WANDERERS (3-5-2)

BEN AMOS 6

Didn’t have many saves to make but must have been anxious as a couple of shots from distance went whizzing past his post.

MATT MILLS 6

Went very close to a sixth goal of the season but wasn’t quite at his commanding best at the back, especially with the ball at his feet.

PADDY MCCARTHY 6

Couple of good clearances in front of his own goal but not overly troubled by Blackpool’s sole front man Madine. A solid enough display from the Irishman.

TIM REAM 6

Should have been tighter on Jacbos for the goal but recovered his poise to offer a threat going forward, when he linked well with Walker and Feeney.

LIAM FEENEY 6

His pace seemed to worry Blackpool but it was only on the rare occasion that Feeney managed to use it. Had one great chance at the far post to equalise.

NEIL DANNS 6

Certainly pulled his weight on his return to the side, and buzzed around midfield right until the end. But Danns never got a full hold on the game.

JOSH VELA 7

His chasing and tackling got the crowd on side and while Vela’s use of the ball was not as economical as usual, it was better than most in a white shirt.

BARRY BANNAN 8

Drove his team on even in a dreadful first half. Would have thoroughly deserved a goal – but might be haunted by replays of that miss for a while.

TOM WALKER 6

Never really got into the game in possession but gave as good as he got physically and will learn plenty from the experience.

ROCHINHA 5

The youngster was subbed at half time after struggling to get any space in a congested midfield. Like Walker, he will have better days.

ADAM LE FONDRE 7

Didn’t fall for him in front of goal, in fact Le Fondre was desperately unlucky at times, but he showed some classy touches and never stopped running.

Subs:

Heskey 46 (for Rochinha) – Added some physique to the front line 7

C Davies 67 (for Walker) – Had a decent penalty shout turned down 6

Gudjohnsen 77 (for Feeney) – Perfect end to a perfect week 7

Not used: Bogdan, Moxey, Dervite, Trotter.

STAR MAN – Barry Bannan Yes, he should have had a goal to show for his considerable efforts, but no-one in a Wanderers shirt did more to try and take it to Blackpool. His use of the ball was good and he put a couple of crosses into the penalty box that were begging to be finished off. All in all, an excellent performance.

BLACKPOOL

(4-5-1)

 JOE LEWIS 7

GRANT HALL 7

PETER CLARKE 7

DARREN O’DEA 7

CHARLES DUNNE 6

JOSE MIGUEL CUBERO 6

JAMIE O’HARA 6

DAVID PERKINS 6

ANDREA ORLANDI 5

MICHAEL JACOBS 8

GARY MADINE 5

Subs: Barkhuizen 85 (for Orlandi). Not used: Parish, Delfouneso, Oliver, Ferguson, Telford, Samuel-Osayi.

SEASIDERS STAR MAN – Michael Jacobs

The on-loan Wolves winger was a handful from the start and took his first goal of the season superbly. You couldn’t blame Blackpool’s players for playing within themselves but Jacobs looked confident and full of running from the first whistle.

MATCH STATS

POSSESSION Wanderers – 56 Blackpool - 44

SHOTS ON TARGET Wanderers – 9 Blackpool - 3

SHOTS OFF TARGET Wanderers – 14 Blackpool - 14

CORNERS Wanderers – 17 Blackpool - 9

FOULS AGAINST Wanderers – 14 Blackpool - 15

OFFSIDES Wanderers – 2 Blackpool - 2

Booked: Wanderers – Feeney 15 (ungentlemanly conduct), Vela 76 9foul on Jacobs) Blackpool – Clarke 65 (foul on Le Fondre)

Sent off: None

Attendance: 17,076

Referee: David Coote (Nottingham) 5

Rather inconsistent display from the Nottingham official, who never really clamped down on Blackpool’s persistent fouling and timewasting.

Goals: Wanderers – Gudjohnsen 90(+4) Blackpool – Jacobs 9

Entertainment – 7/10

Agonising until the end for the Wanderers fans but would have made quite some viewing for the neutrals, as it was thrill-a-minute in the second half. Safe to safe this won’t be appearing on any striker tutorial DVDs any time soon.

Atmosphere – 6/10

Unsurprisingly the home fans weren’t impressed at half time when Wanderers trudged in at the break a goal down. Things improved after the break, and so did the noise around the Macron Stadium. Blackpool’s small following did little but shout their displeasure at chairman Karl Oyston.

Match point – Wanderers needed to hit Blackpool hard and fast from the start but their slow-tempo at the start gave the visitors a chance to get a foothold. The defending on what was a relatively straightforward ball over the top was poor but thankfully improved.

Magic moment – You couldn’t have scripted Eidur Gudjohnsen’s week – a goal on his international return, a first baby daughter and then a point-saving header in the last minute for his beloved Wanderers. Take a bow, son.