'Blackpool are in for a long, hard season if they play like this every week': Matt Scrafton's verdict on the Seaisders' crushing Ipswich Town defeat

I don’t believe in good omens, I find them to be nothing more than a load of phoney nonsense. File them next to pre-match superstitions and good luck charms.
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But when Ipswich Town boss Paul Lambert was named League One’s manager of the month on Friday, a gong believed to be a ‘curse’ that all-but guarantees they will lose their next game, I rather foolishly began to believe the hype.

And when I discovered referee Christopher Sarginson, who officiated Blackpool’s last-gasp 2-1 win over the Tractor Boys back in February, was also to take charge of this game, I thought a second league win of the season to turn around Pool’s poor form looked to be nailed on. How wrong I was.

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When you think about it, some of the things we do as football fans to convince ourselves things will get better are utterly bizarre. Desperate times call for desperate measures, I guess.

In the lead-up to this encounter, head coach Neil Critchley said the game against high-flying Ipswich – who had taken 10 points from their opening four games and are expected to challenge for promotion this season – would be a good barometer of their own top six credentials.

If that is indeed the case, the Seasiders can forget about promotion because they’re in for a long, hard season if they play like this every week.

Critchley’s side did, to their credit, start fairly well, pressing Ipswich high up the pitch in the early exchanges and winning the ball back in threatening positions on two or three occasions.

Blackpool have now lost four of their opening five league gamesBlackpool have now lost four of their opening five league games
Blackpool have now lost four of their opening five league games
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But as soon as Ipswich’s first went in after 16 minutes, they crumbled. There was no physicality on show, no aggression and Lambert’s men cruised into a three-goal lead without even having to break sweat.

That’s the frustrating thing. Ipswich are clearly a capable side and should be up there this season, as long as they learn from their mistakes from last term when they fell away before Covid struck.

But they didn’t even perform that well in the first-half, despite holding a three-goal lead at the interval thanks to an array of ruthless finishing having barely got out of first gear.

Their first, which came via a sweetly-struck volley from the unlikely source of right-back Luke Chambers, was their first shot on goal. In fact, it was probably the first time they got into Blackpool’s box.

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Jordan Gabriel, starting his first league game for Pool, was beaten all ends up down Ipswich’s left by the impressive Gwion Edwards, who delivered a deep cross that found its way to Chambers, who stuck it away into the top corner with aplomb.

Just on Chambers, he’s a gnarly old pro who has seen it and done it. The 35-year-old was constantly in the referee’s and linesman’s ear, barking orders and instructions at his teammates throughout. He must be absolutely horrible to play against, and perhaps that’s exactly the sort of player Blackpool are lacking right this minute.

Ipswich got their second on 36 minutes and again it came down their left. Gabriel was pulled out of position, Marvin Ekpiteta was slow to get across and Edwards – scoring the first of his two goals – cut inside before beating Chris Maxwell at his near post.

Blackpool’s misery was compounded on the stroke of half-time when Teddy Bishop added a third, dispossessing Keshi Anderson – who either slipped or was fouled – before being allowed to waltz towards the edge of the penalty area where he then slipped a low shot past Maxwell and into the far corner.

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With only 45 minutes on the clock, the game was as good as done. Blackpool have previously struggled to fight back from a goal down, so they were never realistically going to launch an unlikely comeback.

With Critchley’s harsh half-time words still ringing in their ears, Pool did at least show a bit of fight and pride at the start of the second-half, which is the least you’d expect really.

Gary Madine, starting for the first time in the league this season, steered home a goal back on the hour-mark after Gabriel’s impressive cross – the right-back looked a threat going forwards, just very susceptible going the other way – had only been partially cleared.

Had Blackpool managed to get a second to reduce the deficit to just the one goal, we could have witnessed an exciting finale. But in truth, it never looked likely. There was no wave after wave of attack and you never got the feeling the Seasiders were on the cusp of something special.

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Ipswich, who were solid, unspectacularly efficient while making barely a mistake all game – all the things you’d want from a team that wants to challenge for promotion – put the game to bed for good 10 minutes from time.

Chambers played a clever diagonal ball which sailed over the head of Gabriel, landing at the feet of Edwards who plucked the ball from the sky with an exquisite touch which allowed him to race through on goal where he beat Maxwell for a second time.

Blackpool had a couple of late penalty appeals waved away but by then it was too little, too late. A fourth defeat from just five league games had already been guaranteed long before then.

Critchley must hope his new centre-backs can acclimatise and fit-in quickly because his side, who have conceded seven in their last two league games, were defensively all at sea once again.

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But it’s not just the defence that is the problem. Blackpool’s inexperience, naivety and lack of nous continues to come to the fore. That’s across the board and, slightly worryingly, is unlikely to be a quick fix.