Official Match Thread Blackpool FC v Southend United

[The Big Dady]

The Official Match Thread brought to you by ShrimperZone.com

So here we are the sixteenth away game of the 2019/20 season and Sol Campbell’s 9th away game since he was appointed Manager of the Mighty Shrimpers.

Our sixteenth away match is against Blackpool FC



It is now time for ALL of us to get behind Sol and the team whether you are at Bloomfield Road, listening on the radio, or listening/watching on ifollow.

Sol Campbell’s Southend United League One Away Team against Blackpool FC



Bloomfield Road is ready for action at 3.00 pm Saturday 8th February 2020, it looks like we are going to have a sunny but chilly start, becoming cloudy at times with rain pushing in from the west in the late afternoon and evening with heavy rain at times. Very strong southerly winds strengthening during the late evening as storrm Ciara hits, it will feel really cold so warp up warm.





The weather forecast for this afternoon at Bloomfield Road



Current League away record after 15 away games

Won 2
Drawn 3
Lost 10
Goals scored 19
Goals conceded 35

League Positions Last Season

10th (2018/19) League One Blackpool FC
19th (2018/19) League One Southend United

League Positions Current Season

15th (2019/20) League One Blackpool FC
22nd (2019/20) League One Southend United

Recent League Positions Change



Previous five Meetings

Southend United 1-3 Blackpool (L1 10/08/19 Att. 6.823)
Blackpool 2-2 Southend United (L1 09/03/19 Att. 15,871)
Southend United 1-2 Blackpool (L1 17/11/18 Att. 6,882)
Blackpool 1-1 Southend United (L1 17/03/18 Att. 3,213)
Southend United 2-1 Blackpool (L1 30/09/17 Att. 6,688)

Head to Head record

Southend United Wins: 10
Draws: 4
Blackpool FC Wins: 13



Come On You Yellows!​

 

[The Big Dady]

Managers Pre-match Views​

Blackpool

Blackpool's Manager Simon Grayson talks to their OS ahead of the game against Southend United

Blackpool's Manager Simon Grayson
​

Simon Grayson is looking forward to playing back at Bloomfield Road in this weekend’s visit of Southend United.

Saturday will be Blackpool’s first home league match since Boxing Day, and the manager has admitted it will be good for the lads to play back on familiar ground.

“It’s been a long time coming, but it’s something we’re looking forward to,” he admitted.

“We had some real good form here before we faced Accrington and Shrewsbury around Christmas, so we want to turn things around and tomorrow presents the perfect opportunity.

“Of course, with us not being in a good run of form, we will need to hit the ground running quickly tomorrow and start to turn things around. We’ve got to play with a real purpose and it’s no good just saying it, we’ve got to actually do the business on the field tomorrow afternoon. We’ve got to have a ruthlessness and a desire to start to turn it around, starting tomorrow.”

Southend come in to tomorrow’s game deep in the relegation zone, but have won two of their last three matches, so Grayson is aware it won’t be a simple task for his players.

“It won’t be an easy fixture, because they are in a good run of form,” he said.

“If you look at their transfer window in comparison to ours, they had a lot of departures so it’s hard to know exactly what to expect from them. But, we’re fully respectful of Sol Campbell’s side and will pay them every respect they deserve, as they will come out fighting, looking to climb up that table fast.”

Full text can be found here:-
Link

Southend United

Sol Campbell Southend United’s manager talks to OS before travelling to Blackpool

Sol Campbell Southend United’s Manager
​

Southend United boss Sol Campbell previews his side’s next game which sees Blues take on Blackpool at Bloomfield Road on Saturday.

With the chance to make it back to back victories, Campbell said nobody is getting ahead of themselves after picking up a first home win of the season last time out.

Read Campbell’s pre-match thoughts in full below.

On the Lincoln performance…

"We’re not going to get carried away. When you have young players you’re going to have mistakes here and there over the pitch and we have to iron those things out.

"You don’t want to rely on luck. We’ve got to perform really well.

"When we play football and we’re not under pressure we should keep the ball, and those were the moments we were losing the ball and not making the right decisions.

"Yes, we won 2-1 but there’s moments that we should be controlling the game and not making sloppy passes here or there.

"We have to iron those things out and that’s normal, training will take care of that.

"The more the youngsters play the more confident they’ll get."

On feeding off the result…

"The feeling you can feed off and grow. That’s key to get confidence back into the team, and it is there in the team now.

"We have to make sure we look after it now and kick on with that, but you don’t want to be over confident.

"It’s nice to have that confidence that wasn’t really there a couple of months ago.

"It’s about respecting that confidence, respecting where you are, not getting carried away and continuing to do the right things."

On the difficulties building consistency having to constantly make changes to the starting XI…

"It is what it is, we’ve just got to get on with it, and the lads are getting on with it. It’s nice to see everyone pulling together, it’s refreshing.

"Everyone is working hard and putting a shift in and showing desire and passion which I’m sure the crowd can sense."

On Elvis becoming a leader…

"He’s done unbelievable really.

"I saw him from the beginning and he was definitely up there, but as the games have gone on he’s had to play in different positions.

"He really woke me up when he started playing at the back as a centre half, an auxiliary centre half.

"He showed his metal and his confidence, there were a couple of hairy moments, but overall he’s done really well for Southend.

"He’s got good pace, he’s got good attitude on him and he’s only going to get better and better. He’s definitely one of the guys who has been at the top of the list; a proper pro."

On facing Blackpool…

"We’re playing away from home and we’ve got to look at all games and say how can we win it.

"We’re in a situation that we have to pick up points home and away."

Full text can be found here:-
Link


Sol Campbell talks to the Chris Phillips at the ECHO before travelling to Blackpool

Sol Campbell hails Southend United's new found confidence ahead of Blackpool clash

Feeling Confident - Sol Campbell Southend United’s Manager​

SOL Campbell feels Southend United will be heading to Blackpool with new found confidence this weekend.

The Shrimpers - who beat Lincoln City last weekend - have lost just once in their last six games.

And Campbell feels his players are now in much better shape.

“It’s nice to have that confidence that wasn’t really there a couple of months ago,” said Campbell.

“But really now it’s about respecting that confidence and respecting where you are.

“We have to keep doing the right things on the field.

“We also have to make a fist of it in every game, enjoy football and enjoy competing.

“We have to keep moving in the right direction with everyone pulling in the right direction to see how many points we can pick up towards the end of the season.”

Blues are 12th in League One’s form guide for the last six games but are still staring relegation in the face.

Campbell’s side sit second from bottom in the standings, 12 points from safety.

But the former England international is keen to narrow that gap by beating Blackpool, who have not won in their last 10 outings.

“We’re away from home but we have to go into all games looking at how we can win them,” said Campbell.

“We have to set our stall out properly and look to pick up points home and away.”

Blues will again be forced to field a young starting line-up this weekend but will be without John White (broken arm), midfielder Harry Phillips (knee) and striker Stephen Humphrys (broken nose).

Sam Mantom and Timothee Dieng are both expected to return to the starting line-up after recovering from injuries while Blues remain in transfer discussions with ex-Macclesfield Town duo Theo Vassell and Emmanuel Osadebe.

Luke Hyam (hamstring), Nathan Ralph (dislocated shoulder), Harry Lennon (broken leg) and Harry Kyprianou (Achilles) all remained sidelined.

will be heading to Blackpool with new found confidence this weekend.

The Shrimpers - who beat Lincoln City last weekend - have lost just once in their last six games.

And Campbell feels his players are now in much better shape.

“It’s nice to have that confidence that wasn’t really there a couple of months ago,” said Campbell.

“But really now it’s about respecting that confidence and respecting where you are.

“We have to keep doing the right things on the field.

“We also have to make a fist of it in every game, enjoy football and enjoy competing.

“We have to keep moving in the right direction with everyone pulling in the right direction to see how many points we can pick up towards the end of the season.”

Blues are 12th in League One’s form guide for the last six games but are still staring relegation in the face.

Campbell’s side sit second from bottom in the standings, 12 points from safety.

But the former England international is keen to narrow that gap by beating Blackpool, who have not won in their last 10 outings.

“We’re away from home but we have to go into all games looking at how we can win them,” said Campbell.

“We have to set our stall out properly and look to pick up points home and away.”

Blues will again be forced to field a young starting line-up this weekend but will be without John White (broken arm), midfielder Harry Phillips (knee) and striker Stephen Humphrys (broken nose).

Sam Mantom and Timothee Dieng are both expected to return to the starting line-up after recovering from injuries while Blues remain in transfer discussions with ex-Macclesfield Town duo Theo Vassell and Emmanuel Osadebe.

Luke Hyam (hamstring), Nathan Ralph (dislocated shoulder), Harry Lennon (broken leg) and Harry Kyprianou (Achilles) all remained sidelined.


Full text can be found here:-
Link

Come On You Yellows!​

 

[The Big Dady]

The Big Preview​

Blackpool vs Southend United

​

Overview

Southend United head back up to Lancashire tomorrow afternoon looking to build on last weekend’s dramatic late victory as they face Blackpool at Bloomfield Road.

It’ll be a much-changed Tangerines side compared to when these two last met with Blackpool having brought in 12 new recruits during the January transfer window with another 12 going the other way.

One of those was former Blues loanee Taylor Moore in a temportary deal from Bristol City, and he is in line to make his debut against his former club in what is the Tangerines' first home league game of 2020.

How those players integrate will be the biggest question mark for Simon Grayson’s side as Blues look to record back-to-back league wins for the first time since October 2018.

Form

Victory over Lincoln City last weekend continued Blues’ upturn in fortunes in recent weeks which has seen them win two of their last three outings, thanks to wins over The Imps and Accrington Stanley.

Sol Campbell’s side have recorded just the one defeat in their last six, with Southend winning two and drawing three since their Boxing Day stalemate with MK Dons.

Blackpool have been in terrible form in recent weeks and are currently on a run of eight games without a win, which includes four straight defeats going into tomorrow’s clash.

Last Meeting

Saturday 10th August 2019

Southend United 1-3 Blackpool

Turton O.G. 75’; Lennon O.G. 9’, Delfouneso 12’, 37’

Southend United were blown away by Blackpool as three goals inside the first half were enough for the Tangerines to inflict a 3-1 defeat on Blues at Roots Hall.

An unfortunate own goal by Harry Lennon set Blackpool on their way before Nathan Delfouneso grabbed a brace. Oliver Turton’s own goal got one back for Blues but it was too little too late.

Blues Team News

Defender John White is expected to be out of action for up to three months after breaking his arm against Lincoln City – the third time he’s done so since May – and he underwent surgery on Thursday.

Harry Phillips will also be out for three months after he too came off against Lincoln, with the young midfielder suffering damage to the medial ligament in his knee.

In better news though for Blues, Timothee Dieng and Sam Mantom are both expected to return to the squad this weekend after recovering from hamstring and thigh problems respectively.

Blackpool Dangerman

Despite not scoring in his last four appearances, Armand Gnanduillett has proven time and time again to be a thorn in Southend’s side, including scoring home and away against Blues last term.

The Frenchman is an imposing figure up front for the Tangerines, standing in at 6ft4, and is a constant handful for opposing defences to combat.

So far this season, the 27-year-old has scored 15 goals in all competitions, making him comfortably Blackpool’s leading goal scorer as well as the one to look out for on Saturday.

At set pieces he will be a target and Blues will have to also be wary of that when conceding corners or attacking free kicks.

Ref Watch

Saturday will see Anthony Backhouse taking charge of proceedings at Bloomfield Road, being assisted by Alan Clayton and Richard Bartlett, with Wade Smith as the fourth official.

Backhouse has officiated Blackpool once already this season – a 1-0 win against Wolves u21s in the EFL Trophy – while it’ll be the first time Backhouse has officiated Southend since February 2019.

So far this campaign, Backhouse has taken charge of 24 games in all competitions, showing 82 yellow cards and just the three reds.

Away Fans Guide

Sitting just off the coast and the Blackpool Promenade, Blackpool’s Bloomfield Road ground has been home to the Tangerines for well over a century and has a capacity of just over 17,000.

Those Blues fans travelling tomorrow will find themselves situated in the temporary East Stand which sits opposite the dugout and the main Sir Stanley Matthews stand.

For more information on the ground, including info on travel directions, where to park and where to go for a pre-match drink, check out awaygames.co.uk’s guide by clicking here.

Tickets

Blues have been given an allocation of 366 seated tickets for tomorrow’s clash with prices ranging from £19 for adults down to free for under 5’s who are accompanied by a paying adult.

Tickets will also be available to purchase at the ground on the day of the game, but please be aware that this will be cash only with no price increases.

200 tickets were pre-sold as of Friday morning which is a fantastic contingent for the long journey there and back.


Full text can be found here:-
Link

Come On You Yellows! ​

 

[The Big Dady]

Blackpool Team



First Start for Taylor Moore

 

[The Big Dady]

Considering all the departures and our injuries, that does not look a bad team.

 

[The Big Dady]

Official Team Sheet

 

[Barling Magna]

Clouding over here at Broomfield Road. Windy and chilly too. COYB!

 

[RHB]

Clouding over here at Broomfield Road. Windy and chilly too. COYB!

Thermals on?

 

[Barling Magna]

Definitely!

 

[Magnum PI]

Gnadnuillet to get his customary brace against us....

 

[RHB]

Gnadnuillet to get his customary brace against us....

Gnadnuillet the giraffe you mean?

 

[RHB]

Definitely!

Enjoy the game.

 

[tottenham541]

Gnadnuillet to get his customary brace against us....

ive lost count the amount of times this guy has got one over us, always thought we should of signed him at one point.

 

[dannypav]

Th

ive lost count the amount of times this guy has got one over us, always thought we should of signed him at one point.

There’s a small chance that he didn’t want to ......

 

[Barling Magna]

Derek Spence just made a presentation. Nice to see him.

 

[Chris Powell's mate]

Fair play to all travelling Blues - but get back on the bus as soon as!
Blackpool is a cold, cheerless dump, and anyone going there for a holiday needs therapy. You can get it on the NHS.
Bill Bryson devoted a chapter to its awfulness.

 

[SUFCStu]

Come on Southend, dare hoping for a second shock.

 

[Spaceman Spiff]

Come on you blue kids!

 

[Evening Echo]

SOUTHEND United manager Sol Campbell has made two enforced changes to his starting line-up for this afternoon’s clash at Blackpool.

More...

 

[Evening Echo]

SOUTHEND United are in action at Blackpool this afternoon. Follow the action live here.

More...