Burscough 0 Blackpool 4

Blackpool fielded a strong team in the opening 45 minutes at a hot Victoria Park where the pitch was quite hard and the grass a little long but otherwise in excellent condition. Pool played towards the South end of the ground and with Ollie constantly firing off instructions its clear that what he stated last evening to push his men right out to the wings is being put into effect. Danny 'Cold' as he was announced was being used out on the flank with Gary Taylor-Fletcher working in front of him. On the left hand side Billy Clark was pushed out wide with Burgess ahead of him up front.

The team eventually adapted to the new format well the ball was swept out of defence quickly and whilst the very fit looking Southern did what he does best by chasing down and winning back the ball he also fed the wings quickly or handed the ball to David Vaughan and Vaughan was able to pick out men at will with some great quality distribution and well up to the standard Ollie was screaming out for.

At times it was good to watch - quick passing football which was released to the wide men early. Ollie did change it around slightly and moved people about to try new players in positions. GTF's first goal (See picture alongside) was a little fotunate when he darted into the box and attacked the ball as the keeper came out he managed to loop the ball over the keeper into the net.

Pool constantly created chances and kept up a decent pace in the heat and GTF rounded off a lovely solo run fom the edge of the box across the penalty area before cooly slotting past the keeper for the Seasiders second of the afternoon.

Evatt and Baptiste looked very comfortable at the back and where never really troubled along with keeper Chubbs.

Ollie took time after chatting at length with Ormerod and some of the second-half replacements to sign kids shirts and chat to fans before the second-half got under way.

The difference between the two teams was particular noticeable in teh second half where the quality wasn't quite there - Nardiello played out wide along with Brett at times but the ball was slower to arrive although Langley worked hard in the middle. Barker possibly playing his last game in a tangerine shirt and Edwards dealt with everything at the back and Joe Martin worked hard.
exceptionally hard.

Ormerod scored that typical classic Brett goal after hanging out wide he anticipated the ball arriving from dstance down the line and then he cut inside and he had all the time in the world to place his low shot past the keeper.

Brett was later perhaps guilty of hesitating as the ball fell in front of him in the box and was cleared by the keeper before he had time to bury a second goal for himself. Nardiello chased the ball well but unlike the first half where the accuracy wasn't as good I thought he should have anticipated the ball better on a number of occasions - if he can't do that against the type opposition we were playing today how is he going to cope in the Championship.

It was the only disappointing aspect of a good all round performance by many of the Pool side at least Ollie loooked pleased at the end.

Blackpool's fourth right on the whistle was claimed by the fans as a Nardiello goal and he smiled on his way back to the half-way line but the cross clearly hit a Burscough defender before beating the keeper..