Geordie Al's Groundhopper Scrapbook: BFC 2-1 Blackpool, Saturday 27th April 2019

Sunday, 28 April 2019

BFC 2-1 Blackpool, Saturday 27th April 2019

‘See you in the Championship.’

Looks busier than usual...

It’s getting closer. And thanks to the Mackems and Pompey cancelling each other out, it’s in our hands. Promotion is within touching distance. Luton might draw and we snatch the championship. Or we win by 5 more goals than they win. Or we come 3^rd. Or 4^th. All I know is I’m having difficulty working it out sober, so god knows how I’ll manage come Satdy at Bristol…

East Stand. A queue. Shome mishtake shurely.

For half an hour, we looked very shaky against Blackpool. Passes weren’t coming off, moves were breaking down. Blackpoo had a slick one-touch move which took them 3 on 2 (ruined by the final ball). We looked like strangers. We looked nervous. Then the Oranges went a goal up. Jammy ba5tards, a huge deflection (off Lindsay?) giving Davies no chance. Don’t bottle it now, lads. We’re nearly there.

The teams come out.

Then, 40 mins in, from nothing, Cauley pulls it out of the bag. An odd goal too, as he took the ball on the edge of the box with his back to goal, took it 3 or 4 yards further away and then swivelled and shot. Bottom corner. BOOM! Nerves unjangled. Fans joyous. Players relaxed. Let’s play! Suddenly no-one has any doubts.

'One Daniel Stendel.' See what they've done there?

Half-time comes and it’s a chance to nip under the stand and warm up. Yes, that’s right, f***ing freezing it was. I thought this was the last home game? Anyway, the Oakwell steamroller gets going and Blackpoo are crushed like the cheap tarmac they are. Honestly, we shoulda scored 3 or 4 in that opening 15 of the 2^nd half, but we weren’t complaining – Lindsay’s front post header from McGeehan’s delivery had ended any lingering doubts.

I've not seen the West Stand this packed since...well, ages.

Thereafter, save for a couple of late visits to our box and crosses into our crowd, it was as comfortable as it gets. Davies did save a soft one which somehow dribbled through a crowd of players, but there was still 20 minutes and more to go. No worries. The only team who would bag another was us, but the quality build up play wasn’t matched by the creation of chances. Or when a chance came, Cauley missed.

Onwards and upwards!

*** Mowatt. A beautiful footballer. The Stephen McPhail I actually like.

** Pinnock. A beautiful footballer. The new Paul Futcher. Supporters’ POTY. Well done Ethan.

* Bahre. Official MOTM, I’m bottling it giving him 3^rd, cos he was either a #10 genius, here, there and everywhere….or Luke Berry (here, there and everywhere, in a different way). But what impressed me was the number of times his pressing was the cue for Blackpoo to get rid in a hurry – straight to us.

Londontykes' MOTM: 1. Bahre 2. Mowatt 3. Pinnock

Awaiting the final whistle.

Despatches:

Another faultless performance from Davies.  Anyone would think he’s playing for new contract (worked for Dire!)  Jordan Williams again showed promise at right back, which is a good job if rumours of a Cavare falling out are true.  Pinniloss continues to look solid if unspectacular, while I thought Lindsay had a splendid game, as well as notching the winner.  McGeehan flitted in and out, while Brown was laid out just before half time (replaced by Kiefer, who looked a square peg in a round hole).  I’d have had Cauley in my top 3 too, if he’d had his shooting boots on.  One 20 yarder is not enough for me.

Drink du jour: got a bottle of red for the train to the out-laws in Lichfield.  Celebrations start proper next week.

Away: 600?  ‘Your support is f***ing s***’.  The very nerve of these oranges.  I thought they were buzzing after getting rid of the previous owners?  Obviously buzz doesn’t quite equal numbers.

The Blackpoo hordes.

The Damage:
£17 train (one way)
£3 prog
£2 fanzine
= £22

The Tunes:
Big Balloon (Dutch Uncles)
Let England Shake (PJ Harvey)
Guilty of Love (Unloved)
Halfway Between the Gutter and the Stars (Fatboy Slim)