Blackpool 0-0 Blues


Starting XI

Two changes from before the break. Scott Hogan misses out and Jobe Bellingham is back on the bench. Tahith Chong steps back in but as a striker and Marc Roberts starts for the first time in a couple of months. George Friend is out of the squad, Jonathan Leko is back in.


Game

A game that never really came to life.

It took until 23 minutes for the first meaningful chance at goal, Roberts somehow putting over from 2 yards out. Chong had another great chance ten minutes later, played in by Hannibal Mejbri but his dink over the onrushing Chris Maxwell hit the post. Blues had a goal disallowed on the stroke of half time, Emmanuel Longelo finding opposite wing-back Maxime Colin but the shot deflected in off Troy Deeney, who was offside.

The second half wasn't much better. Juninho Bacuna fired wide before Gary Madine headed wide. Deeney volleyed a Longelo cross wide. Sonny Carey fired wide after linking up with substitute Ian Poveda. Lukas Jutkiewicz's snapshot went over the bar. George Hall couldn't turn home Longelo's through ball. Charlie Patino had the final effort, blocked by Roberts.


Tactics

I'm going to be honest, I wasn't 100% yesterday so I've caught bits but maybe not everything.

This was 5-3-2 v 4-2-3-1.

Blues' plan was to allow the ball to move to the player occupying either the right or left side and either have the wing-back step onto the opposition winger or force the pass to Madine, get tight, win the seconds and break with the midfield three and front two.

Blackpool did well to avoid this plan, using Patino. He would often occupy a role on the left so when Bacuna came to press the initial pass, he would have two men. Bacuna would tend to be occupied by Patino, Jerry Yates would take Colin inside and full-back Luke Garbutt would be free to deliver crosses.

Blues did resolve this issue. It involved Bielik being allowed to step higher and the defence taking on more responsibility. Bacuna and Colin would step up, Bielik would be nearby and Sanderson would step on to cover his flank with Roberts supporting.

Blackpool had a clear plan out of possession and that involved a man-for-man press. Their front three would become narrower, their full-backs would push onto the wing-backs and they would go man-for-man in midfield. Blues avoided this by generally going long or wide. They were bigger and stronger for the most part so could handle possession under pressure from Blackpool.

There was only one change of shape via the subs. Madine was replaced by Poveda who moved wide with Yates up top.


Players

Hannibal was the standout in terms of the game, even if his decision making was questionable at times. He bossed the midfield with his aggression and forward running. Defensively, Bielik, Sanderson and Trusty were excellent in terms of winning their battles.

For Blackpool, I thought Kenny Dougall and Patino were generally okay. The latter had a back and forth with Bacuna but didn't shy away.


Anything else?

Hannibal isn't afraid of anybody, it seems. He and Madine had a tussle in the box and Hannibal not only dragged him down, but appeared to give him a shove and some verbal abuse after.

Bacuna found himself wound up by Bacuna a couple of times and actively went for him. Always had this in his game and needs to remember to be careful.


Wrapping it up...

This felt like a glorified friendly, to be honest.

Blues' shape was good. We won individual battles all over the pitch. Got into good areas. But the delivery and / or final decision was lacking. I don't know if it was match sharpness, maybe a little confidence from a couple of the guys back from the World Cup, but we were missing a spark.

It felt like a game Scott Hogan would have enjoyed and probably scored in. I think we lacked the honesty and simplification of the game that he, or a Gary Gardner, or a George Hall may have brought to proceedings. Give it, play, run. We complicated things too much at times, which is what you will get from time to time with so many exuberant attack-minded players.

But, its a point away from home, a clean sheet too. We didn't gift Blackpool much and if we get the final ball right, we hurt them on another day. 

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