Scunthorpe United v Blackpool

Tuesday, December 4, 2007

Football League Championship

Scunthorpe United :
Murphy, Youga (sent off 71), Crosby, Butler, Williams, Sparrow, Goodwin, Cork, Hurst, Hayes, Paterson (Forte 88)
Subs not used:
Lillis, Logan, Ameobi, Morris

Blackpool :
Rachubka, Barker, Jackson (Welsh 82), Gorkss, Crainey, Taylor-Fletcher, Fox (Flynn 63), Jorgensen, Hoolahan, Morrell (Parker 63), Burgess
Subs not used:
Evatt, Vernon

SULSESC REPORT

by Neil Wright at The Lord Clyde

SCUNTHORPE United live on Sky TV… an occasion, in recent seasons, that has led to a number of SULSESC fans travelling to a corner of South East London that is forever Glanford Park, so it was that Monday night was no exception.

With United at home to Blackpool, it was to The Lord Clyde in Borough, SE1 that a handful of SULSESC fans descended.

Mssrs. Gray, Dixey, Vaughan, Sumner, Constable and yours truly were joined by new members Jamie Muir and Scott Wallace, adopted member Jim Coulson and, oh yeah…Tracy.

It is hoped also that our newest potential member, accompanied by his father, takes up my invitation to visit our website and add to our numbers.

With United currently on a run of one win in the last 12 games and that coupled with only two days previously being on the wrong side of a 3-0 thumping away at Plymouth, it was with a little trepidation that we all settled down wondering what exactly the evening would have in store.

The game began with the usual early pressure on the home goal, first Morrell and then Gorkss for the visitors failing to capitalise on early mistakes by the United defence within the opening 15 minutes.

Same old, same old, some may think, but it was to be United who took the lead.

A Jim Goodwin free kick found Andy Butler 12 yards out and his left foot drive was too much for the Blackpool ‘keeper and, though he managed to deflect the ball down on to the goal line, the lino ruled that the ball had crossed the line. The remainder of the first-half saw United dominate the play.

A 1-0 scoreline at half-time and everyone feeling quietly confident that we were doing enough to maybe get away with this one.

The back four remained solid throughout the second-half until, alas, on 72 minutes, United found themselves down to 10 men (again!). Kelly b****y Youga, our Charlton loanee, a player who for me has blown hot and cold so far this season, received his second red card in successive games.

Cork moved from midfield to right-back and United found they once again had to weather a storm, trying desperately to cling on to the one-goal lead.

On 87 minutes, it was to be United’s arch nemesis, Kiegan Parker, who was to provide the fatal pass that enabled Michael Flynn to sidefoot the ball into the back of the net, leaving Murphy completely helpless, and Blackpool were level.

The atmosphere in The Lord Clyde changed from elation to gloom and despite Goodwin going close two minutes later, his 30-yard strike going the wrong side of the post, it was a feeling of what might have been as the final whistle blew.

Another draw and another two points dropped. I fear that unless our strikers start to remember what the goal looks like and, more importantly, what purpose it serves our journey in the Promised Land will stretch no further than the beginning of May.

With the visit of QPR on Saturday, a team below us, nothing less than three points surely has to be what Nigel will be demanding? We’re all being very patient but one has to ask the question how long are we expected to wait for this bad run to end.