Premier League: Blackpool v Manchester City full time report
Blackpool 2 Manchester City 3
Manchester City emerged with all three points from Bloomfield Road in a thrilling game against Blackpool.
Carlos Tévez scored the opening goal of the game for City, but he was in an offside position when he got his shot away 22 minutes from time.
Marlon Harewood came off the bench and scored the equaliser after guiding his header on target from Charlie Adam’s free kick on 77 minutes, but within seconds of Blackpool scoring, Tévez scored his second of the game after his shot deflected past Blackpool ‘keeper Matthew Gilks.
Blackpool may well have been awarded a free kick in the build-up, but the goal was fortunate for City. Blackpool were also unfortunate not to come out of this game with anything as they played extremely well.
David Silva virtually wrapped up the game for City as he produced a moment of quality, dancing his way into the box and curling the ball into the far corner.
Blackpool pulled a goal back through Gary Taylor-Fletcher, but it wasn’t enough.
City take back second spot in the table and following leaders Chelsea’s draw with Aston Villa yesterday, they are now two points behind.
Blackpool had collected 10 points so far this season before this match, but only one at home. Blackpool began the first half positively and were intent on scoring the first goal, doing well to reach the final third of the pitch but lacking the killer instinct.
But it was City who could have taken the lead. Adam Johnson came in from the right hand side and forced Gilks into a fine save to divert the ball over the bar on five minutes.
Blackpool’s first effort came three minutes later, as DJ Campbell took on the City defence from the halfway line, but his shot went tamely wide of City ‘keeper Joe Hart’s goal.
Luke Varney a minute later troubled Hart, as his low-drilled shot called the England No.1 into action. Varney breezed past City left-back Wayne Bridge with consummate ease to get his shot away.
Blackpool captain Adam got in on the act on 12 minutes, but the Scotsman’s half volley wasn’t going to bring the home crowd to their feet. Adam, who has scored five of his last six goals from the penalty spot, was keeping the midfield ticking over and dictating play early on in the game.
He kept on lurking on the edge of the penalty area looking to pick up the loose ball and get his shots away whenever he could.
The home side had plenty of possession, and were leaving City’s multi-million stars struggling to get into the game.
City slowly got themselves into the game. A header from Vincent Kompany on 18 minutes was straight at Gilks, but with a strike partner for Tévez in the shape of Emmanuel Adebayor, they were unable to muster good chances, although Tévez would have scored just before half time if he got his header on target.
Kompany once again had an effort from a header, but it didn’t hit the target at the start of the second half.
Blackpool should have scored 53 minutes, as Campbell with the whole goal to aim at scuffed his shot wide after City’s defence disappeared. Campbell’s first touch was superb, but the second let him down, much to Holloway’s disgust.
A minute later Blackpool put the ball into the net through Taylor-Fletcher, but it was ruled out for offside after Campbell touched the ball, with Taylor-Fletcher coming in from an onside position.
As City were pushing forward to try and get a goal, they were leaving wholes at the back, which were being fully exploited by Blackpool as they took the game to the multi-millionaires.
Adam fired in his best shot of the game from the edge of the box on 62 minutes, with Hart seeing the ball all the way and diverting the shot over the bar. Hart pulled off another save again a minute later from right-back Neil Eardley as Blackpool continued to pile on the pressure.
City were out-of-sorts and were not looking likely to reclaim second spot in the Premier League. As a team that have ambitions on winning the title this season, they didn’t show those ambitions as they looked lethargic and failed to impose their authority on the game.
When they did gain some authority, Tévez put the ball into the net on 68 minutes to score his sixth league goal of the season, but he was in an offside position when the ball was played to him. His finish was neat and trickled its way into the net.
On 70 minutes, Adam had a long-range free kick which some fans in the stadium thought was in, but it just whistled past Hart’s goal.
James Milner hit the bar from the edge of the box with City playing much better. The goal made a huge difference to their play and gave them the confidence they were lacking from the match up until that point.
Harewood proved to be a super-sub for just a bit as he put his team deservedly level 12 minutes from time, but the celebrations were short-lived, as Tévez scored another goal and another lucky goal. A free kick should have been awarded to Blackpool in the run-up to the goal, and like his first, this one should have been ruled out as well.
Tévez was denied the hat-trick as his shot deflected onto the bar a few minutes before the end of the game. The woodwork was hit again a few minutes later, this time by Silva for City. Silva did get his goal when coming off the bench, just creeping into injury time he scored a classy goal.
City now have the momentum and a game against Arsenal awaits them next week if they are serious about winning the title.
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