After the devastating opening day defeat, Blackpool made just one change, skipper Keith Southern was suspended after a sending off in midweek at Macclesfield, so David Fox found himself starting, as Simon Grayson looked to add some class and creativity to the middle. Ben Burgess once again found himself playing as the lone striker, and former Norwich keeper Matty Gilks failed to make the side after a poor display in the Carling Cup. Included in the Norwich line up was former Pool winger Wes Hoolahan, who received a rough reception throughout the game.

Norwich nearly made the perfect start, when Mo Camara was caught out of position, and former Newcastle winger Matty Pattison was in behind. His cross picked out Jamie Cureton, and his header crashed off the bar. The ball fell to Hoolahan, but the Irishman fired over when he should have scored, with Rachubka out of position.

Blackpool began to move into their stride, as Gary Taylor-Fletcher nearly scored but his chance was denied by centre half John Kennedy, and then Ben Burgess delivered an inch perfect cross, only for Taylor-Fletcher to head straight at David Marshall in the host’s goal.

Adam Hammill missed a good chance after linking up with Burgess, and then Blackpool’s latest skipper Rob Edwards was called upon to make a goal saving block to deny Cureton, who had latched onto an Arturo Lupoli cross, and from the ensuing corner, Danny Coid was forced to block Ryan Bertrand’s low drive.

Mo Camara tried a whipping free kick from around 35 yards which bobbled through to the keeper, but then Norwich’s lack of a natural finisher was blatantly shown, as Cureton beat the offside trap, and Rachubka was forced to come out of goal. Cureton scuffed his shot straight into the path of Lupoli, and with the goal at his mercy, he somehow managed to shoot wide, with Rachubka nowhere.

The two sides played out the half with only Pattison coming close with a diagonal shot, but the Seasiders went in at half time more content after a good display.

Half Time: Norwich City 0-0 Blackpool

Blackpool started the second half with a booking, as Adam Hammill had his name taken after one too many fouls. Pool were then forced into a change as Danny Coid left the field after taking a knock in the first half, and he was replaced by Zesh Rehman, who made his debut.

Just 6 minutes after the Pakistan skipper entered the fray; the deadlock was broken, as Hammill ducked and weaved his way past his man, and found a leg left out. Over went the youngster, and the penalty was given. After the departure of Hoolahan, it was the chance for a new penalty taker to step forward. Burgess took the responsibility, and duly converted with a sweet left footed strike. It was Blackpool’s first penalty since Deepdale 07, and to see it converted by last years leading scorer, was a sight that Pool fans and management alike were delighted to see.

The goal spurred Norwich into action and they made their first substitution, as Darrell Russell replaced Lupoli, who immediately got booked for handbags with Ian Evatt, whose name was also taken, after an altercation regarding the tactics of Pool keeper Paul Rachubka, who took longer than usual to clear the ball.

Then came the moment that all Pool fans were dreading, as Norwich finally converted one of their many corners, as Hoolahan drifted the ball in, Norwich won the first header, and then Russell forced the ball home after a scramble.

As Norwich pushed for an equaliser, Paul Rachubka made a fantastic save to deny Cureton, who seemed destined to miss out on a goal, as Hoolahan showed a moment of pure genius to send him through, and as Cureton looked destined to score, Rachubka managed to push his shot round for a corner.

Pool eventually managed to cling on to a point, and make the long journey home with a point, a goal, and a confidence boost, after stealing a point despite being completely dominated. Their strength and resolve was tested in the dying moments, but they pulled through to get started on the long road to survival.

Full Time: Norwich City 1-1 Blackpool

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