[Bispham Seasider]

What

Blackpool play host to Coventry City in a Football League Championship match.

When

Saturday 22 December at 3:00 P.M.

TV/Video

No coverage on Sky Sports other than the usual goals highlights which will appear at some point on Sky Sports and on ITV's The Championship programme.

Radio/Audio

This game will probably be covered by BBC Radio Lancashire, though not available online as they don't allow access to the station during match coverage. The official Tangerine World subscription site will have online radio coverage.

Build up!
Following two successive home league defeats Blackpool really need to get something out of this game. Coventry only just stopped themselves going into administration last week. Had they gone into administration they would have had a 10 point deducution and so been plunged into the relegation zone. But at the last minute they agreed a takeover with Sisu Capital fronted by former Manchester City player Ray Ranson. Coventry had been given until 4pm on Friday 14th December and were only saved in the final hour when Sisu Capital agreed a takeover package. Coventry owe the Co-operative Bank £18m and Ranson has promised to re-structure the clubs £38m total debt and also promised funds of up to £20m to "drive the club forward". Manager Ian Dowie had stated he would have left the club had they gone into administration.

Coventrys stadium holds 32,500. However their average home attendance this season has been 18,326. The club were founded in 1883.

Last time out Coventry lost at Norwich City 2-0.

Back in October Blackpool lost 3-1 at the Ricoh Arena in Coventry. Former Coventry player Andy Morrell getting Blackpools goal. Claus Bech Jorgenson is also a former Coventry player and should get a decent reception from their fans as he was the first player to score in their new stadium. Also 'Pool defender, Ian Evatt is a Coventry lad born and bred.

Malta international Michael Mifsud is Coventrys top scorer with 13 goals so far this season. He also scored two goals at Old Trafford when Coventry beat ManUre 2-0 in the Carling Cup earlier this season.


Coventry should bring a decent amount of support, however, the East Stand will have a reduced capacity of 1,563 tomorrow due to the re-flooring work but it will be "pay-on-the-gate" for Coventry fans without tickets. Earlier in the week they had sold 900 tickets.

[dadcoachref]

Good luck Blackpool from Houston...

[Bispham Seasider]

GET IN!!!

Blackpool 4 Coventry City 0

Match statistics:

(BFC - Blackpool) (CCFC - Coventry)
Possession: BFC 58% CCFC 42%
Shots on target: BFC 5 CCFC 5
Shots off target: BFC 10 CCFC 3
Corners: BFC 5 CCFC 4
Fouls: BFC 13 CCFC 15
Yellow Cards: BFC 1 CCFC 4
Red Cards: BFC 0 CCFC 1

Goals (all BFC wahey!):
Hoolahan (pen) 28 mins
Flynn 65mins
Gorkss 72 mins
Vernon 88 mins

Blackpool made just one change from the home defeat to Stoke City with Andy Morrell replacing Bartosz Slusarski.

Blackpool took just three minutes to hit the post with a Michael Flynn shot cannoning back off the post. 'Pool soon scored but the goal was ruled out for offside. And it was doubly unlucky as it was two former Coventry players, with Claus Bech Jorgenson crossing the ball for Andy Morrell to head in.

Both teams traded shots with Michael Mifsud being tackled at the last minute by Michael Flynn to stop him. Kevin Kyle headed wide for the visitors. Strikers Morrell and Burgess both came close for the 'Pool. Blackpools first goal came from a Hoolahan corner, Kaspars Gorkss was brought down and up stepped Hoolahan to put Blackool 1-0 up in the 28th minute.

Then on 32 minutes Coventry had Kevin Kyle sent off for an elbow on Shaun Barker.

Coventry started the second half the stronger team but it was Blackpool who scored their second goal on 65 minutes. Claus Jorgensen crossed the ball and Michael Flynns shot smashed into the back of the net. Seven minutes later it was 3-0 from a Jorgensen corner, for defender Kaspars Gorkss to head home his 4th goals of the season (his second league goal, the other two coming in the League Cup).

Michael Flynn was then replaced by Andy Welsh, and Flynn received a standing ovation for his efforts. With seven minutes left Scott Vernon replaced Morrell, and then duly added a goal to make it 4-0 and a great Christmas for the 'Pool following Simon Grayson signing a new contract that will keep him at Bloomfield Road until at least 2010.

Up next are Sheffield United away on Boxing Day.

[Cmack]

Hell Yea! Great Win!

[Offebacher]

Awesome, bet that made for a Merry X-Mas at the 'Pool!

Keep it up Lads.