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Bristol City 0 Blackpool 0 - full match report
THERE is a quite lovely tale about how Adriano Basso, the Bristol City goalkeeper, got his break in English football.
He'd been plying his trade around the lower divisions in his native Brazil when he decided to try his luck in England.
But in the weeks after arriving on our fair shores he had a number of trials at various clubs, including Arsenal, all ending without success.
He was reduced to keeping fit by dragging his wife to the local park and getting her to fire shots at him (presumably sans stilettos).
As implausible as it sounds, a Barnet scout wandered past the park one day, was impressed at what he saw and offered Basso a trial (Mr B, not Mrs).
Basso was subsequently offered a deal and rest is history – now first choice keeper at a club challenging for promotion to the Premier League.
It is fair to say that Basso's missus helped deny Blackpool what would have been a memorable, if not rather fortunate, three points.
For after producing the kind of gritty, disciplined and committed display which earned a similarly fine point at Ipswich a fortnight ago, Pool had a chance to snatch victory in the dying moments.
An overlapping Claus Jorgensen – as usual still driving forward in the dying seconds – picked out David Vaughan with a chipped pass and the winger fired a first time volley goalwards.
Alas Basso, reflexes sharpened on the local park, pulled off an excellent stop and prevented a fairytale ending.
It couldn't disguise the fact, though, that this was a terrific day's work from a Blackpool side which performed commendably, particularly Shaun Barker and the back four, and the recalled Paul Rachubka in goal.
It was a magnificent point, attained in the backyard of a club which had won eight of its last 10 and risen into the Championship top four.
As the players quite rightly celebrated on the pitch at the end there were backslaps and smiles all round – until they trooped back to the dressing room and switched on the TV.
Then the jolting news that just about every other side at the bottom had won. All of which meant that Pool, despite an impressive, against-the-odds result, had slipped to 20th in the table.
But forget that. Not easy I grant you, but try – for today we should be focusing on what Blackpool achieved and there were no negatives, just a cracking result.
Pool went into this match with one point from 12. Not good.
Statistics, though, are misleading. Reading haven't won or scored a goal in four games. It doesn't make them a bad side.
But Blackpool are a little different, essentially because of the unrest off the pitch. For the duration of last week there had been the constant speculation regarding the management situation, heightened by Karl Oyston's trip to Latvia to meet with Belokon. 'Scheduled board meeting', we were told. Pull the other one, I say.
It was to decide whether or not to bring in a manager above Parkes and Thompson. The upshot, we discovered 24 hours before kick-off, was that those in the boardroom were backing the current management duo to turn things around.
"Let's focus on what happens on the pitch now," Oyston declared.
The chairman is quite right. My only slight fear is that it may be tricky to do that should the team lose another couple in quick succession. But let's not contemplate that at this stage. Let's back Parkes and Thompson to do the business because on the evidence of Saturday they will do that.
Pool are still in a better position than four other Championship clubs when it comes to beating the drop.
And the draw at Bristol City was also mighty heartening for another major reason – it proved the squad is united and fully behind Parkes and Thompson.
The caretaker managers have been saying they'd got the players on their side, but we needed proof.
This was it. Classic Blackpool, same as under Simon Grayson, scrapping for everything and earning a point courtesy of a sheer iron will not to get beaten.
Prior to kick-off, we all knew it would take a gigantic effort to get a result but we could take heart from the starting 11.
Parkes and Thompson, by general consensus, had chosen wisely.
The big guns at the spine of the team were back – Rachubka, Evatt, Adam and Brett (like Wes, he's such a Pool legend he requires no surname).
Keith Southern was among the substitutes, another boost.
Despite the fact that Pool were overwhelming underdogs, at least they had the players to give the away supporters heart and hope.
And so it proved. The first half was the very definition of comfortable.
Up against a Blackpool defence that appeared determined not to wilt right from the off, Bristol looked devoid of ideas.
Even the upset of losing Ian Evatt to a knee injury on the half hour didn't alter things. In fact, in a weird way it possibly helped.
It allowed Alex Baptiste – who was being tested by dangerous left winger Michael McIndoe – to move to his preferred centre back position.
Danny Coid came on and played imperiously at right back, almost completely snuffing out McIndoe's threat.
Ormerod, looking lively, sharp and delighted to be starting, tested Basso with a sharp angled drive while Campbell – wearing boots so bright they could have been picked up from a NASA satellite – let fly with a drive past the upright.
Rachubka saved from McIndoe's long range effort and Barker – terrific all afternoon – cleared brilliantly facing his own goal inside his six yard box. Vaughan, though not at his best, saved a goal by tracking back and denying full back Bradley Orr.
The home side upped the pressure throughout the second period. Subs Ivan Sproule, Stern John and Jamie McCombe all entered the fray as Gary Johnson sought a breakthrough.
But try as they might Bristol couldn't force a goal. It was down to terrific defending.
The closest shaves were when Vaughan cleared John's header off the line and Rachubka athleticly palmed McIndoe's close range effort around the post.
Other than that the back four, supported terrifically by the midfield four and Ormerod tracking back, held firm.
Just a shame that results elsewhere took the shine off this hard-earned result.
Now it comes down to two huge games this week, both at Bloomfield Road. If ever there was a time to sort the rotten home form out, this is it. Here's desperately hoping.
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Weather for Blackpool
Monday 13 February 2012
Today
Cloudy
Temperature: 3 C to 7 C
Wind Speed: 32 mph
Wind direction: West
Tomorrow
Cloudy
Temperature: 6 C to 8 C
Wind Speed: 28 mph
Wind direction: North west
