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Blackpool 0 Derby 0 - full match report
WORLD records are fascinating.
Some people, for reasons known only to themselves and their carers, must sit around in rooms for days on end thinking of surreal stuff they can attempt.
Thus we have records for such things as most T-shirts worn at one time (David Alexander, who managed 121 – it then took 30 minutes and four blokes with scissors to cut him out) and world's longest eyebrow (Leonard Traenkenschuh, of Washington, who memorably said of his impressive three and a half inch eye-hairs: "I didn't set out to do it, I just have fertile brows").
Derby also has a record-breaking claim to fame. The world's biggest ever bowl of popcorn was prepared at UCI cinema at the city's Meteor Centre in 1991.
It took the cinema staff three days to complete the record, starting on August 23 and finishing on August 26.
Well done Derby, you must be proud.
Had Nigel Clough sat down to eat the said bowl of popcorn he would have felt sick, but not as queasy as he might have had he lost this game.
The Derby boss was facing the prospect of a third successive defeat, not good so early in the season.
The stress seemed to show as he entertained the home fans in the west stand by dancing around his technical area like Wayne Sleep on Class A drugs.
Alas he was spared the ignominy of another early-season setback – much to the frustration of Ian Holloway, who himself is still waiting for that elusive first victory as Blackpool boss.
The Seasiders haven't lost yet, which is great. But they haven't won either and the manager is well aware of it.
However, he continues to be pretty satisfied with the way his side are playing and he's right to be.
They again did well last night. It certainly wasn't their best performance – a little disjointed at times, the passing not as crisp as the manager would have liked – but it was decent nonetheless.
Pool created some good chances (in particular two for Alex Baptiste and another couple for Jason Euell) but in the end – perhaps hampered by fatigue from Saturday's efforts and by a lack of players (the squad is so thin Holloway could only field six substitutes) – the Seasiders couldn't quite summon up the energy required to break down stubborn opponents.
At the end Clough was the happier manager, though Holloway won't be too concerned for it seems a matter of time before a first three-point haul arrives.
One has to feel a bit sorry for Shaun Barker. A fine player and a hugely popular figure at Blackpool, he was an unused Derby substitute last night. A shame because he would have surely received a great ovation had he come on.
Had he still been at Blackpool, Barker would have been assured of a start in this contest for Stephen Crainey is suffering from a minor groin strain and wasn't risked.
With Joe Martin laid low by a shoulder problem (what a time for the lad to get injured, just as he had a chance of starting a game), Alex Baptiste switched to left-back and Neal Eardley came in for his debut at right-back.
Both did well – Eardley's crossing in dead ball situations looks promising, while Baptiste seems to excel whatever he's asked to do; chances are he cooks like Gordon Ramsey and cycles like Chris Hoy.
The first half was bright and lively though chances were few and far between.
Derby started well, on the front foot, and Rob Hulse put a decent headed chance straight at Paul Rachubka. Robbie Savage provided the cross and was his usual self – later becoming embroiled in an entertaining wrestling match with Baptiste, an incident which led to some nice expletive-ridden chants from the Seasiders supporters.
Speaking of the fans, they were terrific all evening, continuing to shout encouragement even during the duller periods of the game.
Jason Euell couldn't get a clean header on Eardley's inviting centre, then came within a whisker of converting Brett Ormerod's low ball into the box.
The latter was a great move and Euell will be disappointed. But on the brightside the lad must be delighted with his sweatbands. Rarely have I seen a better pair on a footballer. They are the crispest white and look as if they've been washed 15 times in Persil's strongest powder.
That's Premier League experience for you.
Baptiste had a great chance on 33 minutes but shot too high after being teed up inside the box by Gary Taylor-Fletcher.
The second half, like the first, belonged to Pool – though Derby still had their moments. Twice the powerful centre back Miles Addison outmuscled Rob Edwards but headed set-pieces over.
But the Seasiders continued to look more threatening and every so often would chisel out an opportunity.
The closest they got was on 68 minutes when Charlie Adam's free kick hit the wall and the loose ball fell to Baptiste. The centre back struck a crisp shot from 18 yards but Rams keeper Stephen Bywater sprang to his left and tipped the ball behind – save of the night.
Jay Emmanuel-Thomas, the 18-year-old from Arsenal who, so we're told, is a wonderkid, came on to rapturous applause. He ran his socks off and showed some nice touches but struggled to get on the ball as much as he'd have liked.
It was his first league game and that perhaps showed, though he will benefit greatly from the experience.
Ishmel Demontagnac and Billy Clarke also entered the fray towards the end as Holloway went for broke in search of a winner.
Sadly that meant Al Bangura stayed on the bench, a shame as the club's latest signing looks to have a very nifty haircut – kind of Mr T at his peak.
No win then but plenty of pluses.
Ian Evatt was inspired against the club he started his career at, while David Vaughan was neat and tidy (despite playing with a serious injury), Baptiste terrific and Eardley assured, making the step up from League One with ease.
A win soon would be nice. But there is no cause for concern.
Holloway and Blackpool are doing just fine. More of the same please, plus some goals.
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Weather for Blackpool
Sunday 12 February 2012
Today
Cloudy
Temperature: 4 C to 7 C
Wind Speed: 9 mph
Wind direction: South west
Tomorrow
Cloudy
Temperature: 4 C to 8 C
Wind Speed: 25 mph
Wind direction: West
