Blackpool 3-2 Luton: Five things we learned

Blackpool FC writer Matt Scrafton takes a look at the key talking points from the Seasiders' pulsating play-off semi-final first leg win against Luton.
Mark Cullen celebrates his third goalMark Cullen celebrates his third goal
Mark Cullen celebrates his third goal

Cullen silenced the Luton boo boys

Where else to start but with Mark Cullen's superb hat-trick? The 25-year-old’s first goal last night may have come in slightly fortunate circumstances when his low shot trickled over the line after Luton goalkeeper Stuart Moore fumbled his effort. But his second was anything but fortunate as he curled into the top corner from 25 yards with a sumptuous effort which came completely out of the blue. He then showed impressive courage to step up for Blackpool’s penalty to complete his hat-trick by sending the goalkeeper the wrong way. Obviously he was on his hat-trick so there was no way he was going to let anyone else take it, but he missed his last penalty against Doncaster Rovers so he deserves credit for dispatching it so nonchalantly. As if bagging a hat-trick in a vital play-off game that was being screened live on Sky Sports wasn't good enough on its own, it also came against his former club. Not a bad way to shut up the boo boys, eh?

It was a game of two halves

As good as Luton were in the first half, where they spent most of it on the front foot, winning most first and second balls and creating chance after chance, Blackpool were equally as good if not better in the second half. In fact, the Seasiders may live to regret not extending their advantage any further because they had the Hatters on the ropes in that second period. They were there for the taking. Luton may have finished fourth in League Two and they did the double over Blackpool, not conceding a goal in either game, but they were made to look very ordinary in that second half. Nonetheless Gary Bowyer's men deserve huge credit for reacting the way they did after going 2-1 down. A lesser side would have wilted and the manner in which they came out firing on all cylinders after the half-time interval was hugely impressive. Luton had to deal with wave after wave of Blackpool attacks - which is exactly when the Seasiders are at their best. Which takes me onto my third point...

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Blackpool 3-2 Luton

Blackpool and the play-offs go hand in hand

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It seems whenever the Tangerines take part in a play-off game they immediately morph into Kevin Keegan's Newcastle side of the late 90s. But that performance, especially in the second half, was a delight to watch (even if I struggled to keep up with it all!). Pool's main danger is their pace and power on the break and as you saw last night, they're capable of blowing away any team that is put in front of them. They did it against Doncaster (4-2), they did it against Portsmouth (3-1), they did it against Plymouth (0-3) and they did it against Carlisle (1-4). I've been a big critic of some of the recent play-off ties in the Championship, League One and in non-league, where teams are scared witless of making a mistake just because there's so much at stake. But these teams got to the play-offs for a reason - they're obviously decent sides capable of playing good football - so why not play your natural game that got you there in the first place? That is a problem Blackpool have never had in the past and judging on Sunday night's display, this current side don't have it either.

Cliché alert...but it's still only half time

As good as last night's game was, and as impressive as Blackpool were, they still essentially only have a 1-0 lead. That's absolutely nothing, especially when you look at the high-scoring first leg ties in League Two (Exeter drew 3-3 with Carlisle). The Hatters have already beaten Blackpool home and away remember, even if their 1-0 win at Kenilworth Road last month was slightly fortunate, with Ollie Palmer scoring a cruel last minute goal. So how should Blackpool play it? Should they sit back on their lead and try and see out their advantage? Not a chance in hell. They've got to go and take the game to Luton and look to win - although playing as open and as expansive as they did at Bloomfield Road might not be the best idea. They had plenty of chances during the league game at Kenilworth Road and it was only down to a superb display by goalkeeper Matt Macey, who has now returned to his parent club Arsenal, that the Seasiders didn't hit the back of the net. Play the same way on Thursday night and there's every chance Pool will be walking out at Wembley once again.

Empty seats sent out a stark message

Take a quick glance at social media last night during the game and you would have seen countless tweets raining in from fans of clubs across the country commenting on the large swathe of empty seats at Bloomfield Road. In that respect, that's the most effective form of protest. I've heard a lot of boycotting fans say this season they're struggling to get their cause noticed with the likes of Coventry and Leyton Orient taking up more column inches in the national newspapers. But anyone watching last night's game live on Sky Sports can't have felt anything other than total respect for the Blackpool fans who continue to stay away - irrespective of whether or not the team is playing a meaningless midweek game, a tie against the league leaders, or as this was, a crucial play-off semi-final. Any prediction that the Blackpool fans would come swarming back as soon as the team started to improve on the pitch have now firmly been put to bed. Just 2,234 home fans were in attendance, with Luton packing the away end with 1,648 supporters. A quick word for their fans too, whose chants wouldn't have gone unnoticed.