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Blackpool took the Fylde coast bragging rights as they claimed the three points against Fleetwood Town in a heated fixture that threatened to boil over.
The game had to be temporarily halted during the second half after Armand Gnanduillet had headed in Blackpool’s third goal of the game.
That came after Simon Grayson’s men had raced ahead thanks to efforts from Liam Feeney and Sullay Kaikai.
Fleetwood, whose manager Joey Barton had claimed his side have “better players” and play “much better football” in the lead up to the game, grabbed a consolation 10 minutes from time courtesy of Conor McAleny.
But they were unable to produce an unlikely comeback and their long wait for a win at Bloomfield Road goes on.
The victory takes Pool up to fourth in the league table, three points ahead of the Cod Army who drop down to ninth - although they do have two games in hand.
Blackpool will hope their victory won’t be overshadowed by the ugly scenes that met their third goal of the game.
A Pool supporter surged onto the pitch to celebrate the goal, running over to confront the Fleetwood supporters housed in the East Stand.
A Town fan followed suit, escaping the attention of a number of stewards as he spent at least a minute on the Bloomfield Road surface.
Fighting then broke out in the South-East corner of the stadium between the opposing sets of supporters.
Joey Barton brought out the mind games prior to kick-off by attempting to predict Blackpool’s line-up, but his attempted guess turned out to be incorrect.
Grayson opted to make two changes from the FA Cup win against Maidstone United, with Armand Gnanduillet returning from injury to replace Joe Nuttall.
Elsewhere, Pool reverted to a back four as Ollie Turton came back into the side for the first time since Burton Albion in place of Calum Macdonald, who dropped to the bench.
Fleetwood, meanwhile, made one change from their FA Cup win against Crawley Town by replacing Ched Evans with Paddy Madden in attack.
It was a slow and edgy start to the game on the field, but off it the atmosphere was electric, with Pool fans serenading Barton while the Fleetwood contingent set off a flare in the away section.
The first opening of sorts came the way of the Seasiders as Jak Alnwick set them off on a quick attack with some quick distribution.
It saw Sullay Kaikai whip a dangerous ball into the Fleetwood box which almost ricocheted to Matty Virtue, but Harry Souttar was there to make the last-ditch clearance.
Five minutes later Bloomfield Road was sent into raptures as the Seasiders took advantage of some hesitant defending from the visitors.
Assist king Liam Feeney turned goalscorer for his first goal in tangerine colours in his 66th appearance for the club, slamming home a low shot into the bottom corner from just inside the Fleetwood box.
It came after Barton’s side had failed to deal with Kaikai’s first-time ball into the box, allowing Feeney the time and space to slam home beyond Billy Crellin.
The early goal made for a boisterous atmosphere from the sold-out North Stand and the remainder of the packed home sections.
The Seasiders remained discipline in defence, keeping to their shape as they allowed Fleetwood to enjoy the lion’s share of possession without doing a whole lot with it.
The two sides exchanged good openings in the space of 60 seconds midway through the opening half.
At one end, Ryan Edwards got a vital touch to a deep cross just as Madden was ready to pounce behind him, before Feeney blazed a volley over the bar as he looked for his and his side’s second.
Fleetwood slowly but surely began to take the initiative, finding those dangerous gaps in and around the Blackpool box.
The visitors ought to have equalised just after the half-hour mark when Wes Burns slipped in Madden only for the striker to drill his shot across the face of goal and wide of target.
Pool were perhaps guilty of sitting too deep and inviting pressure upon themselves, but they rectified that before the break as they were in search of a second.
They almost got one too on 39 minutes, when Virtue arrived late in the box to stab Feeney’s cross narrowly over at the near post.
A second goal is what Pool needed to settle their nerves and that’s exactly what they got at the start of the second period.
It came in bizarre circumstances, too, as Kaikai found the back of the net for the sixth time this season with a direct free-kick from in between the 18-yard box and the touchline.
Crellin was caught by surprise by the swerving delivery, which beat him all ends up, flying into the top corner of the Fleetwood net.
Barton reacted swiftly, replacing Burns with Ched Evans as the visitors went with two up front.
Pool, meanwhile, kept their foot on the pedal in search of a third goal to put the game to bed - as James Husband and Kaikai both had shots blocked in quick succession just before the hour mark.
Kaikai wasted a golden chance to add a third on the break, as Kaikai blazed over the bar with an effort on his weaker left foot after being played in by Virtue.
Fortunately the Seadiders weren’t made to rue that miss as, just two minutes later, they notched a third.
It came from the head of Gnanduillet, who towered above his man for his 13th goal of the season after meeting Feeney’s hanging cross.
Farcical scenes followed, as a Blackpool fan ran onto the field of play to confront the away fans.
A Fleetwood supporter then followed suit, with the game being temporarily halted as the stewards chased him around the pitch.
More trouble ensued in the South-East corner of the stadium between the opposing sets of supporters as tempers threatened to boil over.
After the game finally got back underway, Kaikai went close to adding a fourth as he was denied by the legs of Crellin after combining well with Gnanduillet.
Fleetwood threatened an unlikely comeback when they reduced the arrears to 3-1 with 10 minutes remaining, as substitute Conor McAleny beat Alnwick with a curling effort.
The forward picked out the bottom corner with a pinpoint effort from the edge of the box, giving Alnwick no chance.
Pool did well to halt any threat of a comeback, although Josh Morris did see a cross deflect onto the roof of the net as Alnwick was back-pedalling.
Fleetwood still had plenty of time to get back in the game as the fourth official indicated for nine minutes of stoppage time.
Pool were given a let-off when Madden sent a header against the woodwork in the fourth of those nine minutes.
But that proved to be the best Fleetwood could muster as they travelled the seven miles back home empty-handed.
‘Where there is harmony, may we bring discord. Where there is truth, may we bring error. Where there is faith, may we bring doubt. And where there is hope, may we bring despair’
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Fleetwood Town Post Match on 18:29 - Dec 7 with 464 views
‘Where there is harmony, may we bring discord. Where there is truth, may we bring error. Where there is faith, may we bring doubt. And where there is hope, may we bring despair’
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Fleetwood Town Post Match on 18:31 - Dec 7 with 462 views
Simon Grayson was delighted to send Blackpool's supporters home in high spirits after his side saw off Fleetwood Town 3-1 in today's Fylde coast clash.
Goals from Liam Feeney, Sullay Kaikai and Armand Gnanduillet saw the Seasiders claim the bragging rights in what was a pulsating and heated encounter at Bloomfield Road.
Conor McAleny grabbed a late goal for Fleetwood as they threatened a late comeback, but Grayson's men held on for the three points which takes them up to fourth in the League One table.
“It’s what you expected from a game where the two teams are geographically close together and close together in the table," Grayson said afterwards.
“You know there’s going to be a lot of blood and thunder, some quality and some good goals, some mistakes being made.
“But ultimately it’s about what happens at 5pm on a Saturday and that you get three points and I’m delighted we’ve done that.
“Scoring goals at any time is a good time, but we wanted to get out of the traps quickly and I said to Liam Feeney before the game ‘you need to be scoring more goals’.
“His assists are good, his general play is good, but we need our wider players to be in and around goal a bit more to score goals.
“It’s great he took that advice and scored and to get a second straight after half time was a good time to score.
“It’s a great delivery from Sullay into a dangerous area and it flies into the top corner and then we get the third one, which is a well-worked goal.
“It was then about seeing the game through in a professional manner. Yes, they threw bodies forward and had lots and lots of possession, but it was only in the last 10 minutes where Jak Alnwick has had anything to do.
“I thought we defended well although I’m disappointed we didn’t keep a clean sheet, as that would have been nice as the defenders did really well and we worked hard as a team.
“We sat back and let them have possession of the ball and the stats will probably prove that they had a lot more possession than us.
“But you do whatever is required to win a game and we had chances to counter quickly and get the fourth one when it was 3-0.
“We couldn’t get it unfortunately but it was a good performance from the lads and our supporters will go home in high spirits.”
‘Where there is harmony, may we bring discord. Where there is truth, may we bring error. Where there is faith, may we bring doubt. And where there is hope, may we bring despair’
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Fleetwood Town Post Match on 18:33 - Dec 7 with 461 views
‘Where there is harmony, may we bring discord. Where there is truth, may we bring error. Where there is faith, may we bring doubt. And where there is hope, may we bring despair’
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Fleetwood Town Post Match on 18:35 - Dec 7 with 460 views
I'm having battered Cod and Chips with gravy for tea.
‘Where there is harmony, may we bring discord. Where there is truth, may we bring error. Where there is faith, may we bring doubt. And where there is hope, may we bring despair’
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Fleetwood Town Post Match on 19:28 - Dec 7 with 452 views
Yup Larry did him on tactics. Change of formation, early goal then let them have possession, but they were unable to get through our defence with the midfield sitting deeper (maybe a little too deep in the first half, but that's me just being picky) protecting them. Think Alnwick only had one proper save to make in the game.
Really all they could do is pass sideways and hoof it forward.
A sort of perfect away type performance, but at home.
‘Where there is harmony, may we bring discord. Where there is truth, may we bring error. Where there is faith, may we bring doubt. And where there is hope, may we bring despair’
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Fleetwood Town Post Match on 20:06 - Dec 7 with 447 views
Fleetwood Town head coach Joey Barton spoke to the media following his sides 3-1 away defeat in the Fylde Coast derby on Saturday afternoon.
Despite Town having their chances, Liam Feeney, Sullay Kaikai and Armand Gnanduillet put Blackpool 3-0 up, before Conor McAleny fired in a low effort past Jak Alnwick.
Town put the pressure on towards the end of the game, with Josh Morris and Danny Andrew forcing smart stops from the Blackpool goalkeeper. Paddy Madden also hit the crossbar on an afternoon pn a day that just wasn't to be Fleetwood's.
Below are the key points from Barton’s post-match interview…
On the game…
“I thought it was a scrappy occasion. The team in this game who scored first was always going to have a huge advantage, however I thought on the balance of play in the first half, we were in their half for majority without really testing their goalkeeper.
“Blackpool had two ventures into our half and managed to score one of those with the ball pinballing around our box, and sometimes in these games you need a little bit of luck.
“In the second half we came out with a plan and they get a free-kick. It was never a foul on James Husband — there was no contact and from there it was a good finish from Kaikai. We are disappointed with that and the build up to the third goal because we thought there were foul o us, but there’s no point in crying about it.
“What’s important now is that we dust ourselves down and get ourselves ready for a tough encounter next weekend against Gillingham.”
On the plan in the second half and McAleny’s goal…
“We never carved out enough chances today and after coming in at half-time to readjust and swap the wingers around to have a different look but two or three minutes later, we conceded a goal.
“Blackpool were organised today, they sat in a low block and were difficult to break down and at that point we needed to show some fight here.
“It was a really good finish from Conor McAleny, and then we had a great chance that hit the bar, but you just can’t give those types of goals away in matches.
“Really disappointing as we couldn’t get that first win at Bloomfield Road, but we will come back much stronger.”
I guess his first drink tonight will be a very large Bitter and Twisted.
‘Where there is harmony, may we bring discord. Where there is truth, may we bring error. Where there is faith, may we bring doubt. And where there is hope, may we bring despair’
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Fleetwood Town Post Match on 07:31 - Dec 8 with 428 views
‘Where there is harmony, may we bring discord. Where there is truth, may we bring error. Where there is faith, may we bring doubt. And where there is hope, may we bring despair’
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Fleetwood Town Post Match on 09:03 - Dec 8 with 423 views
Isn't it funny how the leaked tactics angle didn't come out from Barton until later on - after the bones had been picked over? Larry has totally out-thought Joey and he hates it.
You're the first team coach, if it's not working, you change it. Which he tried to do at half time and it didn't work as we bossed the 2nd half.
You lost Joey, deal with it.
‘Where there is harmony, may we bring discord. Where there is truth, may we bring error. Where there is faith, may we bring doubt. And where there is hope, may we bring despair’
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Fleetwood Town Post Match on 19:16 - Dec 8 with 404 views
Might need to run some of the posts through Google Translate.
‘Where there is harmony, may we bring discord. Where there is truth, may we bring error. Where there is faith, may we bring doubt. And where there is hope, may we bring despair’
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Fleetwood Town Post Match on 22:15 - Dec 8 with 389 views
Following Red's link to the Fleetwood fans' facebook page.
This was the first post I came across.
There are others!!!!
BTW There's someone called Jamie Pilley, obviously an Andy Pilley offspring, who's leading this facebook page and has been brought up as a cod.
Haha. he can carry on suporting them - forever!!
"Definitely did not enjoy today’s match experience as I spent most of the game with either fans,stewards or police just standing in front of me, then I end up being caught up in the melee after the third goal for Blackpool, firstly thanks to the pleb that threw the smoke flare that landed right in front so again I couldn’t see anything plus the smoke bringing on my daughters asthma attack as she was sat next to me, then we start with the fans that then went running down to the pitch side and because I’m sat on the front row in my wheelchair it’s not exactly like I could go anywhere else to actually be safe how ever I will credit one young lad who did everything he could to prevent me from getting hit and kicked as everyone ran past me etc that put together with the fact we lost definitely not my best match day experience 😞"
Learning to read clusters is not something your eyes do naturally. It takes constant practice.
Liam Feeney said Blackpool’s players took motivation from Joey Barton’s provocative pre-match comments.
The Fleetwood Town boss stoked the fire ahead of Saturday’s Fylde coast clash by claiming the Seasiders aren’t a big club.
He went on to say his side are a better team than Blackpool, with better players.
Those comments came back to haunt him as Blackpool ran out deserved 3-1 winners thanks to goals from Feeney, Sullay Kaikai and Armand Gnanduillet.
When asked by The Gazette if Feeney and his team-mates took notice of Barton’s comments, the 33-year-old said: “Yeah, we all knew what was said. We actually spoke about it a little bit in the dressing room beforehand.
“Listen, that might be his way and it might be his honest opinion of what he thinks of us and his club, but we just use it as extra motivation.
“Those things can always come back to bite you, so I’d always be wary of being disrespectful to other professionals.
“He’s probably just backing his own club and I’m sure he’s just trying to wind a few people up before the derby game. Thankfully we did the talking on the pitch and managed to get the win.
“We already knew what sort of game it was and how important it was locally to the fans and to our season.
“But it was just a little bit of extra motivation when someone is saying you’re not very good and certain things like that.
“You want to go out there and prove him wrong. So if every manager wants to do it and that’s the performance we’re going to put out, they’re more than welcome to.”
Feeney’s goal, which opened the scoring after 11 minutes, was his first for the club after 66 appearances.
He took it in clinical style, drilling low into the bottom corner after Fleetwood had failed to clear their lines.
“A few people said they had a feeling I was going to score, so it was a great feeling to get the first one,” Feeney added.
“I know a lot of people have been talking about it, so it’s pleasing to get that monkey off the back.
“Both the manager and the assistant mentioned it to me, and even my missus said before the game I was going to score. It must have been written in the stars.
“I’m really pleased to help the team get the win because it’s such an important game for the fans and our league campaign as well, as it’s pushed us right up there (into fourth place).
“I’m really pleased to get my first goal in an important game for the fans.
“There’s local pride at stake with people going into work and they want the bragging rights, so it’s important.
“We know how much it means to them and it means a lot to us as well.
“There’s been a lot of talk from the other side and we’re not blind — we read and see press reports, so it was pleasing for us to get the win and do our talking on the pitch.”
‘Where there is harmony, may we bring discord. Where there is truth, may we bring error. Where there is faith, may we bring doubt. And where there is hope, may we bring despair’
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