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After a well observed minutes silence for Sept 11th, the game kicked off brightly, Clarets starting the game with the same eleven as had finished at Derby, the international boys having to be content with places on the bench. Clarets oozed confidence in the early stages and Blake was particularly eye catching, showing good control and awareness whenever receiving the ball.
It was he who was involved in the free kick which led to the first goal on twelve minutes, after a foul had been conceded in the "D". Blake stepped over the ball, the wall duly jumped into the air and Dean West slammed the ball low and hard into the back of the net, silencing the partygoers behind Barnes' goal, their mouths as open as ours, Fred getting his first ever goal for the Clarets.
"1-0 in Your Cup Final", chanted the Clarets fans' as the rare tunes of Tom Hark sounded. The goal spurred Clarets on and their passing, movement and tempo were at times a joy to watch, a pleasant reminder of how things should be and not until Cox was injured by a rebound in the face, did 'Pool get a break from the footballing lesson they were being given.
A neat interchange between Blake and Little saw Little clear his full back, putting over a delightful cross only inches in front of Ian Moore's dive to put the ball away. The home side were completely dominating in the opening half hour with good approach play, only letting themselves down by their unwillingness to shoot when in good positions. 'Pool did manage two corners in quick succession on the half hour, but this was as good as it got for the visitors in a first half where the hairs on Steve McMahon's head outnumbered the chances created by his team.
Briscoe missed his chance to become leading scorer again, when hitting over on the half volley from only six yards after yet more good work from Little, before Ian Moore seized upon a defensive error, running clear of his man then letting himself down with a poor pass inside to Robbie Blake and another good opening was lost. Arthur did equally well to miss with a header from the six yard line, rising well to meet a Little corner on the stroke of half time, the break seeing many discussions about the 1-0 drubbing, but so many missed chances. Would Clarets pay the penalty in the second half of not capitalising on their domination? For once you looked forward to the next forty five minutes.
McMahon had clearly had enough by the interval and immediately withdrew the disappointing Dalglish and Collins for "Big John" Murphy and Bullock. Clearly having had a rocket, 'Pool lifted their game, whilst Clarets seemed to sit back and invite the visitors forwards and for a short while it looked as though the missed chances were going to be regretted. However, after a fortunate ricochet, the ball landed at Big John's feet and from the penalty spot he managed to miss the gaping goal completely; banjo's and barn doors springing to mind as we smiled.
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"2-0 in Your Cup Final", chanted the Clarets fans' as Tom Hark suddenly sounded very familiar, the party now well and truly subdued in the Cricket Field end. Twenty minutes from time and Weller was injured chasing a ball down the right wing and despite lengthy treatment off-field and a brief return he could not continue, Clarets therefore having to play the final fifteen minutes with only ten men.
Marlon had a moment twenty minutes from time, a rare 'Pool shot skimming the top of his bar, before Alan Moore showed great skill in beating two men with ease before hitting a superb cross field ball to West, who in one movement (yes I mean West), controlled the ball before hitting in a good cross to the far post, cleared only for a corner that led to the third goal.
Briscoe's high ball to the far post was inexplicably handled by Grayson for a most obvious penalty, but no booking (??). Step forwards Gareth Taylor who placed a low shot to the left of Barnes, who in guessing correctly for the second time in successive games, parried the ball out, but only to the inrushing Papadosgoalsos, who left footed, rammed the loose ball home for "3-0 in Your Cup Final", thus creating queues for the exits in what was formerly known as party land.
"Bye, bye, bye, bye"; you know how it goes, when you're having a good night? Fifteen minutes from time and Marlon had a shot to save, easily taking Taylor's shot under his crossbar. Arthur's customary moment came, when needlessly fouling the same player in the "D", ten minutes from time, but as had been the case all evening the defence stood firm and Marlon was kept clear of the action once more.
Walker replaced Wellens as Clarets played keep ball in the final minutes, running the clock down as Blackpool tried to salvage something from the game. Clearly it was not to be their night and a number of half chances came and went as time moved into injury time and then quite painlessly on to the final whistle, Clarets fully deserving both their victory and the warm applause as they left the field, for once progressing in a cup competition. My my, things are looking up.
Att:- 7,448.
Star Gazer
Marlon Beresford. Didn't put his glove bag down very neatly. Tut tut.
Glass Half Empty
Nit picking after a good performance I know, but Clarets surely must look to put a game beyond their opponents when as in command of a game as they were tonight in the first half.
Star Geezer
In the ground, the games man of the match award went to Arthur. My vote goes to Tony Grant, who gave a timely reminder of all the good things he can do in a game, after weeks of indifferent performances. His awareness, tackling, distribution and overall work rate was superb, illustrated in the first half in particular when Clarets midfield foursome shutdown Blackpool's midfield so quickly that Clarets dominated the game.
Glass Half Full
A tremendous all round performance, albeit against opposition from a lower division. How pleasing to see crisp passing, neat interplay and forwards making good runs and being picked out by their team-mates, oh and from Burnley as well. Having lost the opening games, on this form, Clarets can look forward to climbing the table. One swallow may not make a summer, but two certainly help make things look a lot brighter.