Matt Scrafton column: Blackpool shouldn't be fazed by Hull City and Brighton trips

Unless you’re matched with one of the Premier League’s so-called ‘big six’, FA Cup draws can often feel a little underwhelming.
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On the face of it, a lengthy trip to East Sussex to take on a Premier League struggler might not seem like the most glamorous of ties.

However, Blackpool have every chance of causing another upset in the fourth round against a Brighton and Hove Albion side that laboured past Newport County at the weekend.

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Graham Potter’s players, who have only won two of their 17 league games so far this season and sit just above the relegation zone, required penalties to beat the League Two side having drawn 1-1 after extra time.

CJ Hamilton celebrates his stoppage-time winner against Hull City last monthCJ Hamilton celebrates his stoppage-time winner against Hull City last month
CJ Hamilton celebrates his stoppage-time winner against Hull City last month

The Seasiders proved against West Brom on Saturday that they should have nothing to fear taking on a top flight side, especially one languishing at the wrong end of the table.

Neil Critchley’s men were excellent throughout and were more than a match for Sam Allardyce’s outfit.

In fact they deserved to win the third round tie during normal time, only to be pegged back on both occasions they took the lead.

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Even in extra time, Blackpool were the side pushing to find the winner. You wouldn’t have known there are 38 places between the two sides in the football pyramid.

It shouldn’t come as a huge surprise though. Pool have shown plenty of times this season that they’re more suited to playing the bigger and better sides, whether that be Liverpool and Everton in pre-season, Stoke City in the Carabao Cup, West Brom in the FA Cup or the likes of Portsmouth, Peterborough United and Hull City in the league.

The Seasiders are at their best when they’re able to defend deep and soak up pressure before unleashing their pace on the counter-attack, as they did for both of their goals against the Baggies last weekend.

With so much space to exploit on the break, all it takes is two or three pinpoint passes and Blackpool can find themselves through on goal with only the goalkeeper to beat. If the final ball and final shot is there, the Seasiders can run riot.

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Against the likes of Shrewsbury Town and Bristol Rovers, Blackpool don’t have the luxury of being able to play in that manner.

Instead, the onus is on them to dominate possession and create opportunities against a deep and crowded defensive block.

Overcoming that particular hurdle has been their major downfall this season.

It is that paradox which Blackpool need to find a solution for if they’re to enjoy a strong second half to the campaign and compete at the business end of the table.

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If they can find the consistency to perform well against the better sides and grind out results against the ones in mid-table and at the bottom, then there’s nothing to stop them from closing the gap to the League One play-offs.

There’s been a bizarre contradiction in Blackpool’s recent league displays, where their better, more eye-catching results against the aforementioned promotion contenders come when they’ve actually created fewer opportunities.

Yet in the games they’ve lost against sides like Plymouth Argyle and Bristol Rovers, they have somehow transpired to come away empty-handed despite creating numerous clear-cut chances.

As I’ve written several times this season, you can do so much right in terms of tactics, approach and picking the right personnel, only to be let down by the fine margins or fortune going against you.

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This weekend it’s another opportunity for Pool to prove themselves against one of the division’s promotion contenders as they make the trip across the Pennines to Hull.

Grant McCann’s side are enjoying a strong campaign, sitting in second place after 20 games.

With the size of the club and their recent pedigree, that might not come as a huge surprise to many observers.

Given the manner in which they were relegated from the Championship last season, winning just one of their last 20 games having previously been in the top half of the table, it’s an achievement that shouldn’t be underestimated.

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The Seasiders have already proved themselves against the Tigers this season, having claimed a dramatic, last-gasp 3-2 win against them at Bloomfield Road last month.

Blackpool were magnificent on the night and ought to have wrapped up the points earlier on, but the nature of CJ Hamilton’s stoppage-time winner and the celebrations that followed – albeit in front of an empty Bloomfield Road – were a highlight of the campaign so far.

If Critchley’s side can complete a double over the league’s promotion favourites, that would send out a message to the rest of the division that the Seasiders mean business.

If Blackpool do pick up a positive result at the KCOM Stadium, they must follow it up in midweek against Northampton Town – a side just two points off the bottom four – with another victory.

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It isn’t any good raising your game and beating the best sides, whether it be in league or cup, only to struggle and slump to disappointing defeats against the teams at the bottom.

That’s got to be the challenge for the Seasiders now.

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