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A lot of Swindon's possession was around their own penalty box
‘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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Swindon Post Match on 17:14 - Sep 19 with 321 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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Swindon Post Match on 18:01 - Sep 19 with 316 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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Swindon Post Match on 18:59 - Sep 19 with 310 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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Swindon Post Match on 19:01 - Sep 19 with 308 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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Swindon Post Match on 20:10 - Sep 19 with 300 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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Swindon Post Match on 07:43 - Sep 20 with 279 views
Just leaving Bloomfield Road after a great day on and off the pitch. Kudos to the club for sorting this pilot event at such late notice, everything seemed to go smoothly. Atmosphere was superb as well, much better than I was expecting.
‘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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Swindon Post Match on 07:47 - Sep 20 with 277 views
Neil Critchley delighted to get first win under his belt as Blackpool claim hard-earned three points against Swindon Town
Neil Critchley has spoken of his delight at getting his first competitive win as Blackpool’s head coach.
CJ Hamilton’s superb double saw the Seasiders get their league campaign up and running as Critchley’s side cruised to a comfortable and fully deserved 2-0 win against Swindon Town.
It capped off a terrific afternoon for Blackpool on and off the pitch, with 1,000 fans returning to Bloomfield Road for the first time since March as part of an EFL test event.
“I’m delighted to get that first win, it’s nice to get that three points and get off the board with a couple of goals and a clean sheet,” Critchley said.
“I think over the 90 minutes we were the deserved winners of the game.
“It was two really good goals from CJ and two different goals as well. He went on the outside for the first one and scored with his right foot and then he came back inside and scored on his left foot.
“One on one he’s hard to stop, so he’ll get the plaudits from the game but I think there were some other outstanding performances on the pitch as well.
“As a team we got better as the game went on and I think over the 90 minutes it was an excellent performance from us.
“Again, I thought in the first 10 to 15 minutes we struggled to settle a little bit and it was important we didn’t concede in that moment.
“Sometimes you need things to go for you in a game and their lad has cut inside and put one just past the post.
“I think that just settled us down, our belief started to grow and our football started to get better and we started to create chances.
‘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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Swindon Post Match on 07:51 - Sep 20 with 276 views
Blackpool 2-0 Swindon Town: CJ Hamilton double gives Seasiders first league win in front of 1,000 fans inside Bloomfield Road
A superb CJ Hamilton double capped off a winning return to Bloomfield Road for 1,000 Blackpool fans against League One newcomers Swindon Town.
The former Mansfield Town man scored the first competitive goals of the season to help Neil Critchley pick up his first three points as Pool boss.
The two strikes, both powerful efforts that beat the goalkeeper at his near post, came either side of the half-time whistle in a deserved first league win of the campaign for the Seasiders.
The hard-earned victory in Blackpool’s first home league game since March was the perfect tonic for the returning fans, who set foot back inside Bloomfield Road as part of an EFL pilot event.
Critchley made one change to the side that lost narrowly at Plymouth Argyle last week, replacing Sullay Kaikai with Bez Lubala.
Kaikai was missing from the squad altogether along with Alex Fojticek, Teddy Howe, Cameron Antwi and James Husband, who remains sidelined with a hamstring injury.
Keshi Anderson and Jerry Yates were handed starts against the side they helped to the League Two title last season.
Swindon, managed by ex-Seasider Richie Wellens, made one change to the side that won 3-1 against Rochdale on the opening day.
It was the visitors who settled the quicker, knocking it around nicely and looking comfortable in possession.
There were plenty of smiles among the 1,000 Pool fans inside the ground when Anthony Grant, linked with Blackpool earlier this summer, was given a talking-to by referee Andy Haines after giving former teammate Keshi Anderson a playful shove.
Wellens’ men continued their fast start, coming inches away from taking the lead as Jonny Smith curled an effort just wide of Chris Maxwell’s far post.
Blackpool slowly but surely began to grow into the game, creating their first opening thanks to CJ Hamilton’s industry down the right.
As we’ve seen so often this season already, the winger beat his man for pace only to see his pullback intercepted at the vital moment with Ethan Robson ready to pounce behind him.
Swindon were intent on playing the ball out from the back, something that got them into trouble on a couple of occasions in the first half.
One such occasion saw Lubala presented with a good shooting opportunity just 18 yards from goal, only to squander the chance by shooting straight at Matty Kovar.
Swindon gave Pool another warning just after the half-hour mark that they very much remained a threat as striker Tyler Smith nodded a header just wide at the back post.
At the other end, former Swindon men Anderson and Yates combined well to create an opening for the latter, who rifled a shot over the bar after shifting the ball back onto his right foot.
With four minutes remaining until half-time, Blackpool’s pressure finally told as they made the breakthrough through Hamilton.
The winger made the most of his rapid speed as he shifted the ball onto his right foot before beating Kovar at his near post with a powerful drilled effort.
The goal saw Bloomfield Road erupt as the returning Seasiders celebrated Blackpool’s first competitive goal in almost six hours of action.
Critchley’s side ought to have added a second in first-half stoppage time, but Michael Nottingham could only head over, with the help of his shoulder, after being left unmarked from Hamilton’s inswinging cross.
Thankfully the Seasiders only had to wait two minutes of the second half to find that second and it was that man Hamilton once again.
The winger chased down what looked to be a lost cause, keeping the ball alive by the byline before cutting inside Rob Hunt and beating Kovar at his near post once again with a powerful drive.
One must feel a tinge of sympathy for Hunt, who was given a torrid time all afternoon by Blackpool’s summer recruit.
The Seasiders maintained control of the game, allowing Swindon to enjoy more of the ball while keeping them at arm’s length for the majority of the time.
Pool were, however, given a major scare on 72 minutes when substitute Hallam Hope hit the inside of the post with a curling effort that beat Maxwell all ends up.
Demetri Mitchell nearly capped off an outstanding display at left-back with a goal on 77 minutes to complete a flowing move, only to be denied by a strong save from Kovar.
The Seasiders wasted another good chance to put the game to bed for once and for all when they wasted a four-on-one situation, Kovar eventually saving from Ethan Robson after Gary Madine - on for Yates - saw his pullback blocked by the recovering defender.
Pool ended the game really strongly, managing the game superbly while tearing Swindon to shreds on the break.
Their performance deserved a third and they almost got it three minutes from time when Robson thundered a first-time volley against the crossbar.
Nevertheless, it wasn’t to matter as Blackpool held on for a clean sheet and the win to get their league campaign up and running.
‘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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Swindon Post Match on 07:57 - Sep 20 with 273 views
Backs up that most of Swindon's possession was in their own half around their penalty box.
‘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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Swindon Post Match on 08:06 - Sep 20 with 269 views
Swindon Town manager Richie Wellens criticised his team's final 15 minutes as well as their decision making in the final third during 2-0 defeat to Blackpool
SWINDON Town manager Richie Wellens lamented a ‘shambolic’ final 15 minutes from his team as the Robins fell 2-0 to Blackpool in League One.
Two goals from CJ Hamilton either side of half-time punished Town for a lack of potency up front and saw the pace setters from opening day shoved into mid-table.
Despite hitting the post late on, Town offered little up front before a barrage of missed chances by the hosts saved the visitors from suffering late embarrassment on the scoreline.
Wellens reflected on a ‘strange’ afternoon for his team before criticising his attackers for making too many bad decisions in the final third when well placed.
He said: “The last 15 minutes, I’m not happy with that at all.
“At times I thought we looked shambolic — I know we’re getting players up to speed, but I think with Mathieu Baudry, he was looking after himself.
“If one player is deep, the whole team needs to be deep. What we can’t be doing is having big spaces between the defence and midfield.
“It was a really strange game, the Hallam Hope effort needs to go in for us to have a chance of a comeback, but we didn’t work their ‘keeper enough and our decision making in the final third was poor.”
An encouraging, if not scrappy first 30 minutes, seemed to spur Town on before Jonny Smith was forced off due to breathing problems.
From that point on, Town lost their outlet down the right and chances became very few and far between.
The visitors had just two shots on target throughout the 90 minutes — something that certainly displeased the manager afterwards.
Wellens said: “I thought up until their first goal, we were very good. We were poor in the final third when the opportunities did arise though.
“They gave the ball away three times and we outnumbered them on the counter-attack, but we didn’t even get a shot away.
“Our decision making in the final third was very poor today.
“For the first half an hour, the way we knocked the ball about was very, very good, but you have to have an end product and you have to be able to work their goalkeeper, and we didn’t do it enough.”
‘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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Swindon Post Match on 09:32 - Sep 20 with 264 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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Swindon Post Match on 19:25 - Sep 20 with 243 views
Lubala still looks a bit rusty, so way too early to judge. However a bit like a few in the team, final ball decision making could be improved.
‘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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Swindon Post Match on 12:02 - Sep 21 with 227 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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Swindon Post Match on 12:05 - Sep 21 with 225 views
Blackpool get it right both on and off the pitch: Matt Scrafton's verdict on the Seasiders' richly deserved win against Swindon in front of 1,000 fans
With so much at stake on and off the pitch for the Seasiders, in hindsight, Saturday’s game against Swindon Town couldn’t have gone much better.
On the pitch Neil Critchley claimed his first competitive win as head coach, as his Blackpool side got their league campaign off and running with a richly deserved win, scoring their first goals of the season in the process and keeping a clean sheet at the other end.
Off the pitch, meanwhile, the club’s pilot event went as smoothly as can be hoped, with 1,000 lucky fans returning to Bloomfield Road for the first time since March to create an excellent atmosphere none of us could have surely predicted.
The club deserves huge credit for arranging this test event at such late notice, having only received correspondence from the EFL — in where they invited clubs to apply to host a limited number of fans — on Tuesday, just four days before the game took place.
In truth, the Seasiders had been planning for such a scenario weeks ago, proof if we ever needed it that this is very much a different Blackpool to the one we’d previously become accustomed to.
Just hearing supporters clap the players onto the pitch for the pre-match warm-up, something we previously took for granted, managed to make the hairs stand on end. Witnessing the roar of the goal celebration, something that can’t be duplicated however hard TV stations try, was something else.
Whether this proves to be a false dawn or just the first step in supporters returning to grounds on a wider scale, who knows — the picture changes from day-to-day.
But this was a hugely encouraging event which, fingers crossed, given its success should lead to further tests in the coming days and weeks with more fans in attendance.
Those supporters who did make their long-awaited return to Bloomfield Road will no doubt have been delighted with what they witnessed. There’s one thing watching your side on a live stream, but nothing compares to watching the blood and thunder in person.
For the second week running, however, the Seasiders got off to a slow start. Swindon, buoyed by last season’s League Two title win and their opening day 3-1 win against Rochdale, made all the early running.
Richie Wellens’ men settled quickly, looking calm, composed and, more importantly, threatening with the ball at their feet.
But, unlike Plymouth Argyle last week, they were unable to take advantage of their promising start. Had Jonny Smith’s 13th-minute shot curled inside the far post, rather than inches wide of it, this could have been a completely different story.
But, it has to be said, other than a late Hallam Hope effort that crashed onto the post, Swindon created very little and Blackpool maintained the upper hand throughout, just as they did at Home Park on the opening day.
Only on this occasion, Critchley’s side showed a clinical touch in front of goal. Or, more specifically, CJ Hamilton did.
The winger, Blackpool’s standout performer of the summer, netted a stunning double in clinical fashion to decide this entertaining encounter.
His first came at a crucial time, just four minutes before the half-time interval. Played into space down the flank, the 25-year-old shifted the ball onto his right foot before beating the goalkeeper at his near post with a powerful drilled effort.
The goal saw Bloomfield Road erupt as the returning Seasiders celebrated Blackpool’s first competitive goal in almost six hours of action under Critchley, a record that stretches back to the last time supporters were inside the stadium — the 2-1 defeat to Tranmere Rovers in March.
Critchley’s side ought to have added a second in first-half stoppage time, but Michael Nottingham could only head over, with the help of his shoulder, after being left unmarked from Hamilton’s inswinging cross.
Thankfully the Seasiders only had to wait two minutes of the second half to find that all-important second.
Hamilton chased down what looked to be a lost cause, keeping the ball alive by the byline before cutting inside Rob Hunt and beating Kovar at his near post once again with a bullet of an effort, only this time on his left foot.
One couldn’t help but feel a tinge of sympathy for Hunt, who was given a torrid time all afternoon by the rapid winger.
This allowed Blackpool to sit back a little bit and gift Swindon possession of the ball, but only in areas of the pitch where they knew they wouldn’t cause any damage.
Having been kept at arm’s length, the Robins began to lose their discipline and shape in the final 20 minutes which sparked another sustained spell of pressure from the Seasiders, who in truth ought to have added another goal or two minimum.
The home side somehow managed to squander a four-on-one scenario before Ethan Robson, in magnificent form all afternoon in the middle of the park, clattered the underside of the crossbar with a ferocious first-time volley.
Not that it mattered a great deal, as this result was never really in doubt once Hamilton added his and Blackpool’s second at the start of the second half.
Hamilton will rightfully earn all the plaudits but there were plenty of other impressive performers too, with Robson, Demetri Mitchell and Keshi Anderson all catching the eye.
This was a very different encounter to the one we witnessed against Plymouth last week. On this occasion, Pool, who dominated possession in their season opener in Devon, allowed Swindon to have more of the ball as they knew they would cause them problems pressing them high up the pitch, sometimes going as far as the goalkeeper in his own six-yard box.
Having survived some early pressure, it’s a tactic that proved highly successful, rightfully receiving the support and backing of those inside the ground.
‘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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Swindon Post Match on 15:09 - Sep 21 with 216 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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