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Town 2-1 Blackpool
Town 2-1 Blackpool
Saturday, 16th Feb 2008 18:21

Goals from Velice Sumulikoski and Jon Walters took the Blues to a comfortable 2-1 victory over Blackpool at Portman Road. Town were rarely threatened by the visitors until a bizarre Paul Dickov goal in the closing minutes.

Jim Magilton named the same side which defeated Crystal Palace 1-0 at Selhurst Park on Tuesday, which meant David Wright, Owen Garvan and Pablo Couñago were all amongst the subs.

Blackpool midfielder Wes Hoolahan, watched by Magilton on a number of occasions earlier in the season, struck the game's first shot, cutting in from the right and hitting a 20-yard effort wide.

Jon Walters saw a strike deflect wide on six as the Blues took the game to the Seasiders.

Town dominated the possession, but couldn't carve out another chance until the 17th minute when a one-two involving Walters and Lee ended with Blackpool keeper Paul Rachubka saving from the former Chester man, a defender clearing the loose ball.

A minute later, David Norris's flicked header from a Tommy Miller cross, flew narrowly wide of the post.

Alan Lee came close to opening the scoring on 22 when he seized on a ball missed by a defender down the Town right. The Irishman lashed a shot from the edge of the area which struck the underside of the bar, the ball bouncing to safety. It was a superb strike from Lee, who also hit the bar during last week's home game with Watford.

Town continued to have much the better of the game, although without ever looking at their most fluent on a Portman Road pitch showing the effects of the winter. On 23 a Miller cross was headed goalwards by Jason De Vos but a defender cleared the ball from the line.

On the half hour, Blackpool were forced to sub their second central defender of the game, Stuart Green taking over from Michael Jackson with Ian Evatt having made way for Danny Coid only 10 minutes into the game.


Lee shot over from the edge of the box on 33, then a defender bundled Tommy Miller's cross from the right behind.

Blackpool created their first serious chance of the game with two minutes of the first half remaining. Hoolahan appeared to be in an offside position when a cleared corner was played back to him on the right, but the Irishman was allowed to cross towards Keith Southern, who screwed his volley well over from eight yards when he should have scored.

Not a vintage first half display from Town, but the Blues had done more than enough to deserve a lead at the break. Blackpool had provided little threat, the final action of the half aside, and a Town goal seemed a matter of when rather than if.

And that goal came with the second half's first penalty box action with Velice Sumulikoski, making his first home start, beginning and ending the move.

The Macedonian played the ball down the left for Jon Walters, the striker holding off two defenders before passing inside to Danny Haynes. The youngster played a ball into Alan Lee's feet inside the area, the Irishman laying it back to Sumulikoski, who lashed a shot into the net off the underside of the crossbar for his first goal in English football.

Town went close to adding to their lead three minutes later, Walters playing a low ball across the edge of the area to the on-rushing Miller, who hit his shot too close to Rachubka.

The second goal came on 57, Lee looping the ball over his head into the path of Walters. Town's top scorer chased in on goal, using his strength to hold off John Hills, before slipping the ball past Rachubka and into the net for his 12th goal of the season.

Paul Dickov failed to force Bywater into a save when well-placed in the Town area on 59, but Town were largely in control with most of the game in the visitors' half of the field.

On 71 Alan Quinn replaced Danny Haynes and Pablo Couñago took over from Alan Lee. Within a minute Quinn had a golden opportunity to make it three when he was sent through one-on-one with Rachubka. The former Sheffield United man looked set to round the keeper, but appeared to change his mind and attempt to flick the ball over him instead at the last moment, the ex-Manchester United trainee blocking his effort.

Miller's shot deflected off Quinn and over, before Norris went wide after latching on to a Walters lay-off on the edge of the area, appearing to catch his studs in the turf as he did so.

Sumulikoski went high and wide from 30 yards as the game moved into the final 10 minutes. Four minutes later, Rachubka saved Walters's effort from the right.

Coid did well to get in ahead of Miller at the far past from Harding's left wing cross, then from the corner, Naylor's header was easy for Rachubka.

With two minutes remaining, Blackpool scored as bizarre a goal as you'll see. Paul Dickov seemed yards offside when he received the ball halfway inside the Town half, the linesman immediately and very evidently raising his flag. The Town players stopped, the crowd looked away, but Dickov took the ball on, past the uninterested Bywater and slipped the ball into the net.

It was at this point that the Town players and then crowd realised that the referee had failed to blow his whistle, Jason De Vos and the rest of the team immediately remonstrating with the official Fred Graham. The referee was encouraged over to speak to his linesman, but still gave the goal. The decision seemed inexplicable unless the official felt a Town player had got a touch on the through-ball and that Dickov had previously been onside.

The goal panicked the crowd perhaps more than the players and despite a couple of corners, the final few moments were seen out by Town.

In the end the scoreline flattered the visitors with the Blues as comfortable as they had been all season. Blackpool rarely threatened and Town never needed to move into top gear.

Jon Walters put in one of his best displays up front, while Velice Sumulikoski again impressed in the centre of the midfield and will be very pleased with his first goal. Alongside the Macedonian, Tommy Miller had probably his best game of the season and came close to scoring.

At the back, Jason De Vos and Richard Naylor again prevented Stephen Bywater from being overly tested.

The win further cements Town's sixth position and closed some ground on Charlton who are now only one point ahead in fifth after their draw with Watford. Next week's trip to top-of-the-table Stoke City will be another examination of the improving away form, but is the last trip to any side currently in the top 11 in the Championship.

Town: Bywater, Bruce, Harding, De Vos, Naylor, Sumulikoski, Miller, Haynes (Quinn 71), Norris, Lee (Couñago 71), Walters. Unused: Colgan, Garvan, Wright. Att: 21,059.


Photo: Action Images



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