Questioning the narrative, dubious refereeing calls and making your own luck: Matt Scrafton's verdict on Blackpool's frustrating defeat to Doncaster Rovers

The saying goes that perception is 99 per cent of reality.
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The narrative tells us that Blackpool somehow managed to snatch defeat from the jaws of victory on Tuesday night.

Observers will say it was a typical game of two halves; Blackpool dominating the opening 45 minutes before Doncaster hit back in the second period. I was guilty of it myself, writing exactly that in my match report.

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But is that true? If you judge the encounter solely on goals, then yes, it fits the narrative perfectly.

But I’m a little troubled by the seemingly unchallenged belief that Blackpool were woeful in the second-half, because I don’t think they were.

Having blown Doncaster away in the first period and deservedly boasting a two-goal lead at the break, the Seasiders were left utterly shell-shocked when the home side took just eight minutes of the second half to draw themselves level.

That’s despite Darren Moore’s side being successfully blunted by Blackpool during the opening half. Despite enjoying the lion’s share of possession, 60 per cent of it, in fact, Doncaster did very little with it other than pass it between their goalkeeper - former Pool loanee Joe Lumley - and their two centre halves.

Blackpool were left to rue a number of the referee's decisionsBlackpool were left to rue a number of the referee's decisions
Blackpool were left to rue a number of the referee's decisions
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That’s not because Doncaster are a bad side, far from it. I was hugely impressed with them despite being firm in my belief that Blackpool ought to have won. It’s easy to see why they’ve already beaten Portsmouth, Ipswich Town, Charlton Athletic and Lincoln City this season.

They play patiently out from the back and look to play through the thirds. They have players in midfield, skipper Ben Whiteman in particular, who can hurt you with their incisive passing.

But Blackpool had done their homework and had completely negated their threat. For the majority of the first-half they were in cruise control.

It sounds utterly ridiculous even typing this but, other than the three goals they scored, Doncaster didn’t produce a single other clear-cut opportunity all evening. That’s how successful Pool were at stopping them.

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The crazy eight-minute period completely changed the course of the game but it mustn’t be forgotten that Blackpool soon composed themselves and grew back into the game.

They might not have hit the same heights as they did in the first-half but let’s not pretend Doncaster were bashing down the door before their winner 15 minutes from time, which came from the penalty spot.

This was a game between two very good sides. A draw perhaps would have been the fairest result but if one team edged it, it was certainly Blackpool.

Unfortunately things just didn’t fall in their favour, and that’s where I’m left to reflect on the performance of referee Ross Joyce.

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I’m usually at pains not to criticise officials. Their job is a thankless task at the best of times and the abuse they get, seemingly accepted for some odd reason, is often bang out of order. But, it has to be said, he made three or four highly contentious decisions.

The first big call he had to make came after just 10 minutes and it actually went in Blackpool’s favour, Joyce pointing to the spot after Gary Madine had been shoved to the ground as he contested a cross with Brad Halliday.

In the interest of fairness, I thought it was soft, but you can see why he gave it. Jerry Yates certainly didn’t complain, as he sent Lumley the wrong way to give Pool an early lead with his fifth goal in his last six outings.

Blackpool, in complete control from the off, then squandered a couple of chances before eventually doubling their lead with a scintillating counter-attacking goal shortly before the interval.

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Yates was involved again, carving Doncaster’s defence wide open with a clever ball that set Sullay Kaikai free, just seconds after Blackpool had been defending on the edge of their own box.

Kaikai went through one-on-one with Lumley and looked odds on to score, but had to take the ball around the keeper after a heavy touch. He was subsequently brought down, but thankfully CJ Hamilton was there to calmly pick out the roof of the empty net.

At the time Pool were two goals to the good, so they didn’t care. But shouldn’t the referee, who did play advantage, at least have booked Lumley for bringing down a player when he was clear through on goal and about to tap home into an empty net?

The Seasiders didn’t complain at the time, but they certainly did three minutes into the second-half when Doncaster pulled a goal back.

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The hosts, who deserve credit for making a tactical change at the break, while Neil Critchley left it too late to make changes, worked the ball back into the danger area following a partially cleared corner and Cameron John was there to steer a first-time effort into the far corner.

Pool’s players were adamant the crosser Josh Sims was in an offside position but the goal stood and the momentum swung the way of the Donny.

Inexplicably, the hosts were level just five minutes later, although this time there wasn’t a great deal Pool could complain about.

They were carved wide open, as substitute Taylor Richards provided a teasing ball over the heads of the two centre-backs which Reece James flicked home smartly.

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At this point you would expect Doncaster to smell blood and produce wave after wave of attack, but it never materialised. Instead, Blackpool got back into their rhythm and looked the side more likely to score the game’s fifth goal.

Unfortunately, that’s not how it transpired. Instead, Doncaster were awarded a penalty in the 76th-minute, Kenny Dougall the man penalised for a desperate late lunge on Matt Smith. Dougall appeared to get a foot on the ball, but he gave the referee - who took an age to deliberate over the decision - another big call to make. Whiteman subsequently tucked it away.

Despite only three minutes of stoppage time being indicated, an utterly bizarre call considering there had been three goals and six subs made, there was still time left for more drama.

A ball played into the Doncaster box was blatantly handled by Halliday. Had he missed it, substitute Keshi Anderson was awaiting behind him ready to surge through on goal.

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The referee saw it, of course he did, he had a great view, but he opted not to award a third spot kick of the game. Blackpool’s players and staff were utterly furious at this point, but their appeals fell on deaf ears.

It’s so frustrating that you can do so much right, only to have the rug pulled out from under your feet through no real fault of your own. But that’s football.

You create your own luck in this game and perhaps Blackpool ought to have managed the game better earlier on. Leading 2-0 at the break, you really ought to come away with a point as a bare minimum. But we live and learn.