardless of who did or
didn't play their strongest teams. I don't care. It's about what we do and
we turned a team out that I felt was going to win. We did and it was pretty
convincingly as well because before they scored they didn't really have an
attempt or a chance when it looked as though they were going to get a goal.
Indeed it could have been four or five nothing to us. We had to react to
going behind after having had so many chances and I was glad we did that. It
got a little bit end to end at times but I don't think they had too many
chances. It wouldn't be Blackpool would it if we didn't have those two
minutes of madness? The good thing is that the players that were on the
pitch turned it round. They showed their character and they pulled it back.
The competition is important to a lot of people at this club and I think the
taste of glory Wrexham have had in it recently as well meant they put their
strongest team out as well and went for it. The stats on the night showed we
won because we scored one more goal than them but I think if you analyse it
and you break it down, then we were better than that. I've never
intentionally killed a black cat in my life but after the first 45 minutes I
just couldn't believe that we were only one ahead. I just hope the people
that came can see what we are trying to do. We are trying to get a winning
formula and a winning run and if it happens in the LDV then great."
[Source:
Blackpool FC] |
|
Match Notes |
Venue |
Bloomfield Road |
Attendance |
3,239 |
Half Time |
Blackpool 1 Wrexham 0 |
Half Time |
Blackpool 2 Wrexham 2 |
Referee |
C Oliver (Northumberland) |
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