Chelsea vs Blackpool Match Thread, Sunday 19th September 2010

So, Ian Holloway has sprung a surprise by apparently not having his usual 4-3-3 formation, with today just two strikers - Luke Varney and DJ Campbell. Of course, there are three strikers on the bench so he clearly has options if he needs them in attack. But he has also named 5 defenders. However, it could well be that Eardley or Baptiste will play in midfield where they have both been used before at times. It is going to be interesting though to see how Blackpool line up.

Sky Sports coverage from Stamford Bridge and presenter Richard Keys has a tangerine tie on - which looks suspiciously like one of those often worn by Ian Holloway, Valeri Belokon and Karl Oyston....

Ten years ago Blackpool were in the bottom flight of English football playing at home to Chesterfield and lost 3-1. The result left us 23rd out of 24 sides. So basically only one team below Blackpool in the league - 91st out of 92 clubs. Now look where we are.

Remarkable.

Who cares if we lose? Who cares if we get hammered? Just listening to Jamie Redknapp and Glenn Hoddle sat talking pre-match praising Blackpool, talking how fantastic it is to see the club not only in the PL but playing well.

And the Blackpool fans are already in good voice and very colourful brightening up one corner of Stamford Bridge with tangerine!

Alex Baptiste is to play as a defensive midfielder today with Elliot Grandin playing in a slightly more attacking role - so not 4-4-2, but a very flexible 4-3-3 that can be used any way they want. We no doubt will have to defend a lot!

Oh look under one minute and Chelsea have a corner and score.

1 minute 13 seconds - Kalou.

Don't think we have touched the ball yet apart from giving the corner away.....

Oh dear another corner......

12th minute and 2-0 Malouda!

Possession

Chelsea 73% Blackpool 27%

Argggghhh Petr Cech stops Alex Baptiste scoring a goal with a great save.

Drogba 3-0 wicked deflection giving Matt Gilks no chance to deal with it.

30 minutes gone! Ouch.

Corner score is 4-4....

Come On You Pool!!!

4-0 Malouda.

4 in 40 minutes and it could have been more.

Still the Blackpool fans sing though - 5-4, we're gonna win 5-4; we're gonna win 5-4.

We just need about 3 maybe 4 Chelsea players to be sent off now.

Drogba should have made it 5 but decided to showboat instead.

Half-time 4-0 and in all honesty it could and should have been more.

But as I said before the game, I don't care this is a "free game". Chelsea are rampant this season anyway, hammering just about everyone, so we are no different. They seem to be on a different planet to most PL sides this season.

You're not alone, Bispham - just quietly watching.

Backpool fans are not embarassed, announcers. We never expected to win this match against Chelsea (or Arsenal, or ManUre, or Liverpool or any of the other big clubs.) We just want to stay up and build the team and make a "home" for ourselves in the PL.

We love our boys in Tangerine. Don't get down on yourselves, keep fighting.

Interesting comment so far - no side that has 7 points at this stage of the season has ever been relegated.

....and yes, the Blackpool faithful sound fantastic!

Gary Taylor-Fletcher on for Neal Eardley for the second half.

No surprise really as he was run ragged. Alex Baptiste reverting to right-back.

Chelsea have scored 54 goals in 12.5 PL games now..... Is it any wonder we are losing?


Grrr a DJ Campbell shot gets cleared off the line....

almost!!!!

Pity we could not have started the first half like this.

And still it is the Blackpool fans that can be heard singing.

No "superstars" or big egos - just hard-working, decent family men who love their club and give it all for their manager and their fans.

FFS DJ close again to scoring! No way was that handball on DJ.

Wow still only 4-0!!!

OMG, GTF!!!!! almost again