BLACKPOOL 3-0 COVENTRY CITY BY KEV MONKS

Date 22/08/09 At Bloomfield Road Championship

Team
Westwood, Wright, Cranie, Turner, van Aanholt, Cork, Gunnarsson, Clingan, McIndoe, Best, Morrison (Eastwood 61). SNU Clarke, Grandison, Cain, Osbourne, Walker

Blackpool
Rachubka, Eardley, Crainey, Edwards, Taylor-Fletcher (Bangura 80), Southern, Adam (Vaughan 80), Youell, Burgess (Emmanuel-Thomas 60), Ormerod. SNU Gilks, Clarke,Baptiste, Almond.

HT BFC 1-0 CCFC FT BFC 1-0 CCFC ATT 8,239

GOALS Charlie Adam (12 pen), Ben Burgess (58), Gary Taylor-Fletcher (70)

Referee Nigel Miller Booked Adam

Man Of The Match - Stephen Wright took the votes in our car on a day where there were not many contenders.

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1,560 Coventry City supporters wasted time and money travelling as the Sky Blues were easily beaten 3-0 at Blackpool.

Thankfully the rain held off as we got to the building site that is Bloomfield Road. The players took five hours on Friday to get to downmarket seaside resort, whilst we took three hours on a traffic heavy M6 this morning.

Chris Coleman, who had told a City fan that had written to him after the defeat to Swansea, not to bother coming back, made one change bringing in loan signing Jack Cork to replace Issac Osbourne.

By the 12th minute, many of the City fans were wishing they were back in the pub or getting on with their weekend away, as the leader-less Sky Blues conceded a penalty.

Sammy Clingan, who had originally lost possession, brought down Ben Burgess (no Eduardo-esque seeking a penalty here). Charlie Adam put away the resulting penalty and even that early on, it looked the only winners of this match would be the Tangerines.

Ian Holloway's side played simple one touch, give and go football in midfield and to this, City had no answer.

Playing the long ball up to Morrison and Best, marked by two taller centre halves including Cov kid Ian Evatt in windy conditions, clearly was not the tactic to play. When City did keep the ball on the deck, the likes of Stephen Wright and Patrick van Aanholt did some good stuff.

Michael McIndoe also tried to go forward but unfortunately, again it looked like Ray Ranson's refusal to give Aron Gunnarsson the contract extension he wants is playing on his mind as today he looked a pale shadow of himself last season.

They did compete in spells and win corners and one in the 33rd minute, was won by van Aanholt which saw him fire in a low 35 yarder at Rachubka. Blackpool went up the other end and the Dutchman was there to clear.

City were booed by some at the break and thirteen minutes into the second half, a good number of City fans got up and walked out of the open seating area after the home side increased their lead.

Keith Southern got in a header, which hit the cross bar and bounced down for Ben Burgess to tap home.

Some of the departees vented their frustration at the City players, some of whom responded with the same gestures that they had been shown.

Clingan had a shot on target that produced ironic cheers from those still in the away end before Morrison pulled up injured and was replaced by Freddie Eastwood.

In the 68th minute, City had their only real chance when a McIndoe cross to the far post was met by the head of Best and Rachubka got down to make a good save.

Two minutes later and it was well and truly game over. In front of their fans, Blackpool attacked and as the City defence dis-integrated, three forwards were queuing up to shoot. Gary Taylor-Fletcher was the recipient and beat the helpless Westwood.

This provoked even more City fans to leave the ground and seek the sanctuary of the pub or start back down the M55 and M6, whilst others suffered in silence to the bitter end.

Most of the players headed straight for the tunnel whilst Aron Gunnarsson, apologised to the fans. When everyone was off the pitch, Keiren Westwood came over and got a good reception from those in the away end.

The look of disappointment on his face summed up a miserable day.