There’s nothing like a pitch invasion. But it verges on the bizarre when it happens before full-time, just after an equaliser, in a meaningless, mid-table League One fixture. But this is Blackpool, and this was nothing close to a normal occasion. It was the return of a collective, booming voice to Bloomfield Road – heard for the first time in four years. A sell-out crowd to welcome a new era without disgraced owner Owen Oyston running the club.
For that reason, it was a mountainous day in the club’s history, and a day that meant far, far more than the result in a dull meeting of seaside resorts, though scores falling in their favour meant the Tangerines would take a step closer to a play-off spot – making a joyous afternoon that bit sweeter.
But despite Blackpool’s roaring momentum, and the fact every attack was carried forwards by their 15,000 returnees, they were still toothless up front, and two headers both from corners almost spoiled the party.
Southend took the lead within the first 20 minutes. It was a man who was making a return of his own for the visitors. Rob Kierman’s header at the far post from a corner marked the defender’s first goal for the club, in his first start since August 2017, after persistent injuries impeded his return. The meaning was felt throughout the team as a heap of sky blue shirts gathered around the defender in a huddle to celebrate.
The hosts kept up the pressure, with goalmouth scrambles littered throughout the first half, which had Southend on their toes, and were often lucky to clear it in time. Harry Pritchard forced a stunning save from Nathan Bishop from outside the box, who tipped just round the post. Arman Gnanduillet, who was a pestering threat on the left wing, then grabbed the equaliser for Blackpool just before the half-hour mark. Liam Feeney snuck a pass through to the winger who fired home, and the place erupted. The party was back on.
There was a relentless stutter about the game as communication on both sides was poor. Shaky back-passes and hoofing clearances often slowed the tempo in typical lower-league style, and passes bobbled on a muddy pitch in need of as much care as Blackpool needed as club in general.
Corners proved to be Blackpool’s Achilles heal, as Michael Turner then put Southend in front again as the second half began, in similar fashion to the opener as he flicked it across goal into the corner at the other end. Though they kept a grip on the game, the home side’s impetus felt like it was fading. A flying effort from full-back Ollie Turton was pushed over, and Chris Long was booked for diving as orange shirts edged forward into the box again.
Though they were mostly quiet for the last half-hour, Southend’s top scorer Simon Cox had a chance to seal off the win for the visitors with minutes to go, racing through on goal, but Mark Howard stood firm to make a vital save one-on-one. It turned out to be far more important than first thought.
As the game entered the sixth minute of added time, Southend substitute Taylor Moore tipped the ball into his own net, causing pandemonium at all ends of the ground. Fans emptied out onto the pitch, orange flares in hand as if they’d won a cup final. The hysteria had reached peak, and referee Chris Sarginson was forced to call full-time.
Though Southend walk away without a win now in eight games, for Blackpool, a draw brings them within three points of the play-offs, and a win against Doncaster on Tuesday night could gift them that desired spot.
