Blackpool made it 7 wins out of 7 with their best performance of the season beating 3rd place Bolton 3-1 at home.
Blackpool sensed they had the edge early in the first half with some good attacks down both wings. The whole team was committed in their tackles and regularly dispossessed Bolton before their attacks could get properly started. However the score remained at 0-0 with several Blackpool shots going wide and a couple of short corners going close. Bolton tried to counter-attack using long passes to their forward players, but these were invariably cut out by Blackpool’s solid back-line of Gerrard, Abbott, Latimer and Woodman.
Late in the first half Bolton had a rare short corner and the resulting shot flew up towards the goal, hit the cross-bar, and the rebound was converted. Despite protests from the Blackpool players the goal was allowed. Heads up, the home team attacked with purpose, and following a run down the left from captain Andy Gerrard the ball was delivered to Gareth Gettings just inside the D. He beat one defender and then from a tight angle flicked the ball over the goalkeeper into the back of the net for a sensational goal. Blackpool finished the half strongly but the score remained at 1-1.
Both sides came out strongly for the second half, recognising the importance of the game, but Blackpool still felt they had the upper hand with more attacking play. However Bolton had an outstanding chance to re-take the lead when one of their forwards had got round the goalkeeper with an open goal in front of him, but instead of just pushing the ball in for an easy goal he went for a big hit, allowing just enough time for Dan Woodman to come from behind and put in a magnificent goal-saving tackle.
Woodman injured himself in this encounter and had to be substituted which led to a few positional changes to the Blackpool team. This could have caused problems but the team continued the pressure with some good attacks down the right wing. From one of these attacks the ball was crossed into Kieron Morrow waiting in the D who patiently picked his spot and struck the ball for a certain goal. Shortly after Blackpool scored again from a short corner hit by Man of the Match Andy Gerrard.
Blackpool’s forward line of Andy Mortimer and Dave Morgan were denied several times by the Bolton goalkeeper and the score remained the same with Blackpool becoming more confident of the win. Although Gareth Gettings was sin-binned for a shoulder charge on an opposition player 10 minutes from the end, 10-man Blackpool soaked up the renewed impetus from Bolton and held on to win 3-1.
The win leaves Blackpool 2nd in the league, and another win on Sunday would make them top.