First half very frustrating. Plenty of possession but in the final third created nothing. Having said that Hyam actually played well and looked confident on the ball. Blackpool resorted to long punts up the pitch at every opportunity. Mings looked pretty good at left back, although needs to be careful getting caught too far forward. Second half the 433 totally changed the game. Taylor was excellent, Dids was rejuvenated and even Nouble looked the part. One negative was that Mings is no centre back and looked out of his depth in that position. However what a fantastic game. Myself and my 9 year old are ecstatic, and you can't put a price on that! COYB.

13

The heart is now back in working order and I'm back in our hotel. A great game for us and our fantastic supporters and tribute must be paid to the players for their spirit when things seemed to be going against us. We started off OK and Hyam did look lively on the right hand side of central midfield and Skuse looked assured at right back. For all our tip tap football we created little but the same could be said for Blackpool until we let Dobbie glide in behind oir central defence to put the seasiders one up. Gerken then pulled off a wonder save from Grant which looked a goal all the way. Had that effort gone in I think we would have been in trouble as we were certainly not at our best. Mick made two changes at half time bringing on Taylor and Nouble for Hyam and Tabb and it changed the game. Nouble was lively from the outset and took his goal well and Taylor equally took his goal well after also putting in a lively appearance. There was a suspicion of offside for the Blackpool equaliser but not being in line it was difficult to tell. Mings had by now gone to centre back in place of Berra who looked to have a face injury, with Stephen Hunt on as a substitute for Berra going to left back. Then came the magic moment when Murphy somehow squeezed the ball past Gilks and silenced the Blackpool faithful. Well done MM for your tactical changes, to Gerken for that wonderful save and in fact all the lads who again proved today there is tremendous spirit in the team. Once again loved the Chambers punch after the final whistle.

14

Shattered nerves and wrenched vocal chords abound as the Town faithful bounced and bounded from Bloomfield Rd tonight. The rewards for the diehards an ode to joy still ringing out loud across the ground. But I start at the end and like any Tarantino story, today could easily have seen a lot of bloodshed and betrayal, instead retribution became the order of the day for the blues.

A more fitting weekend for today's fixture there couldn't be. While a recent slump has allowed Town's results to be seen in flux, a capacity for nostalgia must now end and fans' focus return back to the future. Remembrance has it's place and our last visit here is a ghost now surely exorcised. A lineup we knew would be unfamiliar became disfigured as news of Tommy's omission spread and Town filed out behind parading servicemen, a team now almost unrecognisable.

Most must wonder lately if Mick really wants to hurt teams and the team sheet read bold and green, with Mings behind Tabb and Edwards covering Skuse on the flanks. It was a combination that with a little thought was plausible but unexpected. The partnerships of Berra and Chambo, Tunners and Hyam were now to be scrutinised alongside the familiar McG and Murph.

In a game that would become all about the finish, the first half should not be forgotten. Blackpool are much as they always were. Last season's sandpitch looked lushed and greener but still dubiously small, the groundsmen their 12th man. An aerial onslaught ensued as the Guvnor's boys battered us in ill-disciplined and ill-thought out hoofs.

Both keepers had an easy collection in the opening ten, however Town's was a superior move down the right. It saw Skuse volley Murphy through to fire tamely from a tight angle. The maestro looked fine at RB but not a full back. Regardless of positions on the pitch and in the table, today's game should be considered in terms of performance and Cole's was of a typically high standard.

Whilst Edwards vs Orr had the feel and billing of two punch-drunks slugging up and down the line it was a key marker in both Town's attacking play and Blackpool's. Whilst the big and aggressive backline were rarely wrong footed the breakthrough came from the left when a swirling centre found Dobbie in a yard of room. An easy header past Gerken saw Town rocked. In the meantime we'd managed little beyond good spells of possession and resilient defending.

Unfortunate as it may have been, it was pleasing to note, that a short period of Town falling flat after the goal also allowed the hosts to refuse to engage with any real passing. Neat spells saw a good combination from most of the eleven, before Edwards and Skuse played Didsy in, he swept a low effort across the box for Murphy to sweep it towards the far flag. It felt like one of those days.

Lacklustre and lacking luck in equal measure the half time whistle game with seasiders digging in and looking unlikely to budge. A scare of 2-0 came when a brace of fouls felled our defenders and Grant volleyed with aplomb from close range. Gerken pulled off his obligatory strong save, diving and deflecting the shot out for a corner.

Town were out early from the changing rooms which now earned their name. It was the solid but unspectacular Tabb and Hyam who were the make-weights on a day where changes were common. Nouble and Taylor scurried onto the field amid raised eyebrows. 4 strikers, 3 CM's and no recognised wingers was a sum far greater than it's parts. Mick organised his team with two chevrons ahead of the backline now including Carlos. McG the focal point of the midfield attack and Murphy flanked by the interchanging Nouble and Taylor.

Within in ten minutes it was clear that gung-ho tactics were the order as McCarthy's men charged forward time and again. It was the athleticism of Town's harmonious second stringers which really caught the eye. Nouble and Mings did themselves many favours in a game where places were up for grabs. Frank's 50p head was great value as strong clearances either met his or his pressurised marker's head and bounced for players to chase down time and again. It would be his feet which would do all the talking though.

Didsy rocked and rolled numerous fouls to bring the ball across the half way point and towards the box. Out on the wing Nouble met a perfect pass and fired across the goal and into the net with skill. The Town faithful went wild. Equaliser. CLACK!

Soon the ascendancy well with the blues, meant that the game shifted back away from the makeshift defence. Taylor looked sparky, his first contribution a corner won from the run of Nouble and Murphy right after the break was followed with a lot of running and rushing onto defenders.

At the back Town were pushed literally and figuratively all game and it began to tell. When Berra would have to make an unwanted exit 20 mins from time in a game where he and Chambo ferried out threats time and again it all looked very grim. The Scot went out with a bang,. A true warrior, his mistake played in Blackpool but he recovered as the last man and then passed man upon man to find himself nearly in the opposing box!

In a half where seagulls circled the stands, it was a run ripped from the Town of old, a run which made puffins tremble in fear. However Berra soon came crashing down under a challenge which meant he limped off and Town new-boy, Mick's oldboy Hunt came in – at leftback of all places.

The high pressure gameplan which Town employed right from the off had increased in urgency and effect. By the time the last quarter of an hour came the action was frenetic and sometimes even fantastic to watch. Murphy missed at the back post from a sweeping cross, Tunners and other runners chased toward goal only to see their efforts blocked and McG unpicked pockets of space to alleviate the Tangerine tide of bombastic hoofball.

The lead was to be ours in fantastic fashion just before the end. Town's cut-price Ribery made a run from the right which was an arc of triumph. Stepping over ball and challenge alike he stroked it home like a new love. And as is often the case in such circumstances, a quick climax was all Town fans wanted.

Town switched and swapped to a man throughout the second spell as the line was held to breaking point. Mings only put one foot wrong in the first half with an inconsequential flick such was his impressive return today. However, a misplaced head under tired legs saw an unmarked Steven Davies escape his pocket and slot into the corner of the net in injury time. 2-2 and the faint-hearted amid the Town faithful marched towards the exits. Bent double in frustration McG roared at his colleagues behind him worried like most of us that the game was now beyond them all.

Willing, groaning and surging the fans, the players and the game all lurched under the strains of whistles and warnings from the seats and shouts of anguished supporters at every incidental movement. Blackpool began to send everyone forward and that hubris was their achilles heel.

Town's goalscorers were to ultimately be the difference. Taylor chased down the fullback and won a throw, quickly he sent Nouble through to face 3 maybe 4 defenders. The resulting corner was swept across and cleared, pushed back and pushed in before another set piece came.

Town pushed on, and Hunt would pick up a booking for being dragged to the floor long before nearly scoring a goal of the season effort. Volleying from the corner of the box to the top corner of the net. But for a cruel deflection it would have been rapturous indeed. The corner it produced was to be telling.

At the time we knew not who got the final touch but as players wheeled away from the scrap and confectionery, curse words and cries of jubilation flew around me, it mattered not. 94 minutes played and goal number 5 meant a long-awaited, and well deserved 3 points was ours.

When the scoreboard indicated it was MOTM Murph who applied the killer touch, the scent of blood which Town had chased all half was supplanted by the sweet smell of victory.

COYB.

17

Late report from me as I was busy last night.

This was kind of a win you'll never forget. Utter horror with happy end. Games like this stick in your memory for ages. You'd never anticipate that while watching first half. It was so, so dreadful from us. Depressive hoofball and we carried no threat whatsoever. There were some hopes though for better things prior to the game when we found out our line-up. With Tunnicliffe being moved into the middle and Tabb being placed on left wing we expected much better display.
Blackpool central backs Broadfoot and MacKenzie were a bunch of lethargic and sluggish donkeys so it was really frightening that we were unable to make a threat. Edwards didn't offer anything as a right winger but he had also no support in Skuse at all. The latter played as a right back in the first half and his contribution reminded me Tom Eastman playing in the same position under Keane which is being placed in the same line with central backs with total lack of intention going forward.
Tunnicliffe had a real chance to score after 20 minutes, his shot went wide though. Yes there was a deflection but Tunnicliffe still should have scored.
That was our solitary opportunity in very poor first half from us. The goal we conceded was disgusting from our point of view. Utterly careless defending. Their midfielder had a Skuse's 'permission' to make ideal cross into the box and Dobbie had a freedom of space. Easy simple header and you won't find that kind of defending in lower leagues let alone Championship. Disgusting defending which summed us up in the first half. Abject, poor, real despair. One of the Town fans I spoke with at half time cried for Taylor, Hunt and Wordsworth to come on in order to start attacking. It was a typical Town from recent weeks. Defensive approach with little threat. Such poor and despairing was it some Town fans around me were taking a piss by urging our players to hoof.
Two changes made by Mick at half time. Hyam finally taken off, 4-3-3 in the second half with McGoldrick moved back into the midfield, Skuse back into the middle too whereas Edwards was playing a right back.
First 15 minutes of the second half were a bit better from us albeit only one chance where Chambers' header went close. As the game went on we were getting better and better. In Tunnicliffe and particularly McGoldrick we had a pair of real accelerators. How different it was to watching Hyam-Skuse combination in last many, many weeks. McGoldrick was an artist and creator of our equaliser. Long run with the ball, fend their defenders off then passed the ball to Nouble who went into the box and scored.
Not only did we have a positive change in midfield we also had a pace in Taylor and Nouble. Really new good looking Town team.
It was 50-50 game after our equaliser. We never sat back and defended the draw. We were lively, adventurous and that is what I was crying out for ages. Attacking spirit.
Berra went off injured after 71 minutes replaced by debutant Hunt. The latter went to play as a left back perhaps for the first time in his career and young Mings moved into the central defence.
6 minutes towards the end Taylor scored his first goal for us from edge of area. Huge joy among Town's 600 travelling army.
Moment later a few boos from them as Chopra came on the pitch.
Final few minutes were so nervy and nail-biting. 90 minutes passed and cries from our end to the referee to blow his whistle off but the real drama was still coming.
One of the last desperate Blackpool attacks brought them an equaliser. Yet again mistake of our defenders as Davies was completely unmarked. Real resignation in Town end. Everyone was in desbelief. I never heard any swearings as the silence was stunning. Real kick in teeth as our first away win was gone. A few Blackpool fans approached our end with their fists hitting an air.
Surprisingly there was no resignation from Town players and they came back to attack with few seconds left. Hunt's impressing shot was headed for a corner by their defender and that was it I thought. Then from the corner and Taylor's pass Murphy headed in and total madness in our end. Moments you relish which will remain in a memory for a long time.

For me that goal and circumstances of the win were a perfect revenge for last seasons 0-6 defeat at the same ground. The horror which I had also witnessed.

The conclusion is obvious for me. If Mick sticks with an attacking approach from second half then we'll make a progress and have every chance of achieving top 6. If he returns to boring, defensive displays with Hyam-Skuse stuck in 4-4-2 then mediocrity is going to continue.
Hyam??? Hmmmm...... not going to slate him as he's not a bad player but he isn't suited to attacking system. He's the wrong player if we're going to attack. Yes he was a regular in Micks recover mission last season but we no longer need to play cautiously like we did last year as we are nowhere near relegation worries. Last season went for good and we have different targets this time. If we're to play defensively then he's spot on for that. Otherwise he isn't suited. Even though he didn't play too badly in defensive aspect he still kept slowing down our every attempt to go forward or he hoofed pointlessly. He was replaced after half time. Myself and a few other people were calling for him to be dropped for many weeks and we saw a perfect answer in the second half. An acceleration and speed in McGoldrick and Tunnicliffe.
No acceleration in Skuse though but he had other duties to do as a midfielder.
What else can I say? We've got to do everything to extend Tunnicliffe's loan beyond January as not only does he offers a pace in midfield he also seems to be hungry for each ball.

Mick please please please !!! Forget the approach from last weeks. We have the players who could do a good job in midfield/attack. Taylor could become a gem for us. Perhaps he could do a wide job. Likewise Hunt.

Tom Ince had a really quiet day yesterday given his standards therefore Mings wasn't really tested. Given his age and lack of experience he had a reasonable game.

Taylor and Nouble gave us a pace upfront in second half. The latter had been heavily criticised even by myself prior to yesterdays game but he worked well, chased every ball and his contribution was second to none.

Unimaginable thriller. You've got to see it to believe it. Really memorable game with such magnificent end. It will certainly be placed in a 'gallery' of memorable games.

4

I thought every player except jay tabb had good game gerkin 7 skuse 6 chambers 6 berra 5 mings 6 tunnicliffe 6 hyam 6 tabb 4 Edwards 6 mcgoldrick 8 murphy 8 taylor 9 nouble 8 hunt 7

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