THERE WAS disappointment for a number of Irish players, as Blackpool completed a 6-3 aggregate victory over Oxford in their Sky Bet League One play-off semi-final following a thrilling 3-3 draw in the second leg.
There are a total of five Irish players in Karl Robinson’s squad — Mark Sykes, Olamide Shodipo, Liam Kelly, Anthony Forde and Luke McNally. Of that quintet, Sykes and Forde both started, Shodipo came off the bench, and McNally was an unused sub.
Cushioned by a 3-0 lead from the first leg, Blackpool booked a return to Wembley for the first time since their 2017 League Two play-off win over Exeter.
Goals from Elliot Embleton, Kenny Dougall and top scorer Jerry Yates secured a May 30 date against Lincoln or Sunderland, who meet at the Stadium of Light on Saturday.
But Neil Critchley’s normally miserly defence also conceded three times, as Matty Taylor’s early goal gave United hope while Rob Atkinson and Shodipo twice drew the visitors level on the night.
Roared on by a 4,000-strong partisan home crowd – back at Bloomfield Road for the first time since around 1,000 attended a test event against Swindon last September – Blackpool ensured they are now just 90 minutes away from a return to English football’s second tier after a six-year absence.
Two goals from Ellis Simms and another via Ollie Turton four days earlier had made this second leg appear virtually academic, with Oxford needing to produce a remarkable turnaround.
Blackpool had only conceded five goals in the last 10 matches of the regular season, but Taylor’s low right-footed finish into the corner on seven minutes suggested Oxford were up for the fight.
However, the Tangerines levelled five minutes later with a stunning equaliser. Embleton had only scored once all season, but the Sunderland loanee’s curling effort from 18 yards had the mark of a natural finisher.
Then, two minutes later, Dan Ballard did superbly to turn the ball back inside from the far post and Dougall, who netted at the Kassam Stadium back in March, doubled his own seasonal tally to make it 2-1 on the night and 5-1 on aggregate.
Oxford did not capitulate as Atkinson’s superb header after 52 minutes made it 2-2, but fittingly Yates – whose name was chanted virtually all game by the home fans – slipped his markers to drill in his 23rd goal of the campaign soon after.
Yates immediately ran to the bench, lifting a t-shirt in memory of Blackpool youngster Jordan Banks, who died after being struck by lightning while playing football.
There was also a minute’s applause before the game, while Blackpool players warmed up wearing the same t-shirts to remember the nine-year-old.
Shodipo ensured the U’s had parity on the night when he equalised 16 minutes from time, scrambling home Dan Agyei’s cross from the right, but nothing could spoil the Tangerines’ evening.
Additional reporting by Paul Fennessy
Obviously been rested for basel. Massive game on Tuesday.
This is the right way to deal with gerrard. He is a 60-90 minute player now. Can make an impact when he comes on
He’s too old now. Will retire without a premier league medal. Har Har Har
Har har har…. What do you have to show for in life? That funny joke? You will be remembered for that?
Your some man to talk graham
He has lifted every competitive trophy (apart from one obviously) there is to lift as club captain.
The only club captain to have done so in Europe.
No one else has this record, believe it or not.
He hasn’t had a bad career.
Eoin, I have not claimed to have had a better life…. But when faced with a stupid comment…..
I’m sure Maldini would trade those League titles for a Uefa Cup medal in a heart beat Danny ha
U bitter bitter man
Sean, the record still stands. :-)
Dennis hickie never won a 6 nations… What conclusions would you draw from that?
Dan Marino never won a Suprebowl, yet he’s widely regarded as being in the top3 NFL QB’s of all time. So what if Gerrard hasn’t got a PL medal, he’ll still be remembered as a top class player and captain.
God damn Ray Finkle!
He’s the laughing stock of the league this season! He wants a prem medal more than anything and he WILL NEVER get one! ;)
You are a fool.
That Ireland weren’t good enough at that time ???
Niall Lonergan… Loner…. I could see that.
Graham… Ham… Try seeing that. Now how Prem medals has Stevie G? A big fat 0 my friend! :P
I’m watching this game and can’t help but feel that d qauility On display here is on a par with the league of ireland I’m doin my own league a dis service by watchn this tripe, premier league my ass
Gerrard is so overrated.
So are your sunglasses!
That comeback is so bad Warren I’m not even gonna slag you back.
Pitiful.
Gerrard is still totally overrated.
Good point for Liverpool
I wonder will you be around on Monday Baz………
Of course I will , and midweek
If you play as good as you did today there’s no reason why you shouldn’t get a point against Basel aswell
I am talking about you shooting your mouth like a fool even before United have played a tough away match….fool
C’mon Peter, you know Baz by now…. Go with it. As much as he likes to get to ya, he does not get like many people here still wearing nappies its seems….
What has this got to do with Utd ??? And why is everybody a fool in your eyes cause their view is different ??
Take your word for it that Sundeland’s game plan is working, meanwhile Arsenal are being slaughtered.
After what he did during the week, gerrard not starting is a joke. Unless he’s being rested for the Basel match.
Hold on a sec,yis were crying out for him to be dropped 2 weeks ago.
The difference a week can make!
Hehe, was waiting for this…. Glad he is dropped again, when he came on last time, he made a difference… And this should be his role. He is still a class player, just not the same engine.
Always thought he was a very good but over rated player, certainly never in the same class as say a Giggs or a Scholes who despite the longevity of their careers always made an impact. Sure they have the medals to show for it.
Gerrrad was and is a great player amazing, wonderful, spectacular, one of the best, but he is not better than Paul Scholes.
Gerard was an outstanding player, would have achieved it all maybe had he went elsewhere. He would have played in any team. Those calling him overrated are just showing how clueless they are about football…. He is not up there with some others, and that is down to the fact he stayed at Liverpool. He gave it everything, maybe did not get everything he deserved. Scholes, Giggs… Yes class, but surrounded by class. Gerard, for years kept Liverpool just about relevant at times…. His defining moment is probably captaining the greatest CL win ever…. And a certain slip…. But that was because he tried so hard…. People make mistakes because they try, others are clean because they did nothing…..
Careful there now Frank, people talking sense on this subject tend not be well received at all.
You’re actually perfectly correct though.
He slipped because he tried so hard? What planet are you on man. Standing on the halfway line between two centre backs and and he failed to control the ball and then slips literally gifting the win to Chelsea but to be fair that could happen to anyone so let’s not dwell on it.
The CL win is oft quoted as a mark of his greatness. Rubbish.
Milan overran them while it was Gerrard in midfield. The introduction of Hamann to replace Finnan was the turning point in that game. It forced Liverpool to reshape with Gerrard out of midfield where he got destroyed in the first half.
He’s a brilliant striker of the ball, reliable peno taker and good at the corners and free kicks etc. in every other aspect of the game he’s nowhere near the status awarded to him by Liverpool fans who can’t see beyond their nose.
There’s not a chance he’s a better midfielder than Keane, Scholes, Vieira, Beckham, Giggs etc etc etc. Gary Speed was better than him if you’re judging him as a midfield player. So is Carrick for that matter. Less spectacular but more effective. Look at Matic missing for Chelsea today and they lost. You boys just don’t understand how this works.
Understand literal? No I guess…. Gerard was alone in poor teams…. Your heros were surrounded by great players. Would they have done the same in Gerards shoes? I do not expect you to agree, judging by many of your posts, any Liverpool player is historically rubbish.
Literally gifting the win to Chelsea? Eh yeah he literally gifted the win to Chelsea. Gifts possession to Demba Ba on the halfway line? If you want to discuss semantics bring it on but you’ll struggle big guy.
Hamann, Alonso, Mascherano, Riise, Hyppia, Kewell, Suarez, Torres, Carragher, Fowler, Owen. steve Finnan was an established international? All of the above were excellent players and had great careers. This thing of Gerrard played with no one is another misnomer perpetuated by ‘pool fans to suit their cocktail of nostalgia and marketing induced myopia. I realise they weren’t all part of the same squads but nevertheless their careers overlapped and it tears asunder this nonsense he’d no one with him. Garbage.
Sure United won titles with Wes Brown, John O’Shea, Blomqvist, Henning Berg, David May, Quinton Fortune for heavens sake?
Look just admit that apart from watching YouTube clips of cracking shots from the edge of the box you’ve never really analysed this properly.
Had he went? Had he went? Understand the difference between past tense and past participle? Clearly not.
School me on grammar, fair play to you. Like I said, did not expect you to agree, but I was not going to start insulting you.
Also, I never use youtube for anything other than pranks and fails. Your simple evaluation that Gerard is over rated is way off the mark.
You started it. Literally.
Michael, have a good night, we can agree on that
Not me, however
Steven Gerrard is a poor man’s Frank Lampard
United fans all over a Liverpool thread as usual.
And decent streams?
Any*