Blackpool end Saints good form (From Daily Echo)

Blackpool end Saints good form

3:10pm Saturday 30th August 2008 in

• Skip social links
• Print
• Email
•  

Saints saw their good recent form abruptly ended as they lost 1-0 to Blackpool at St Mary's.

After two wins in a row Saints were in buoyant mood coming into the lunchtime game in which there were plenty of chances for both sides.

But in the end Ben Burgess' penalty just before half time proved to be the difference between the sides and left Saints with just three points to show for their opening four league matches.

It took less than a minute for the first effort at goal but David Fox's half volley from 25 yards out went wide.

Blackpool had a great chance to take the lead on five minutes when Shaun Barker's long throw from the right picked out the run of Ian Evatt. He was unmarked but from six yards out he steered his diving header wide.

Saints were really getting stretched by Blackpool and conceded two more chances in quick succession.

First Steve Kabba charged thorough on goal but was stopped as he was about to pull the trigger by a brilliant sliding tackle by Andrew Surman.

Then Adam Hammill picked up the loose ball and crossed to the far post where Ben Burgess slid in but couldn't make a clean enough connection to turn home from close range.

The game was really fizzing with both sides breaking quickly and getting men up to support their lone strikers.

Saints created a first good opening of their own on 13 minutes when a blocked shot came out to Adam Lallana who hit the target with a sidefooted shot which beat the keeper but not Rob Edwards back on the line.

Incredibly just a minute later there was almost a carbon copy as Lallana, this time at the back post, saw his shot beat everybody but Ian Evatt on the line.

Bizarrely referee Andre Mariner had to speak to Blackpool teammates Mo Camara and Kabba after they had a blazing row with each other.

Saints were still looking shaky at the back and had Kelvin Davis to thank for keeping out Gary Taylor-Fletcher's low near post effort which came as a result of a simple flick-on from a throw.

Simon Gillet tired an effort from distance on 26 minutes and though it looked a comfortable height Paul Rachubka took no chances because of the pace of it and decided to turn it behind.

Surman became the first player in the book two minutes for a late sliding tackle straight through Taylor-Fletcher before Holmes fired just over the bar.

Blackpool weren't happy when Jamie White caught Rachubka as he came out to slide and clear to stop the Saints man getting through but the referee deemed it a fair challenge.

David McGoldrick was looking to get shots off at every opportunity and got one on target on 41 minutes.

Ben Burgess had inadvertently played him through, McGoldrick cut back inside and from 20 yards unleashed an effort that Rachubka had to tip over.

Gillett became the second Saints players in the book for a foul on Edwards.

Just before half time disaster struck as Saints conceded a penalty.

Taylor-Fletcher chased out the far side of the area after a long corner and Gillett allowed him to turn back and as he broke into the area he was tripped by White.

There was no doubt it was a spot kick and Burgess stepped up and sent Davis the wrong way to make it 1-0 at the break.

Saints made a half time change with White coming off for Nathan Dyer.

Davis was called into action just two minutes into the half as Fox fired off a stinging drive from 20 yards that the Saints keeper had to be strong to turn behind.

Saints were then troubled by a header from a corner which Davis turned onto the bar before he and the ball were bundled over the line by Kabba but a free kick was given for what a looked blatant foul on the Saints keeper.

Saints were being cut open time and again and had Hammill's lacklustre finishing to thank on 50 minutes for them not falling further behind.

Lloyd James pushed forward from right back and saw his low drive take a deflection to guide it wide as Saints tried to get back into their stride.

Dyer was at least starting to cause problems and put an effort over the bar on 58 minutes.

Lallana made it a hat-trick of shots off the line a minute later when he controlled and half volleyed but found Edwards again beyond Rachubka to clear.

James was the next man in the book for a foul on Hammill.

Blackpool thought they had doubled their lead on 62 minutes when Kabba bundled home from close range after Shaun Barker's header was cleared off the line and upwards by Dyer but the linesman's flag was already raised and it was ruled out.

Holmes threatened on 65 minutes but his low shot was saved by Rachubka.

Blackpool made their first switch on 68 minutes with David Vaughan replacing Hammill while Saints responded by bringing on Stern John and Paul Wotton for Morgan Schneiderlin and Simon Gillett.

Wotton and Lallana went into the holding midfield roles with McGoldrick in the hole and John up front.

Davis had to save at the near post two minutes later as Burgess drove in a half volley.

Blackpool had another goal ruled out on 71 minutes when Vaughan's shot was turned home by Kabba but he was offside.

John had a great chance when he met Holmes' left wing free kick but put his diving header from six yards out over the bar.

Blackpool came so close again on 74 minutes, this time Burgess shot across goal but Davis made a brilliant save to deflect onto the far post.

Blackpool made another change with nine minutes remaining with Zeshan Rehman placing Fox before Svensson went in the book.

Blackpool made a final change with four minutes left with Danny Coid on for Taylor-Fletcher.

In stoppage time McGoldrick had a sight of goal and fired past Rachubka but against the angle of post and bar. It proved to be the last chance and Saints were destined to go into the international break on the back of a disappointing defeat.