Blackpool 4 Coventry 0 - 22/12/2007
Blackpool 4 Coventry 0 - 22/12/2007
Blackpool: Paul Rachubka, Stephen Crainey, Ian Evatt, Shaun Barker, Kaspars Gorkss, Claus Jorgensen, Michael Flynn (Andrew Welsh 74), Wes Hoolahan, Andy Morrell (Scott Vernon 83), Gary Taylor-Fletcher (David Fox 45), Ben Burgess,
Subs not used: Bartosz Slusarki, Michael Jackson
Booked: Claus Jorgensen 39
Goals: Wes Hoolahan 28 (pen) Michael Flynn 65, Kaspars Gorkss 72, Scott Vernon 88
Coventry City: Dimitrios Konstantopoulos, David McNamee, Ben Turner, Elliott Ward, Gary Borrowdale, Michael Hughes (Stephen Hughes 69), Michael Doyle, Jay Tabb, Michael Mifsud (Isaac Osbourne 76), Kevin Kyle, Leon Best (Dele Adebola 76),
Subs not used: Andy Marshall, Julian Gray
Booked: David McNamee 41, Michael Doyle 34, Leon Best 74, Jay Tabb 90
Sent off: Kevin Kyle 31
Attendance: 8690
Referee: A Taylor
Teamtalk
Coventry striker Kevin Kyle was sent off after 31 minutes to help Championship rivals Blackpool to a thumping 4-0 victory at Bloomfield Road.
Wes Hoolahan's 28th-minute penalty opened the scoring and soon after Kyle was shown a straight red card for an elbow on Blackpool skipper Shaun Barker.
Second-half strikes from Michael Flynn, Kaspars Gorkss and substitute Scott Vernon allowed the Seasiders to canter to their biggest win of the season.
Simon Grayson's men had lost their previous two Championship outings on home soil but they were vibrant from the outset against the Sky Blues.
Indeed, they should have led after just two minutes when midfielder Flynn collected possession 25 yards from goal and hit a low shot which struck a post.
Six minutes later, Blackpool went close again when Hoolahan produced a left-footed strike from 20 yards which drew a smart stop from Coventry goalkeeper Dimitrios Konstantopoulos.
Coventry threatened fleetingly in the 13th minute when Kyle went close.
A foul by Ian Evatt on Jay Tabb allowed David McNamee to deliver an inswinging free-kick from the left flank which Kyle greeted with a firm header six yards from goal.
However, his effort failed to hit the target and Blackpool breathed again.
Grayson's men always looked the more threatening and in the 19th minute a delightful move almost reaped rich dividends.
The Seasiders worked the ball out to Hoolahan on the left flank and his perfectly-flighted cross was met by the towering figure of striker Ben Burgess, whose header kept Konstantopoulos' hands warm on a bitterly cold afternoon.
Moments layer another Hoolahan cross was met by former Coventry striker Andy Morrell but he could not hit the target from 12 yards.
The breakthrough, however, came shortly before the half-hour mark when Hoolahan fired home from 12 yards after McNamee felled Gorkss in the visitors' 18-yard box.
Kyle's dismissal three minutes later left Coventry a man down with an hour left to play and set the tone for a niggling undercurrent which saw two Coventry players and one from Blackpool booked before half-time.
However, the Seasiders made the extra man pay and doubled their advantage in the 65th minute.
Barker played a long pass through the middle for Flynn to race on and fire coolly into the top corner from 12 yards with a fierce volley.
And with 18 minutes remaining the game was well and truly over as Blackpool claimed their third goal.
David Fox produced a clever cross from the left and Latvian defender Gorkss rose highest to head home his fourth goal of the season.
And substitute Vernon applied the coup de grace two minutes from time when he fired a right-footed shot into the bottom corner from 18 yards.
CCFC
There was no Christmas cheer for the Sky Blues as Blackpool ran out deserved winners at Bloomfield Road.
Iain Dowie's men struggled to reproduce their excellent away form this season and were on the back foot within 28 minutes when Wes Hoolahan converted a penalty.
Kevin Kyle was given a straight red card for an elbow on home skipper Shaun Barker two minutes later.
The home side doubled their lead on the hour mark as Michael Flynn fired past Dimi Konstantopoulos before Kaspars Gorkss powered a header into the top corner.
Substitute Scott Vernon compounded the Sky Blues' misery two minutes from time when he raced clear and slotted home.
The return of Kyle was the only change to the side which battled to a 1-1 draw at Southampton last weekend as Leon McKenzie failed to shrug off a knee problem.
City survived an early scare when Flynn's 25-yard free-kick took a deflection and cannoned back off the post.
Skipper Michael Doyle then fired a set-piece from a similar distance over the bar while Kyle headed wide from a teasing free-kick from David McNamee.
Former Sky Blue Andy Morrell was proving a nuisance upfront for the Seasiders and went agonisingly close to opening the scoring midway through the half when he headed Hoolahan's left-wing cross narrowly wide from eight yards.
Good vision from Michael Hughes then found Jay Tabb in behind the home defence on the right but his cut-back was hacked away by Ian Evatt with Kyle and Michael Mifsud in close attendance.
Blackpool had appeals for a penalty waved away by referee Anthony Taylor when Ward appeared to push Morrell just inside the area.
But the official was in no doubt moments later as Hungarian defender Gorkss was brought down by McNamee and Hoolahan confidently sent Dimi Konstantopoulos the wrong way from the spot with a low drive to the keeper's left.
Wes Hoolahan celebrates after sending Dimi Konstantopoulos the wrong way from the penalty spot.
Things then went from bad to worse for the visitors on the half-hour when Kyle was dismissed with Taylor claiming the Scottish striker caught Barker with his elbow.
A good save from Konstantopoulos kept out the influential Morrell on the stroke of half-time before a good block from Elliott Ward denied the striker five minutes into the second period.
Barker should have doubled the home side's advantage from Hoolahan's resultant corner but he headed wide despite being allowed a free header in the area.
An unusually quiet Mifsud saw two efforts blocked and Leon Best's deflected drive was comfortably held by Blackpool 'keeper Paul Rachukba as City looked for a response.
Their task was made all the harder in the 65th minute, though, when Flynn latched onto a long ball from Evatt just inside the area and planted a powerful shot beyond Konstantopoulos.
The result was put beyond doubt in the 72nd minute when a close-range header from Gorkss skimmed the head of Gary Borrowdale before flying into the top corner.
Substitute Scott Vernon then found himself in behind the City back-line and coolly slotted the ball past Konstantopoulos from eight yards to complete the rout.
4thegame
Blackpool celebrated manager Simon Grayson's decision to sign a new two-year contract by securing their most comprehensive win of the season.
It was the first time the Seasiders have scored four goals in the Championship this season, and it could have been many more.
Coventry were a typical Iain Dowie outfit playing hard physical football which soon got them on the wrong side of referee Anthony Thompson.
On 31 minutes he red carded City striker Kevin Kyle for a crude off-the-ball elbow on Blackpool skipper Shaun Barker.
Four more Coventry players were to follow their way into the referee's book for yellow cards for similar fouls.
A rash challenge on 28 minutes by David McNamee took out Kaspars Gorkss from behind and the referee awarded a penalty which Wes Hoolahan converted for his sixth goal of the season.
Even though Hoolahan and Michael Flynn were pulling the strings in midfield, it took a long time for Blackpool to finally make the game safe.
Time after time they fell foul of the Coventry offside trap before it was finally sprung in the 65th minute. A long ball by Barker was well controlled by Flynn who turned nicely to score from 15 yards.
Blackpool's third swiftly followed with Gorkss heading home well from Hoolahan's corner. Substitute Scott Vernon made it four on 88 minutes after a mistake by McNamee.
Coventry's problems were underlined by the fact that they didn't force Blackpool keeper Paul Rachubka into one meaningful save all afternoon.
Afterwards City manager Dowie said: "That was our worst performance I've seen.
"We shall have to see what sort of character the dressing room has after that.
"We gave too many goals away just as we were beginning to get on top. I shall be looking at the video to see whether or not to appeal my players' sending off."
Blackpool: Paul Rachubka, Stephen Crainey, Ian Evatt, Shaun Barker, Kaspars Gorkss, Claus Jorgensen, Michael Flynn (Andrew Welsh 74), Wes Hoolahan, Andy Morrell (Scott Vernon 83), Gary Taylor-Fletcher (David Fox 45), Ben Burgess,
Subs not used: Bartosz Slusarki, Michael Jackson
Booked: Claus Jorgensen 39
Goals: Wes Hoolahan 28 (pen) Michael Flynn 65, Kaspars Gorkss 72, Scott Vernon 88
Coventry City: Dimitrios Konstantopoulos, David McNamee, Ben Turner, Elliott Ward, Gary Borrowdale, Michael Hughes (Stephen Hughes 69), Michael Doyle, Jay Tabb, Michael Mifsud (Isaac Osbourne 76), Kevin Kyle, Leon Best (Dele Adebola 76),
Subs not used: Andy Marshall, Julian Gray
Booked: David McNamee 41, Michael Doyle 34, Leon Best 74, Jay Tabb 90
Sent off: Kevin Kyle 31
Attendance: 8690
Referee: A Taylor
Teamtalk
Coventry striker Kevin Kyle was sent off after 31 minutes to help Championship rivals Blackpool to a thumping 4-0 victory at Bloomfield Road.
Wes Hoolahan's 28th-minute penalty opened the scoring and soon after Kyle was shown a straight red card for an elbow on Blackpool skipper Shaun Barker.
Second-half strikes from Michael Flynn, Kaspars Gorkss and substitute Scott Vernon allowed the Seasiders to canter to their biggest win of the season.
Simon Grayson's men had lost their previous two Championship outings on home soil but they were vibrant from the outset against the Sky Blues.
Indeed, they should have led after just two minutes when midfielder Flynn collected possession 25 yards from goal and hit a low shot which struck a post.
Six minutes later, Blackpool went close again when Hoolahan produced a left-footed strike from 20 yards which drew a smart stop from Coventry goalkeeper Dimitrios Konstantopoulos.
Coventry threatened fleetingly in the 13th minute when Kyle went close.
A foul by Ian Evatt on Jay Tabb allowed David McNamee to deliver an inswinging free-kick from the left flank which Kyle greeted with a firm header six yards from goal.
However, his effort failed to hit the target and Blackpool breathed again.
Grayson's men always looked the more threatening and in the 19th minute a delightful move almost reaped rich dividends.
The Seasiders worked the ball out to Hoolahan on the left flank and his perfectly-flighted cross was met by the towering figure of striker Ben Burgess, whose header kept Konstantopoulos' hands warm on a bitterly cold afternoon.
Moments layer another Hoolahan cross was met by former Coventry striker Andy Morrell but he could not hit the target from 12 yards.
The breakthrough, however, came shortly before the half-hour mark when Hoolahan fired home from 12 yards after McNamee felled Gorkss in the visitors' 18-yard box.
Kyle's dismissal three minutes later left Coventry a man down with an hour left to play and set the tone for a niggling undercurrent which saw two Coventry players and one from Blackpool booked before half-time.
However, the Seasiders made the extra man pay and doubled their advantage in the 65th minute.
Barker played a long pass through the middle for Flynn to race on and fire coolly into the top corner from 12 yards with a fierce volley.
And with 18 minutes remaining the game was well and truly over as Blackpool claimed their third goal.
David Fox produced a clever cross from the left and Latvian defender Gorkss rose highest to head home his fourth goal of the season.
And substitute Vernon applied the coup de grace two minutes from time when he fired a right-footed shot into the bottom corner from 18 yards.
CCFC
There was no Christmas cheer for the Sky Blues as Blackpool ran out deserved winners at Bloomfield Road.
Iain Dowie's men struggled to reproduce their excellent away form this season and were on the back foot within 28 minutes when Wes Hoolahan converted a penalty.
Kevin Kyle was given a straight red card for an elbow on home skipper Shaun Barker two minutes later.
The home side doubled their lead on the hour mark as Michael Flynn fired past Dimi Konstantopoulos before Kaspars Gorkss powered a header into the top corner.
Substitute Scott Vernon compounded the Sky Blues' misery two minutes from time when he raced clear and slotted home.
The return of Kyle was the only change to the side which battled to a 1-1 draw at Southampton last weekend as Leon McKenzie failed to shrug off a knee problem.
City survived an early scare when Flynn's 25-yard free-kick took a deflection and cannoned back off the post.
Skipper Michael Doyle then fired a set-piece from a similar distance over the bar while Kyle headed wide from a teasing free-kick from David McNamee.
Former Sky Blue Andy Morrell was proving a nuisance upfront for the Seasiders and went agonisingly close to opening the scoring midway through the half when he headed Hoolahan's left-wing cross narrowly wide from eight yards.
Good vision from Michael Hughes then found Jay Tabb in behind the home defence on the right but his cut-back was hacked away by Ian Evatt with Kyle and Michael Mifsud in close attendance.
Blackpool had appeals for a penalty waved away by referee Anthony Taylor when Ward appeared to push Morrell just inside the area.
But the official was in no doubt moments later as Hungarian defender Gorkss was brought down by McNamee and Hoolahan confidently sent Dimi Konstantopoulos the wrong way from the spot with a low drive to the keeper's left.
Wes Hoolahan celebrates after sending Dimi Konstantopoulos the wrong way from the penalty spot.
Things then went from bad to worse for the visitors on the half-hour when Kyle was dismissed with Taylor claiming the Scottish striker caught Barker with his elbow.
A good save from Konstantopoulos kept out the influential Morrell on the stroke of half-time before a good block from Elliott Ward denied the striker five minutes into the second period.
Barker should have doubled the home side's advantage from Hoolahan's resultant corner but he headed wide despite being allowed a free header in the area.
An unusually quiet Mifsud saw two efforts blocked and Leon Best's deflected drive was comfortably held by Blackpool 'keeper Paul Rachukba as City looked for a response.
Their task was made all the harder in the 65th minute, though, when Flynn latched onto a long ball from Evatt just inside the area and planted a powerful shot beyond Konstantopoulos.
The result was put beyond doubt in the 72nd minute when a close-range header from Gorkss skimmed the head of Gary Borrowdale before flying into the top corner.
Substitute Scott Vernon then found himself in behind the City back-line and coolly slotted the ball past Konstantopoulos from eight yards to complete the rout.
4thegame
Blackpool celebrated manager Simon Grayson's decision to sign a new two-year contract by securing their most comprehensive win of the season.
It was the first time the Seasiders have scored four goals in the Championship this season, and it could have been many more.
Coventry were a typical Iain Dowie outfit playing hard physical football which soon got them on the wrong side of referee Anthony Thompson.
On 31 minutes he red carded City striker Kevin Kyle for a crude off-the-ball elbow on Blackpool skipper Shaun Barker.
Four more Coventry players were to follow their way into the referee's book for yellow cards for similar fouls.
A rash challenge on 28 minutes by David McNamee took out Kaspars Gorkss from behind and the referee awarded a penalty which Wes Hoolahan converted for his sixth goal of the season.
Even though Hoolahan and Michael Flynn were pulling the strings in midfield, it took a long time for Blackpool to finally make the game safe.
Time after time they fell foul of the Coventry offside trap before it was finally sprung in the 65th minute. A long ball by Barker was well controlled by Flynn who turned nicely to score from 15 yards.
Blackpool's third swiftly followed with Gorkss heading home well from Hoolahan's corner. Substitute Scott Vernon made it four on 88 minutes after a mistake by McNamee.
Coventry's problems were underlined by the fact that they didn't force Blackpool keeper Paul Rachubka into one meaningful save all afternoon.
Afterwards City manager Dowie said: "That was our worst performance I've seen.
"We shall have to see what sort of character the dressing room has after that.
"We gave too many goals away just as we were beginning to get on top. I shall be looking at the video to see whether or not to appeal my players' sending off."
posted by SkyBlueSnowy at 11:47 pm
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