Blackpool were outplayed this afternoon by a fairly ordinary Oldham side, and they now need to address their problems pretty urgently, before they find themselves in the relegation battle. Oddly enough, they were not dominated as badly today as they were by Cardiff, or even Bury, but on those previous occasions they were lucky, while today their good fortune ran out.
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They gifted the opposition their first goal, conceded a well-made second, and never looked remotely capable of coming back into the game after that. Their next two fixtures are against Brighton and Stoke, and on this performance they can expect to get little from either, or from the Cup game at Charlton.
The surprise news for Blackpool this afternoon was that both Murphy and Peyton were out of the squad, not even on the bench. No reason was given, and neither was on the injury list at the end of the game on Saturday. Richard Walker was given his first start following his signing, with Blackpool lining up in their old 4-5-1 formation. Parkinson and Jaszczun were the fullbacks, alongside Hughes and Marshall, with O'Kane, Collins, Hills, Bullock and Simpson in midfield.
Blackpool started with rather more purpose than they have done in their recent matches, and they were clearly keen not to be put under pressure immediately. In fact the first fifteen minutes were probably Blackpool's best spell of the game, with Hills in particular looking lively up the left wing, and a number of chances coming along. Walker saw a header tipped just over the bar, and Hills himself brought a good save from the keeper, low down by his left hand post, from a shot through a crowded box. Simpson could have done better, with a snapshot from a bouncing ball, which he could not keep down below the level of the bar. Martin Bullock did very well to get behind the defence to the by-line, about the only time he managed this all game. However he then spoiled it with a poor cross, which rolled slowly behind everyone and out of the box to safety.
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Oldham were not taking all this lying down, and kept pushing forward, especially up their left, where David Eyres suffered constant abuse from the South Paddock. They had one very near miss, from a corner which was driven along the ground towards the near post. It somehow squeezed under the boots of a defender and an attacker, and bounced across the face of the goal, only about a foot out. Fortunately no-one got a touch on it, and it fell safely beyond the far post. Blackpool also had another let-off, when they allowed an attacker a shot from just outside the box, left of centre. It was just the same spot that Cardiff scored their goal from last week, and this was very nearly a repeat, but it squeezed just outside the far post.
As time went by the balance shifted towards Oldham, with Blackpool still having a reasonable amount of possession, but failing to find a way to get into the box with any real purpose. At the other end the Oldham attacks were dealt with pretty well by the Blackpool defence, with Hughes and Marshall (Man of the Match again) both having good games. Several times Oldham players were given time to line up a shot from distance, but they never produced anything dangerous. A corner from the right led to a header at the far post, but it went straight into Barnes's arms. A little later a cross from the left, along the ground, reached a forward about twelve yards out, in the centre of the box. However two defenders converged on him as he tried to sweep it towards goal on the turn, and the weak shot dribbled to a relieved Barnes. The half ended all square, with Oldham slightly on top.
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When the teams came out for the second half, Blackpool again had a spell of pressure, although they once again failed to get many shots on target. Several high balls to Walker demonstrated how isolated he was - even when he won the ball, there was no one up with him to collect the knock-down. One near miss came when a cross came over from the left, along the ground outside the area. Simpson met it well, striking it with his left foot, but it went just the wrong side of the right hand upright.
As has happened too many times this season, Blackpool were their own worst enemies, with casual errors in defence. This time it was Parkinson, who was under little pressure when he went to make a pass back to Barnes. The ball was poor, and Barnes came chasing out and went into the tackle feet first, but much too late. The referee had no hesitation in giving a penalty, and Barnes must have been relieved that the card shown was only yellow. The penalty was stuck well, and though Barnes guessed correctly and dived to his right, the ball was wide of his hands and into the goal.
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Blackpool did not make any obvious changes in response to this, and were still showing no real energy. They could have had an opportunity when they won a free kick near the corner of the area, on the left. Simpson and Parkinson stood over it, and then the latter took the kick, flighted beyond the far post. Unfortunately all the attackers had run in towards the centre of the box, and the ball sailed harmlessly over everyone and out for a goal kick. You have to wonder whether they practice these things, or if they just make them up as they go along. Ten minutes later Blackpool's lack of urgency was punished again, with a simple but well taken goal. A long cross came over from the Oldham left, beyond the far post, where a forward headed it back into the centre. Here another striker took it on the half volley and blasted it past Barnes, who had no chance.
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Soon after, McMahon made a double substitution. Parkinson went off for Wellens, and Hills for Thompson. The latter move was greeted with rage by the home crowd, who wanted to see O'Kane replaced, not Hills who had provided much of the attacking movement. Hills may well have been tiring, but there was no doubt that O'Kane had been once again mainly ineffective. He went to right back, with Thompson at centre half, allowing Marshall to push up front. Blackpool immediately looked more effective, and with more luck the ball might have dropped in the area to a home player, but as it was each attack was cleared.
Marshall was bustling about up front, putting defenders under pressure and making several good runs up the left. Walker is a skilful player, but is too easily pushed off the ball, while Marshall uses his size well. Ten minutes later MacKenzie replaced Simpson, who had not done much, but who is always likely to produce something unexpected. MacKenzie made one good run, getting round the back on the right, but his ball across bobbled around with no attacker able to get a shot in the right direction, and was cleared. Two or three times a high ball to one of the forwards was knocked down and dropped on the edge of the Oldham box, but there was never anyone coming up from midfield to take advantage. As time ran down the game petered out - Oldham were content to sit back, as it was plain that Blackpool had lost heart and could not launch a sustained attack. Near the end O'Kane got into a scuffle with a defender near the Oldham box, and the crowd chanted for him to be sent off, a first in my experience. I do not understand why McMahon persists with O'Kane in midfield when, as today, Richard Wellens is available on the bench, and the home crowd clearly share my bewilderment. There was little passion left in the game when the referee blew for full time, and the team left to a series of desultory boos.
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I confess myself baffled to understand why Blackpool started this game with a lone striker, in a home fixture which they badly needed to win. Even if Payton and Murphy are really injured, they could have played Marshall up front alongside Walker, with Thompson defending. Marshall is a fine, solid central defender, but if McMahon wants to take risks in pursuit of three points, as he claims, then he should have taken this option. This was the formation which they eventually adopted, and they immediately looked more likely to score. Wellens, too, should not be left on the bench, unless he is seriously short of match fitness, and there was no sign of that when he came on. Bullock also had another ineffective game - he seems reluctant to run at the defence, which is where his main strength lies. All in all a disappointing performance, and as I said at the start, they need to sort things out quickly or the second half of the season will be no fun at all.
Team (4-5-1): Barnes, Parkinson (Wellens 68), Jaszczun, Hughes (capt), Marshall, Bullock, O'Kane, Collins, Simpson (MacKenzie 78), Hills (Thompson 68), Walker
Subs not used: Pullen, Milligan J