Blackpool 2-1 Notts County

Last updated : 27 September 2003 By Rob Davies
Notts were outdone by first half goals from Keith Southern and Neil Danns, with a Mark Stallard penalty sandwiched in between them.

Notts started with an unchanged team from the side that defeated Ipswich so well on Tuesday.
Blackpool adopted the same approach, sticking with the side that defeated Premiership side Birmingham in mid-week.

The game was a strange one with Notts having two 20 minute spells in each half where they dominated and Blackpool dominating the start of both the first and second periods.

Notts started the game very badly and memories of away days at Bristol and Swindon were quickly rekindled.

Keith Southern- Gave his side the lead
Steven Mildenhall wasn't just the busiest out of the two 'keepers, he was the busiest man on the field, it seemed.

Mildenhall saved first from Southern, then from Sheron as the home side dominated the first 10 minutes.

It seemed only a matter of time until Blackpool took the lead and so it proved with just 11 minutes played.

Scott Taylor may well of been offside when he was played through, it was certainly tight, but he headed the ball past Mildenhall and Keith Southern made sure the ball went in as he slid the ball over the line with ease to give Blackpool a deserved lead.

The goal, like so many Notts have conceded this season, could easily have been prevented.

Notts' strikers were struggling to get any touch of the ball, while the defence and midfield were being run ragged by a rampant Blackpool, who were clearly buoyed by their mid-week exploits.

On 19 minutes however, came the moment that, temporarily at least changed the game.

Stal- added another goal to his collection this afternoon
Simon Baldry took a quick throw and full- back Steve Jenkins was needlessly pulled down in the box, to win Notts' second soft penalty within a week.

Mark Stallard (need you ask?) scored the penalty to give him 4 goals in 4 games and more importantly, Notts an equaliser, totally against the run of play.

This totally changed the pattern of play in the game, as the equaliser spurred Notts on to produce some excellent football.

It took Notts just two more minutes to create a chance that could and perhaps should of put them in front.

Clive Platt was the creator, putting Blackpool defender Chris Clarke under great pressure and forcing him into an error which left Mark Stallard one on one with Blackpool 'keeper Lee Jones.

Jones however made the save of the match, turning the ball around the post for a corner, to deny Notts the lead and to deny Stallard his second of the game.

Notts then continued to pressure the home side, with Simon Baldry being roundly booed by home fans it seems for a strong but fair challenge on Gareth Evans, which forced the left back to be withdrawn, Danny Coid replacing him.

Baldry was booed throughout the game, so maybe the Blackpool fans thought it was him, not Jenkins who was brought down for the penalty.

Infact, Blackpool fans annoyed me throughout, chanting Going Bust and blaming everything on the officials.

I clearly wasn't the only one as Steve Parkin got into a heated debate with some of their fans in the Main Stand.

Notts then applied steady pressure for the next 10-15 minutes, looking a different side to the one that played the first 20.

The right wing pairing of Steve Jenkins and Simon Baldry was looking our best outlet going forward, Jenkins proving what a good player he is, when he can stay injury free.

On 40 minutes Notts came close again to taking the lead, this time it was a Ian Baraclough 30 yarder that hit the top of the bar and went over.

Notts were then made to pay for their failure to turn pressure into goals when, against the run of play, Neil Danns put Blackpool back in front.

Danns broke from midfield and with Mildenhall again in no mans land, took it round him and finished impressively.

HALF TIME: Blackpool 2-1 Notts County

Simon Baldry- not the most popular man with the home fans
The second half started in a similar manner to the first, with Blackpool, with momentum back in their favour thanks to Danns' goal, dominating proceedings.

Notts were seeing far more of the ball then at the start of the first half, but were having little impact on Jones' goal.

It took just 6 minutes of the second half for 'Pool to come close.

The impressive Danns' took the free-kick which Mildenhall, who has had better days, missed completely, but Nicholson covered him well and headed the ball behind safely for a corner.

On 55 minutes Blackpool made a surprise change, bringing off Danns, to Notts' relief, for last year's star, Bullock.

Mildenhall then had to make two saves within 2 minutes, both from another impressive midfielder, Richie Wellens.

Notts were having a lot of possesion but not really getting anywhere, in contrast to the home side, who were constantly troubling our defence.

On the hour, Mike Sheron had a good chance to put the home side further in front but shot just wide, as Blackpool looked continually dangerous on the break.

Sheron then had another chance 5 minutes later, but his shot could have been better, as Mildenhall saved at the second attempt.

Notts manager Billy Dearden, on 66 minutes, then decided to try and change things making a double substitution.

Danny Livesey replaced Tony Barras, while Paul Heffernan was brought on for Clive Platt.

Blackpool then put on their big hit-man John Murphy in place of Scott Taylor, to try and put the game beyond any doubt.

Notts were starting to get back in the game and much as they did in the first half, picked up after a slow start.

On 70 minutes Nick Fenton had a golden chance to equalise, but totally mis-kicked Darren Caskey's corner, when just a touch could have led to a goal.

Paul Heffernan was already getting in to the game and had he used a better first touch a equaliser could have been on the cards, Danny Coid covered well.

Notts had four corners in 5 minutes but many were simply headed over the crossbar.

Mildy came close at the end
Ian Richardson then shot narrowly over, when Darren Caskey, who had a good game and was central to a lot of what Notts did, was screaming for a pass.

Notts were applying steady pressure, but the Blackpool defence were equal to it, this time it was Jonathan Douglas who tackled well on Paul Heffernan.

With 10 minutes left it was clear that Notts deserved something from this game but they were having little joy against a strong 'Pool defence.

Both substitutions certainly worked, with Heffernan giving Notts more life upfront and Livesey once again, making the defence look much more solid.

The last 10 minutes followed the pattern of the 10 prior to it, Notts pressuring but creating little.

It all came down to a last minute Darren Caskey corner, but with everyone in the box it was the 'keeper Mildenhall who got on the end of it, but he failed to score his second goal in his career.

FULL TIME: Blackpool 2-1 Notts County

A battling, but ultimately fruitless performance by Notts.
They deserved a point and supporters should take heart from the performance, rather then criticise the result.
Hopefully the players will now be fighting for their places for Chelsea, starting with Wednesday's game against Sheffield Wednesday.