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Adam's winner sends Pool fans wild
OVER 5,000 Blackpool fans at Deepdale rejoiced as their heroes did them proud today.
Each man gave his all and turned in a heroic display, never letting up from first minute to last.
This was a terrific day all round. The first Deepdale back-to-back wins for 35 years ... and worth waiting for.
And the 50-point total has been reached in Pool's survival quest.
The pre-match atmosphere was terrific.
Click the play button above to hear from Pool heroes Charlie Adam and Keith Southern.
Unlike the last derby game at Deepdale, when the foul weather and non-stop rain had rather dampened spirits, the sunshine was out and both sets of fans were at their boisterous best.
But the Pool supporters, as they so often do at away games the length and breadth of the land, outshone their rivals – more than 5,000 of them, all seemingly dressed head to toe in tangerine, waved scarves, chanted songs and drowned out their rivals.
They were respectful too when it mattered.
On what was Sir Tom Finney Day in Preston, to celebrate the achievements of the PNE legend and one of the finest footballers ever produced by this country, the visiting hordes applauded and cheered when he was presented with a special commemorative cap prior to kick-off.
Finney turned 87 earlier in the week and this will be his last public appearance – he had decided to retire after this 91st derby meeting between the sides.
Finney, of course, played in many of them, lining up against the likes of Mortensen and Matthews in the 1950s.
Neither Blackpool nor Preston had players on show in this fixture who could match the figures involved in those glory days.
But the importance of this fixture has never altered – the outcome of a Lancashire showdown between these two fierce rivals matters more than any other game.
Tony Parkes sprang a major surprise by including Ben Burgess from the start.
The striker has only just returned from a 10-week injury lay- off after knee surgery.
But Parkes loves the notion of a big targetman and perhaps that's why Burgess got the nod ahead of Lee Hughes.
Lest we forget, Burgess also won the penalty converted so cockily by Wes Hoolahan to secure victory in last season's derby encounter.
>> Arrests after Pne v Pool derby
DJ Campbell and Keith Southern also started, a major boost as the pair had been struggling all week with ankle injuries sustained in the defeat to Plymouth.
Roy O'Donovan came in on the right. It marked a quick return from appendix surgery but was a case of needs must.
With Gary Taylor-Fletcher and Wade Small both injured, O'Donovan is the only fit, out-and-out right-sided player in the squad.
Pool started well. David Vaughan swung in a third-minute corner, Burgess flicked it goalward and Andy Lonergan, partially unsighted because of DJ Campbell lurking in front of him, reacted well to push the ball around the post – a good, positive start.
Unusually for a derby which meant so much for both teams (Pool wanted victory to boost their survival hopes, PNE are chasing a play-off spot), the contest was open and end to end.
Stephen Elliott put a ninth-minute header wide when he perhaps should have done better and Keith Southern tested his ankle with a quite brilliant diving tackle just as full-back Eddie Nolan was about to shoot from 10 yards.
Vaughan swung in Pool's third corner of the game on 13 minutes and Burgess, lurking with intent at the back post, sent a powerful header goalwards which Lonergan had to tip behind. Good effort, even better save.
The Seasiders' away support let out a collective sigh of relief on 16 minutes, when Ross Wallace came within a fraction of giving North End the lead.
After Charlie Adam fouled Paul McKenna 25 yards out, Wallace's brilliant free-kick beat Paul Rachubka all ends up but thudded back into play off the post.
It had echoes of last season's encounter, when a late McKenna free-kick hit the woodwork. Was Lady Luck smiling down again?
Vaughan, who had made a bright start on the left, floated a 25th-minute cross into the box. Burgess was flagged offside in the act of heading wide, but it was encouraging how much space the striker was finding at the back post. His physical presence was clearly unsettling centre-backs Youl Mawene and Sean St Ledger.
Don't miss our special derby day Gazette with full match report and pictures from today's win. OUT NOW.
Stuart Elliott whistled a decent shot wide on 27 minutes, and moments later Charlie Adam charged the length of the field before feeding Burgess, but the frontman's shot was saved at the second attempt by Lonergan.
It was a cracking game, with no let up in the action.
On 29 minutes, Elliott sent in another good shot and again Rachubka had to look lively to palm the ball behind for a corner.
Elliott might be scrawny in build but he is quick and was proving the biggest threat.
Unusually for a derby, it was clean. It was competitive of course, but foul-free. Until, that is, Adam, no stranger to controversy (the first Blackpool player sent off on debut for 34 years for a stamp on Richie Wellens not so long ago), clattered into Chris Sedgwick and received a yellow card.
However, on this occasion I think we should forgive him.
For, a few minutes later, Mr Adam became a Blackpool legend.
Two minutes before the break, and with a 0-0 scoreline Blackpool would have settled for, Adam broke up a Preston attack and, as he so often does, charged forward with the ball.
He reached the edge of the area, sidestepped St Ledger and let fly with a low shot which beat Lonergan and went in off the post.
There followed seconds of silence before the away fans, massed at the opposite end of the ground, realised their team and gone ahead … and all hell broke loose.
It didn't quite match the Hoolahan moment but it wasn't far off.
The fans were still going berserk when ref Andy D'Urso blew for half-time.
It was Adam's second goal for the club since joining in January from SPL giants Rangers.
Even with the 50,000-plus crowds that squeeze into Ibrox, rarely can one of Adam's goals have been greeted with a louder cheer than this.
But Pool had to be careful. They had to remain aware that Preston have been superb at home this season, racking up more victories than any other Championship club.
So even at 1-0 up there could be no switching off, no loss of concentration.
There wasn't, at least not initially.
Adam thundered a low free-kick narrowly wide from fully 30 yards before Vaughan dragged a clear chance wide – from the left side of the area, 10 yards out – after good work by Burgess.
Brett Ormerod got a huge cheer from the away fans when he came off the bench to replace Roy O'Donovan on 63 minutes.
O'Donovan had done OK but looked a little ring rusty after his spell on the sidelines.
Ormerod, scorer of that last-minute winner at Deepdale to give Blackpool a 2-1 win almost 10 years ago to the day, took up the position vacated by O'Donovan wide on the right. On 87 minutes a close your eyes and pray moment.
Wallace's corner was headed in at the back post by centre-back Sean St Ledger. God is a Blackpool fan – the goal was chalked off for a push.
Campbell got a huge round of applause as he trotted off in the final minute. Claus Jorgensen came on.
Rachubka took a boot to the stomach following a late but not malicious challenge from Mawene. It ate up a few more seconds.
The fourth official held up the board to indicate four minutes added on.
It brought a roar from the home crowd, still hopeful their team could salvage things, but in reality they never looked like doing it.
Even Lonerganm playing up front for the last few moments and leaving the PNE goal wide open, couldn't save the home side.
Pool had played splendidly throughout, one of those days when all 11 players realised the importance of the match and reacted accordingly.
Pool fans can start looking forward to next year's derby. Three wins at PNE on the row anyone?
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Weather for Blackpool
Thursday 24 May 2012
Today
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Temperature: 14 C to 20 C
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