Blackpool FC 0 Stoke City 0 - Match Report

by Thomas Anthony Wilson. Published Sat 30 Apr 2011 16:57
Phillips had the pick of the chances for Blackpool
Phillips had the pick of the chances for Blackpool

Blackpool remain outside the relegation zone on goal difference after playing out a dour goalless draw with FA Cup finalists Stoke City.

Entertainment wasn’t on the menu for once at Bloomfield Road, a venue that's served up at least two goals in every Premier League fixture this season.

"The game as a spectacle wasn’t the best," conceded Seasiders boss Ian Holloway.

"Everything they threw at us we dealt with but we didn’t hurt them enough."

With Stoke having one eye on the show-piece occasion at Wembley in a fortnight's time coupled with their poor away record, the Seasiders failed to take advantage as their nightmare run of form continued.

Blackpool have only picked up a solitary victory in the last fifteen games with their top flight status hanging by the narrowest of threads.

Ian Holloway chose to retain the same starting line-up that pulled off an encouraging 1-1 draw against Newcastle last week.

The Potters were on the front foot for much of the first half as Blackpool failed to create anything clear-cut.

Stephen Crainey was alert to clear Robert Huth’s stabbed effort off the line after a trademark Rory Delap throw-in caused chaos in the Blackpool box early on.

Jonathan Walters went close for the visitors soon after when he failed to convert Rory Delap’s inviting cross.

Matt Phillips struck a long range effort wide in a rare chance for the Seasiders on the half hour mark.

The visitors continued to show creativity and spurned a glorious chance when Kenwyne Jones produced arguably the worst miss of the season on the stroke of half time.

The powerhouse striker, whose goals helped fire the Potters into the FA Cup final in the mauling of Bolton, miraculously spooned wide in front of an open net after running onto Walters’ defence splitting pass and rounding Matt Gilks.

Blackpool made the most of the let-off and begun showing attacking intent in the second period.

Stoke keeper Asmir Begovic produced a fine reaction save to agonisingly deny Phillips from point blank range in the home side's first real chance of note.

Keith Southern then went close when his goal-bound effort dragged just past the post after taking a hefty deflection off Campbell.

Glenn Whelan had a long ranger beaten wide by Gilks at the other end as both teams went in search of a breakthrough.

Stoke put the Seasiders under an extensive spell of pressure following this, and Crainey cleared off the line once again to deny Jones’ header.

Holloway threw on Luke Varney and Sergei Kornilenko for the remaining 20 minutes in search of a goal that failed to materialise.

Whelan needed no invitation to let fly from distance once again for the visitors with a thunderous drive that sailed narrowly wide, as both teams settled for a share of the spoils.

"It’s in our hands," Holloway said of Blackpool's survival hopes.

"The run-in is absolutely vital. Anyone would have ripped your arm off to be in our position. We’ve got to show belief and do it for the fans who sing their hearts out every week."

Stoke boss Tony Pulis paid tribute to the home support: “Blackpool are fighting for their lives and it was a tough game. The supporters are fantastic.”

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