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This was an awful City performance, as shocking as some of the performances witnessed towards the end of Alan Cork's reign. But it's been coming, I can only think City's players became complacent after their last away display at Wigan where they didn't really turn up but still got a point. Maybe they thought the same would happen again, not a chance that it ever would.
In a town (in)famous for its less than modern image, animals on beaches and huge fairground, it was Cardiff City who were tacky, donkey-like on the pitch and the fans who splashed the cash to be taken for a big ride. Those who spent hard earned money to witness that are due an apology for that display.
City slumped to their first away defeat in more than 8 months (an incredible record which had to end sometime) and 2nd league defeat in 27 games under Alan Cork. and got exactly what they deserved, nothing. It has been coming, we got lucky at Wigan a fortnight ago playing poorly, this time we really did get what we deserved, nothing.
The best atmosphere of the day was probably in the town's bars before and after the game - a special pre-match mention goes to The Tower Lounge with a smell like a fish market (less said about that, the better), packed with girls in police or school outfits (sadly, half of them looked like your mum or aunty!) and a couple of hundred City fans before the game and a d.j. who had us ayatollahing after every song.
Pre-match activity had taken its toll on supporters, may of whom needed an afternoon siesta. The game on the pitch allowed them 2 hours sleep.
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The third side of the ground (pitch length) was derelict and closed and that left the City end. It was Blackpool's main stand, behind a goal, when we last visited but now it's allocated to us and, boy oh, were we privileged. If you remember how the Canton Stand was 20-30 years ago, it was like that ... except much worse. The builders must have used the leftovers of their corrugated iron and wood to build it. There was so much wood in the stand that it had fire officers appointed in there, messages over the tannoy telling fans not to smoke and stewards trying to spot anyone have a sly one. For a change, there was more weed on the floor on the stand/terrace than being smoked in Blackpool! Toilets had a signal door entrance/exit, the door the same size as one in your house, which made the half-time pee interesting.
But worst of all, they've moved the 25 yards away for the ground developments elsewhere so the main view from our end was 20 yards of lawn behind the goal. Kav powered a 25 yarder high and wide at one point and the ball still didn't reach us!
City took almost 2,000 fans, most in the stand but some in a terrace in front of us, from the noise we made, you would have thought it was 20 for most of the game.
The match itself was one to forget (and with the alcohol I consumed over the weekend, that's just about what I did too). The fact of the matter is that Blackpool deserved it but only had 3 worthy efforts on goal but it was 3 more than City. I can't remember the last game where we failed to muster a single shot to trouble an opposing keeper.
City's opening 45 minute display was the worst I have seen for a long, long time. They started slowly and got slower. Blackpool aren't a bad side but not as good as City but they went about their job enthusiastically, applied themselves and wanted it more. And that's what hurts most about this defeat, we never really attempted to match and seemed too content just going along at half-pace. They could have been slightly forgiven if they were passing well but move after move broke down with players arguing amongst themselves several times.
A key problem at the moment seems to be City's midfield engine room. In the past 4 games, Crewe more than matched them, Wigan overpowered the, they never made any impact against Wycombe and Blackpool outthought and outfought them. Andy Legg is becoming increasingly isolated, Whalley looks the part at time and goes anonymous at other, Kav looks more interested but isn't firing and Willie Boland, apparently struggling with an injury, has shown a dip in his superb form.
With midfield misfiring, Blackpool were able to assume control and, by and large, keep it while Earnie and Thorne never had a chance to show what they can do and use their talents, they were starved of service.
City held on in the first half and would have been relieved to turn around at 0-0. That they achieved it had more to do with luck and bad Blackpool finishing.
The key chances were when the coasting Kav was robbed well inside his own half, Blackpool's player then ghosted past an ineffective Prior challenge and but then shot straight at Alexander when it was probably easier to score. Alexander came to City's rescue several time but mostly it was shots straight at hit at him (thank you Blackpool). City's biggest let off was when Murphy skipped past Gabbidon (one of the few players to emerge with some credit), slip a pass to Hills and receive a return ball straight in front of goal ... he completely missed it, it was that sort of game.
H/T: Cold, miserable and fed up Blackpool 0 City 0
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Rhys Weston, trying to inject life into City, broke on the right and tried to slip the ball past a defender before crossing. The defender blocked him, came away with the ball and switched it to the right and Paul Dalglish (son of Kenny).
Croft and Leggy both running forward were isolated and just Prior was left at the back marking Murphy. As the ball was switched again by Dalglish, Murphy let it go and Prior stuck a leg out and missed it. With no cover behind Weston who was running back, HILLS (best player on the park) was clear on the left. His shot across goal was no danger but Prior tried to block it, the ball deflected off him and left Alexander wrong-footed and stranded as the ball flew low inside his near post. That's how the lopsided 4-4-2 with an overloaded left side can be fully exposed and exploited.
The goal was officially credited to Hills but his shot was going nowhere. It could, maybe should, have been classified as a Spencer Prior own goal. But Hills wanted it, Prior didn't, that's what decides goalscorers these days.
City fans, who started to make some noise, at the start of their half, nodded off again saving themselves for the night. It was too cold, too drab and too awful to be excited anyway. The game got niggly, two players booked in quick succession for fouls on Leggy which annoyed the home support but were deserved. After a few weeks with some justified moans about referees, it should be said that Premier ref Mike Riley was very good, you never noticed him.
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City did raise their game and exert pressure but Blackpool looked comfortbale and you never felt a goal was coming at any time. Earnie blazed an effort wide before Andy Campbell (for Thorne) was thrown on as the last gamble with 10 minutes left and proceeded to have, and miss, City's best chance all afternoon very late on as a deflection fell invitingly to him in the area but he snatched his shot wide. It summed up the game and City's performance.
At final whistle, the players came to our end to applaud us. Have they got a death wish? They don't always come to us when they win but now acknowledge us when they lose after one of their worst performances for months! Some applauded them back, others (myself included) didn't think they deserved applause so didn't, a few gave them some stick and let them know what they felt about it all..
A game to forget but it should be put into context as we have been let down much this season and defeats will happen, it's just the manner of this one that leaves a bitter taste. We didn't lose to a better side or a really good team, we were beaten simply because they were hungrier than us and it showed. We also just have to accept that Blackpool away is our biggest bogey and nightmare, 18 visits since 1968 have produced 4 draws and 14 defeats.
The biggest blessing was our bad result came on a day when many others had a bad one too so we only fell to 2nd, it could have been a lot worse. City also have a run of games - Tranmere home, Mansfield away, Peterborough home, Barnsley away - where the damage done this weekend should quickly be corrected. It has to be.
Within half-hour of final whistle and City fans packed in The Manchester pub. Some brave, foolish Blackpool fans came to attack us but never got in. The police thwarted them and any likelihood of trouble was averted by 4 strippers coming from nowhere, City fans turned away from the Blackpool support and watched the show instead, maybe lessons are being learned.
At least we finally saw a performance in Blackpool to savour and enjoy.
Report from FootyMad
Promotion favourites Cardiff suffered their first away defeat of the season and their first reverse on their travels during Lennie Lawrence's time in charge.
John Hills fourth goal of the season in the 51st minute settled the game and extended the Seasiders' own unbeaten home start to the season and fired them into play off contention.
The home side dominated the first half with Hills going close within two minutes as his cross-cum-shot fizzed across goal but just eluded the oncoming attackers.
Keith Southern, Hills again and leading scorer John Murphy all went close in the opening 20 minutes before Scott Taylor spurned a glorious chance in the 34th minute, shooting weakly at keeper Neil Alexander from close range.
The visitors' best chance of the first half came after 36 minutes when home goalkeeper Phil Barnes could only parry a fierce Graham Kavanagh free kick, but Peter Clarke just managed to clear the danger.
The deadlock was deservedly broken six minutes after the restart when a John Hills shot from an acute angle was deflected past the helpless Alexander, with the Bluebirds keeper clearly expecting a cross.
Tommy Jaszczun fired a rasping drive inches wide five minutes later but from then on the home side were happy to soak up constant but ineffective pressure from the visitors.
City's best chance came in the 90th minute when sub Andy Campbell fired wide from the edge of the box.
City keeper Alexander was understandably downbeat and blamed himself for his side's reverse: "It was a deflected shot fair enough but I still should have got behind it. It was that sort of afternoon for us."
The mood in the home camp joyous with manager Steve McMahon full of praise for his team's efforts: "It was a superb performance from start to finish. We haven't been very good at defending single goal leads but we defended for our lives today and deserved the rewards.
"Cardiff are a big club with millions of pounds worth of talent on the bench but it didn't work out for them and that was down to my lads' tenacity and will to win."
External reports.
The Football Echo
Blackpool-Mad
BBC Wales (inc audio)
The Echo