The Imps left the seaside feeling like a deflated beach ball, despite eanring a solid point against a strong side.
The issue was situational, with City going 2-0 up after 20 minutes, but conceding with just a few minutes left on the clock to drop three points. It was much like a reverse of the fixture we played at the Bank in 2021, when Blackpool led 2-0 at the Bank, and we pulled it back to 2-2.
In the end, it was a solid point on the road, but some may lament the fact that we were poised to grab all three.
Michael Skubala made two changes to the side that beat Barnsley in midweek, bringing in Ryley Towler and Rob Street for Freddie Draper and Dom Jefferies. That allowed a switch to 3-5-2, matching Blackpool like-for-like.
The home side came into the contest full of confidence, buoyed by back-to-back victories under new manager Ian Evatt, but that optimism was punctured almost immediately. Inside two minutes, City struck with a goal that summed up their sharpness and awareness.
George Wickens, spotting Blackpool still organising defensively, took a quick free kick and curled a precise ball down the right flank into the path of Jack Moylan. The winger cut inside from the byline and, with impressive composure, bent a superb finish into the far corner to give the Imps an early lead.
That gave Wickens his second assist in as many games, and it underlined why Moylan’s return to the side has been such a huge boost for the Imps. The home crowd hadn’t mustered up a song before being 1-0 down.
Rather than looking to defend the lead, City continued to push Blackpool, who looked all at sea. Defensively, they struggled with Moylan, Hackett and Reach’s directness, and a second goal felt like it was coming. Hoackett fired over from a good chance as we turned the screw, before we finally did hit the back of the net again.
Moylan, again, found himself some space, and although his initial effort was blocked, the ball broke kindly for Street. The striker took a touch and got his shot away, with a wicked deflection off Lee Evans, wrong-footing Bailey Peacock-Farrell. It was a nice moment for Street, making only his second start as a nine in the league.
Penalty shifts momentum
Blackpool’s route back into the match came not through sustained pressure, but via a moment of indecision inside the box. Tom Hamer chased a ball back with Ashley Fletcher in attendance. Wickens probably wanted the defender to put it in row Z, but was forced to come, and all three men came together, with Fletcher going down. No arguments about the decision, and Lee Evans converted the resulting penalty. It was a lifeline rather than a reflection of the balance of play.
After conceding City sought to see out the half, and were still arguably the better side. However, the home fans, sprinkled liberally across masses of empty seats, had found a voice, and the game certainly felt like it had more in it at half time.
Fine margins after the break
The second half followed a different pattern. Blackpool applied pressure and looked to be lifted by that penalty. City remained dangerous on the break and from set pieces, and either side could have scored. City had the ball in the net twice, once when Reach hooked home from close range after a corner, only for the assistant’s flag to rule him offside.
George Wickens was largely untroubled despite Blackpool’s possession, with City defending their box well. At the other end, Sonny Bradley headed narrowly over from a Street delivery, while two Reach corners caused real problems, one forcing Peacock-Farrell into a sharp save under his crossbar.
Freddie Draper thought he had made the points secure after good work by Reach and Justin Obikwu, but again the flag intervened for a tight offside decision. It’s one I’m looking forward to seeing again tomorrow.
Blackpool were a much better side, though, and as the minutes ticked away, they had their chances. Danny Imray was a constant thorn in our side, and the atmosphere began to lift after Tom Bloxham backheeled the ball over the bar early in the half.
Late frustration at Bloomfield Road
The equaliser, when it came, was cruel. Towler appeared to have been fouled on the byline, but referee Seb Stockbridge didn’t blow. That led to a cross and a chance for Ashley Fletcher, which Wickens saved. City were unable to fully clear their lines, the ball was returned quickly, and Fletcher converted at the second attempt. He’s now got ten goals in his last 11 outings for Blackpool, and has scored in his last two outings against the Imps.
City pushed for a winner in the closing moments, with Justin Obikwu and Reach both seeing efforts blocked, but when proceedings drew to a close, 2-2 was probably a fair reflection of the game.
In the end, the draw felt like two points dropped rather than one gained. City showed intelligence, bravery, and attacking quality in the first half, but that penalty did shift momentum. In the second period, the home side rolled out some big guns – Dale Taylor is believed to have cost north of £1m, while Scott Banks was playing in the Bundesliga 12 months ago. That enabled Blackpool to get more of a foothold, and ultimately the point their efforts deserved.
The result leaves us third in the League One table, while Blackpool remain in the bottom four.
I’ll do my analysis piece in the morning, once that bitter sting of dropping two points has worn off.
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