Tangerine Dream

Progress of the new East Stand

After the sheer boredom of our last two matches, there wasn’t a great appetite for this one and I had the cynicism of a beleaguered employer as the sick notes started coming in from our usual companions.  Blackpool’s horrendous recent record stacked up neatly against Bolton and Yeovil’s in the ‘we really should win this, but ….’ stakes.  All the positive talk pre-game surrounded the progress on the East Stand which had been witnessed by those of us who went to the Quiz Night in the week.  After weeks when the only visible change was the position of the digger there was suddenly a structure in place which caused such joy among the home faithful that it even had its own chant during the game.

Team news was that Battocchio was in for Merkel and Ranegie would replace Park up front to make his home debut.  So the starting line-up was Almunia, Angella, Cassetti, Doyley, Pudil, Tözsér, Murray, Battocchio, Anya, Ranegie and Deeney.

Ranegie congratulated on his first goal

Watford had a great chance to take the lead on 11 minutes as Doyley played a long ball to Deeney who controlled and then shot just wide of the far post.  We weren’t to be denied for long, though.  Anya won a corner.  Tözsér’s delivery was beautifully placed in the middle of the area where it was met with a header from Ranegie that beat Gilks to put the Hornets a goal up.  Soon after, the Hornets threatened again as Pudil stole the ball and ran into the box to get into shooting position, but he seemed to keep running and just shot straight ahead, so the ball flew well wide of the goal.  Then Tözsér found Anya on the right, he broke into the box shrugging off the attentions of a defender who was trying to pull him over, but his cross was straight at Gilks in the Blackpool goal.  The first chance for the visitors came on 21 minutes as Fuller took a shot from just outside the area that was just

Deeney celebrating

over the bar.  On 35 minutes, we were two up as Pudil passed back to Deeney just outside the area, and he buried the ball past Gilks.  Watford continued to attack as Deeney and Ranegie exchanged passes but Troy was crowded out before he could shoot.  Two goal leads have been problematic for us this season, so it was a relief when we scored a third soon after.  MacKenzie, under pressure from Ranegie, played a horrible ball out of defence straight at Battocchio who played a through ball to the Swede who, one-on-one with Gilks, slotted the ball past the keeper for his second goal of the game.  Just before the end of normal time in the first half, we had another free-kick that Tözsér took quickly, taking

Ranegie congratulated on his second

everyone by surprise, but he put his delivery well over the bar.  In time added on at the end of the half, Angella took Fuller down on the edge of the box.  Dobbie’s free-kick was low and through the wall but wide of the target.

There were lots of happy faces in the Rookery at half-time.  I went for a chat with a friend of mine who said he’d been hoping for 4-0 before the game.  That sort of brave optimism deserved a decent performance in the second period.

A Tozser corner

Before kick-off in the second half, the Blackpool players got into a huddle.  Whatever it was that they discussed, it didn’t help.  They also made two substitutions with Basham and Bishop (yes, really!) replacing Haroun and Keogh.  Basham’s first contribution, almost straight from kick-off, was to live up to his name taking Pudil down and earning a yellow card.  Blackpool had a free-kick soon after that was lofted straight to Almunia.  From the Spaniard’s clearance, Deeney headed the ball down for Anya but Gilks came out and was first to the ball.  Then Battocchio played a ball forward to Deeney, who skipped past two defenders before being dispossessed by the third.  Blackpool then threatened with a shot from Fuller that Almunia parried.  It was Fuller on the attack again soon after as he got on the end of a corner from Dobbie, but his header just rippled the side

Doyley on the ball

netting.  Ten minutes into the half, Ranegie broke into the Blackpool box and was pulled over, but the referee waved away appeals for a penalty.  On 58 minutes, Anya put a corner over for Ranegie but his header was deflected onto the top of the goal.  Anya’s next corner was met by Angella, but Gilks was equal to the header.  On the hour, it was the visitors who threatened from a corner but Broadfoot headed Dobbie’s delivery wide of the target.  Then Dobbie got the ball just outside the box, turned and shot but it was easy for Almunia.  MacKenzie’s header from a Dobbie corner also failed to trouble Almunia

Deeney congratulated on his second goal

flying high and wide.  Watford had been quiet since half-time but, on 70 minutes, Tözsér put a ball over to Deeney who outran Broadfoot to get in a shot that Gilks just got a hand to and kept out.  In the next move, Battocchio played a neat ball to Deeney who lofted the ball over Gilks for his second and Watford’s fourth.  There was a rash of substitutes soon after as Pudil and Angella were replaced by Faraoni and Belkalem for the Hornets and Goodwillie replaced Dobbie for the visitors.  Bishop got on the end of a cross from Foley, but put it over the bar.  Belkalem’s first action of the game was to pick up a booking for a foul on Fuller.  Blackpool substitute, Goodwillie, tried a shot from distance but it was well over Almunia’s bar.  Watford’s final substitution of the game came with nine minutes remaining as Merkel replaced Murray.  He was involved in the next chance of the game as Deeney and Ranegie exchanged passes, the ball fell to Merkel but he shot wide of

Defending a set piece

the target.  Just before full time, Tözsér tried a shot that was wide of the target.  Then Battocchio played Ranegie in, but MacKenzie prevented him having a shot.  The last action of the game was on the touchline as the crowd chanted “Beppe give us a wave.”  As we commented that he would have no idea what we were saying, he turned to the bench and when he turned back, the Rookery was greeted with a two handed wave that would have graced an Olympic podium.  I wished I’d had a bunch of flowers to throw to him.  If the smile on my face wasn’t wide enough after what I’d witnessed on the pitch, that guaranteed that I went home beaming.  I was also rather gratified when the Blackpool keeper, Gilks, applauded the Watford crowd at the end of the game.  A very sporting gesture indeed.

Belkalem in action

After the misery of recent weeks, this was a real treat.  It has to be acknowledged that Blackpool were truly dreadful, but that shouldn’t stop me from taking great positives from the game.  Tözsér continues to impress, his set pieces are a joy.  But the highlight for me was the performance of Ranegie, who had been disappointing in his first couple of appearances, so it was great to see him stamp his authority on the game.  He was constantly fighting for the ball and getting into great positions, but the best aspect for me was his interplay with Deeney.  The two of them seem to have built up an understanding that bodes very well for the rest of the season.

Due to Charlton’s continued involvement in the cup, we have a Saturday off next week so our midweek trip to Doncaster is the next opportunity to see the team and I’m rather looking forward to it.