The Cobblers were without three key players going into the game with Bradley Johnson serving a suspension, Chris Doig injured and a late illness keeping Andy Holt out of the team. Mark Hughes was made captain while Brett Johnson, Sean Dyche and Sam Aiston coming in for starts. Simon Cox once again partnered Kenny Deuchar up front after an impressive Easter.
In the opening exchanges, Ryan Gilligan had a couple of efforts on goal, testing on-loan keeper Joe Hart in the first minute before shooting over from a Johnson pull back. Mark Bunn had a routine save to make from a Williams free kick at the other end before Simon Cox volleyed over for the Cobblers.
After an open start to the game, it fell a bit quiet until 25 minutes when a David Hunt corner was headed towards goal by Mark Hughes but Hart held well. Sam Aiston then had a run and shot saved before the home side took the ascendancy. Referee Mr Russell turned down a penalty claim for the Tangerines and then on 39 minutes Andy Morrell crossed but Claus Jorgenson’s header sailed wide.
The Cobblers clawed their way back into the game just before half time and were rewarded when good build up work by Aiston and Crowe ended with the opening goal. Crowe’s cross was sidefooted home by Cox for his second gaol in three games! We ended the half well and probably didn’t want the whistle but either way it was the Cobblers who had the lead on the break.
After the break, it all started to go horribly wrong. Blackpool came out strong and had an equaliser within five minutes of the restart. Chris Brandon, a half time substitute, hit a right footed shot past Bunn to level the scores and never looked back. After Keigan Parker shot over the bar, the Tangerines really came into the ascendancy and forced their way forward. Sean Dyche handballed inside the area and Wes Hoolahan slotted the penalty into the top corner to completely turn the game around within ten minutes of the second half!
A free kick on the edge of the Cobblers penalty area was shot over by Parker before the Cobblers had a chance to level. Brett Johnson got down the left hand side and his cross just missed the onrushing Kenny Deuchar at the back post.
Johnson then picked up an injury following his burst down the flank and hobbled off, leaving us temporarily down to ten men. Blackpool took advantage and made it 3-1, Brandon scoring his second of the game at the back post where Johnson would have been!
Jordan Robertson replaced Johnson before the Cobblers had what turned out to be their final chance of the game, Mark Hughes sending an overhead kick over the bar. Pedj Bojic replaced Sam Aiston late on while Andy Kirk came on for Cox but the Cobblers misery was compounded when Dychey’s nightmare afternoon came to a head as he bundled the ball into his own net!
Jason Crowe hobbled off late on and we had no subs left so had to play the final few minutes with ten men.
Blackpool could have made it five in stoppage time but Jorgenson’s header deflected wide but it certainly didn’t matter as the home side picked up three vital points to their promotion charge. From what I heard from the radio commentary, we seemed pretty safe at half-time but Blackpool came out of the traps in the second half and showed their class.
The result leaves us in 15th place in League One and we should finally confirm safety next weekend one way or the other. Good luck to Blackpool who sounded like they thoroughly deserved their win in the second half!
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