Performances haven’t been at the levels we know this team can reach in a few of the latest games, not least against Blackpool, but 8 wins and a draw from 9 games is a great return from the busiest month of the year.
With fixtures piling up and games every 3 days through the Christmas period, to get the results we’ve had has been fantastic. Full credit to the players and the playing staff.
There were complaints regarding the flat performance against Burton on Boxing Day, despite getting a win, and Blackpool topped it. This time Blues were unable to find a way through a staunch Steve Bruce Blackpool side.
Davies made six changes to the side that started against Burton to keep the players fresh, yet Blues were struck a huge early blow. Lee Buchanan came into the starting 11, but was forced off via a stretcher in the opening 5 minutes. The collision that prevented an early Blackpool goal looked horrible (don’t look it up if you’re squeamish), and Lee was stretchered off to a rendition of “One Lee Buchanan”.
Later in the half, Klarer took a heavy blow and landed awkwardly on his side and after receiving treatment, looked in discomfort before being replaced in the second half. Hansson also felt a muscular injury and was replaced in the first half.
The stop-start nature, six changes at 3pm and two first half subs didn’t help Blues get into our rhythm, and we looked off the pace throughout.
It might be a rare occurrence this season, but Blackpool were the better side in the first half. They made life difficult for Blues and created big chances themselves. Ashley Fletcher made space for himself in his battle with Bielik and latched onto a long ball behind the Blues defence, and found himself one-on-one with Allsop. The Blues keeper had a rare save to make, but was equal to the task.
Hansson did force a good stop out of Harry Tyrer after an incisive one-two with Paik, but that was as close as Blues came in the first half.
Half time: Blues 0-0 Blackpool
Davies switched it up at half time, bringing off Lyndon Dykes in favour of the star man Jay Stansfield.
However, Blues couldn’t get a grip on the game for the opening 10 minutes and Blackpool pressed to great effect. They were rewarded with a turnover in the middle of the park which lead to Ashley Fletcher trying his luck from a tight angle, this time beating Allsop, but not the far post.
Davies responded with further changes, sacrificing Alfie May for Marc Leonard, while Klarer was withdrawn for Ben Davies. Both offered Blues more control of the ball, especially Leonard.
As is typical of watching Blues in recent games, chances were few and far between. The biggest chance came courtesy of Stansfield, whose shot from inside the box took a huge deflection and had to be cleared off the line. It was the closest either side came to scoring in truth. Willumsson had a late chance to steal all 3 points with a header he put wide, but on the balance of play, either team could’ve nicked this game and Blackpool created better chances overall.
Credit to Blackpool, who I felt had a good game plan and didn’t just come to settle for a point from the off. But it was certainly an off day for the boys in Blue, the changes to the starting lineup and the injuries throughout meant Blues looked disjointed, often making passes that weren’t read by the intended recipient. In the first half, the players just weren’t on the same wavelength often enough in the final third, and in the second I felt Blues lacked directness and a danger man out wide. With Hansson and Wright missing, Anderson not included in the squad and Yokoyama not often turned to, we offered little threat from wide positions and yet that’s where we found ourselves in space as Blackpool defended narrow to deny space in the middle.
Davies will be hoping for a reaction against Stockport, who should pose a much greater challenge in 3 days time. There’s a silver lining in that Wycombe lost and Huddersfield were held at home by Burton, but Wrexham got another late winner to gain some ground. Blues will be hoping for a better result against Stockport and then Wigan a further 3 days later, to remain top of the league going into January.
Full time: Blues 0-0 Blackpool
Ratings
Starting XI
Ryan Allsop: 7 - Man of the Match
Allsop was called upon a couple of times today as Blackpool created some chances, and turned up when Blues needed him. I say it every week too but his distribution deserves a real special mention today with his arrowed long balls from the back. Man of the match was a tough call, but I give it to Ryan for his saves which stopped a poor performance from ending in defeat.
Taylor Gardner-Hickman: 6
Taylor was one of the players coming back into the side, and started the game very brightly, beating his man and putting a quality ball into the box that was begging to be met. Unfortunately, his delivery for the rest of the match left a lot to be desired and he couldn't provide the breakthrough.
Krystian Bielik: 6
Bielik shifted across to play on the right side of the central defenders today, and I thought he had a good game for the most part. Ashley Fletcher was a handful though and did get behind him a couple of times, one time forcing a save from Allsop.
Christoph Klarer: 6
Klarer took up Bielik's usual role in the centre of the back 3 when in possession, and was having a good game until his knock. It clearly impacted him and I hope Davies withdrew him as a precaution instead of anything that will keep the Austrian out for the next game or two.
Lee Buchanan: 6
Lee Buchanan came back into the 11 as another one of the changes, but was forced off early with a nasty looking injury to his knee. My best wishes to Lee in his recovery. I really feel for him, especially since he's not long come back from a long lay-off. He was replaced by Ethan Laird.
Tomoki Iwata: 7
Tomoki and Paik were reunited in central midfield, and I thought both played good games despite the pressure applied by Blackpool. Tomoki retained the ball well, only lost control for brief periods and battled well throughout.
Paik Seung-Ho: 7
Paik was another player who returned to the lineup in place of Marc Leonard, and he played well. He frequently ventured into dangerous positions, linked up play well, but did lack that final ball. Could've assisted Hansson in the first half if it wasn't for a good save from the Blackpool keeper.
Willum Þór Willumsson: 5
Willum started the season as one of my favourite players, I thought he had a lot to offer despite not getting straight into the flow of the league, then found a great vein of form. Unfortunately, he's struggled to reach those levels since. Despite having a better first half, his second half left a lot to be desired. He wasn't strong enough to retain possession and didn't create or shoot often enough from the right hand side of our attack.
Alfie May: 5
Alfie started in the number 10 role again, floating around the final third and trying to make things happen. I thought we'd ended this experiment when Stansfield shifted to the left hand side - it doesn't play to Alfie's strengths inside the box. His first touch was poor today, and I can't think of any impact he made on the game with the ball. I love Alfie - he worked hard as always, and I don't blame him necessarily. I just don't think he's suited to the number 10 role.
Emil Hansson: 6
Hansson held the width in possession down the Blues left hand side. I don't think the injury to Buchanan, who may have offered an overlapping option (and left footed option) more frequently, helped his game. But other than one shot in the first half which forced a good save, I don't think Hansson did enough to make an impact prior to his withdrawal due to injury.
Lyndon Dykes: 6
Dykes lead the line for the first half, and although he provided an outlet for Blues to play over the Blackpool press and won a fair few headers, he didn't get any chances to shoot nor create any for his teammates.
Subs
Ethan Laird: 6
Ethan came on as an early substitute again at left back, as he did against Barnsley, but had less of an impact this time around. He started brightly and put in some strong tackles throughout the game, but he didn't get forward enough in a game that was begging for it with Hansson also withdrawn early.
Luke Harris: 6
Harris is the subject of a lot of stick on social media at the minute, and I think a lot overly criticise him. He's a tidy player on the ball, and a young kid, but he hasn't shown much creativity so far in his Blues loan spell. I certainly don't think he was what Blues needed in today's game where we seriously lacked directness and a natural winger - but I'm unwilling to be more critical as I don't think left wing is his best position.
Jay Stansfield: 6
Stansfield came on for Dykes at half time and took up his mantle of leading the line. As per his teammates (and the staple of his Blues career so far), he worked hard and chased everything down. This time however, he didn't get the chances to put us ahead. He did take us the closest to scoring with the shot cleared off the line - so if I could give a 6.5 I probably would.
Ben Davies: 6
Davies replaced the presumably injured Klarer on the 58th minute. He put in a customary solid defensive performance, and offered Blues balance with his left foot when playing out from the back.
Marc Leonard: 7
Leonard came on and gave Blues control of the game when it was fading at the start of the second half. He delivered a couple nice balls into the box and looked bright. A player of his quality shouldn't be limited to the bench, especially with players like Willumsson not in form at the moment. I'd be starting him against Stockport in the 10, assuming Anderson is fit to take up the right hand side.
