To say Saturday's trip to Stoke was eventful is an understatement!
The Seasiders team coach left Bloomfield Road at 10am fully expecting to have a leisurely pre-match meal in a hotel on the outskirts of Stoke before heading to the ground at 1.15, but even the best laid planes can go the shape of a pear. Having collected the "Manchester" crew from junction 19 of the M6 the Tangerines learned of problems further down the motorway and with Pool's goalkeeper Peter Fox in regular contact the coach opted to "go the back way" to the Potteries, but so did everyone else who was travelling both North AND South! As a result, Pool hit standing traffic that took in the various picturesque towns in Cheshire and subsequently missed out on their pasta, chicken and baked beans. Stephen McPhee and Peter Fox were the exceptions, "Macca"and "Foxy" travelled from the East and arrived at the hotel in good time, McPhee was allowed to enjoy his usual pre-match meal, but Peter Fox was asked to plate up the food and in a bid to try and meet the coach so the players could take the necessary carbohydrates on board before the game, but once again the traffic jams around the Potteries didn't allow for that to happen!
Club secretary Matt Williams was in regular contact with his counterpart at Stoke and the local police and was informed that the kick off would not be delayed and that the match referee Mike Pike despite being stuck in the traffic wanted the team sheet submitted at 2pm in the normal manner, another exchange of phone calls Stephen McPhee head down to the officials room with the Pool team. Twenty five minutes later Pool arrived with Peter Fox and a boot full of food in hot pursuit!
On arriving at the Stadium, Pool manager Simon Grayson and Matt Williams were given a briefing by the referees assessor (Mike Pike had still not arrived) and were asked for their thoughts, naturally they asked for the kick off to be delayed and unsurprisingly Stoke objected to the Pool request, leaving Pool 35 minutes to prepare for a game against a team top of the Championship. With Pool preparing for a 3pm start, Williams and Grayson continued to protest and following the arrival of Mike Pike and further discussions common sense prevailed and the kick was delayed until 3.30pm.
Whilst all the above was going on Simon Grayson named an unchanged side with Thursday's loan signing Grant Holt being named amongst the Tangerines substitutes, the hosts on the other hand were forced into changes with Liam Lawrence, Ricardo Fuller and Ryan Shawcross sitting out through suspension. Despite the absence of three key personnel The Potters were able to name a side which would be the envy of most clubs in the Championship.
Mamady Sidibie who was only passed fit before the game went close in the opening exchanges when his snap shot flew just over, the former Liverpool man then headed over a Paul Gallagher free kick as Stoke took the game to the Seasiders.
Pool's best chance of an opener in the first five minutes fell to Gary Taylor-Fletcher who saw a finish blocked by Nash after he was picked out by Wes Hoolahan who had skipped past two Stoke defenders.
Tony Pulis was forced to a make a change on 8 minutes when Salif Diao limped out of the action, he was replaced by former Pool loanee Andy Wilkinson.
Simon Grayson at his press conference on Thursday pointed out that Stoke were always going to be a threat from set pieces and Rory Delap's long throw and at times the back four probably wished they were wearing tin hats as Stoke threw everything into the Pool goal area from corners and throw ins.
Fortunately the Pool defence stood firm and it was the Seasiders who had the more clear cut chances, Claus Jorgensen volleyed straight at the keeper on 13 minutes whilst a minute later Stephen McPhee almost opened the scoring when he nipped into intercept a poor back pass but the front man could only direct his finish wide.
Stoke's best chance of an opener in the first half came on the quarter hour when Paul Rachubka's clearance rebounded off Sidibie towards goal, Ian Evatt raced back and the big defender threw himself at the ball to turn behind for a corner, which Paul Rachubka collected despite pressure from Cort and Sidibie.
The Seasiders continued to play their passing game and on 38 minutes the Tangerines took the lead when BEN BURGESS fired home, the big front man latched onto a Stephen McPhee flick on to unleash a shot that deflected off Cort and beyond Nash.
Claus Jorgensen picked up the games first yellow card five minutes before the break when he was forced to foul with Stoke racing on the counter attack, but on the stroke of half time it should have been 2-0 when Ian Evatt slid in, but the big man could only watch on as his finish went the wrong side of the post with Nash beaten.
Half Time Stoke City 0 Blackpool 1
The second period was just a minute old when LEON CORT made things all square, the Seasiders failed to clear set piece and Cort bundled home.
A piece of Wes Hoolahan magic almost restored the Seasiders lead on 49 minutes, the Irishman beat two men before seeing his cross headed just over by Gary Taylor-Fletcher, Taylor-Fletcher then turned provider when cross was met by Stephen McPhee who got across two defenders to glance a header, but Carlo Nash was equal to the effort and made a fine save.
Stoke were forced into another change on 53 minutes when the goal scorer Leon Cort limped off to be replaced by Gabriel Zakuani.
Ian Evatt nodded a Kaspars Gorkss flick on wide after a long Shaun Barker throw in, seconds later Jay Bothroyd replaced substitute Andy Wilkinson who looked a little bemused at the decision as he left the pitch.
Shaun Barker was forced to head over his own cross bar on 72 minutes after a quickly taken throw in caught Pool napping. The resulting corner caused Pool problems and the Seasiders were content to clear behind for yet another corner, which was eventually headed behind for a goal kick.
Both teams pressed for a winner, Wes Hoolahan, Claus Jorgensen and Stephen McPhee went close for Pool whilst every set play Stoke had will have worried even the most ardent of Pool fans.
Gary Taylor-Fletcher made way for debutant Grant Holt on 85 minutes, but it was Stoke who almost nicked, yet another corner caused problems, and this time Pool were indebted to Claus Jorgensen who headed off the line.
POOL: Rachubka, Barker, Evatt, Gorkss, Crainey, Taylor-Fletcher (Holt 85), Flynn, Jorgensen, Hoolahan, Burgess, McPhee Subs: Coid, Morrell, Welsh, Fox
STOKE: Nash, Griffin, Riggott, Cort (Zakuani 53), Pugh, Delap, Diao (Wilkinson 8 Bohtroyd 65), Whelan, Gallagher, Sidibe, Cresswell Subs Not Used: Simonsen, Parkin
Referee: Mr M Pike (Cumbria)
Attendance: 20,019
