By Deadly Submarine
April 8 2007

Blackpool won by an odd goal in five at Bloomfield Road as John Mullin and Jason McAteer deservedly saw red for Rovers in the second half of the game after two Calvin Zola goals had drawn them level just after half-time.

 

 

 

Attendance: 8,091 (1,023 Away Fans)

 

Match Referee: Ray Olivier (West Midlands)

 

 

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A day of glorious sunshine and a trip to the Seaside.  What more could you want on Easter Sunday?  A decent performance from a Rovers side would be a start but sadly that was once again too much to ask as a poor display aided by two deserved red cards for John Mullin and Jason McAteer saw Rovers lose a five-goal battle at Bloomfield Road.

 

Just nine minutes had passed when Rovers ‘goalkeeper’ Gavin Ward proceeded to once again do his best to undo what effort the Tranmere team were putting into the game as his error gifted Keigan Parker the opening goal.

 

Just before the half-hour mark, something much rarer than a Gavin Ward mistake occurred as Calvin Zola managed to score a goal that put Rovers back in the game for just seven minutes before sleepy defending following a free-kick that wasn’t given, allowed Wes Hoolahan to put the Seasiders ahead again.

 

Just after half-time the unthinkable happened as Zola scored twice in a game, possibly for the first time in his Rovers career to draw the visitors level before a John Mullin tackle sparked a mass brawl that saw Mullin dismissed for the challenge and Jason McAteer also sent off for attacking at least two people in the chaos that followed.

 

Rovers battled hard with nine men but eventually succumbed to a headed winner from Andy Morrell as Blackpool continued their play-off push but Rovers’ hopes petered out.

 

Ronnie Moore made two changes to the team that lost 2-0 at home to Carlisle last Friday night with Calvin Zola replacing Kevin Ellison and Ian Goodison returning to the side after suspension at the expense of Shane Sherriff.

 

There was little in the way of goalmouth action at either end before the home side were gifted an opening goal in the ninth minute thanks to Rovers ‘goalkeeper’ Gavin Ward who threw the ball straight into the back of Keigan Parker and he made no mistake from close range to give Blackpool the lead.

 

Rovers survived further damage a few minutes later when Ward saved from Morrell whilst at the other end Chris Greenacre forced Pool goalkeeper Edge into a decent save and John Mullin sliced wide for Rovers.

 

Carl Tremarco was stretchered off in the 25^th minute and was replaced by Shane Sherriff and just three minutes later the visitors were level as a ball into the area from McAteer was flicked goal-wards by Calvin Zola and into the net.

 

Just after Chris Greenacre had had a  penalty appeal turned down when he claimed he was held back, Blackpool then took the lead for a second time in controversial circumstances.

 

Robbie Stockdale looked to have been fouled on the edge of his own area but the referee allowed play to continue and as Rovers players focussed too much on appealing and not on defending, Wes Hoolahan scored for the home side.

 

At the end of the first half, Gareth Taylor had a headed goal rightly disallowed for a foul on the goalkeeper and Calvin Zola volleyed just wide as the score remained 2-1 to Blackpool at the break.

 

Whatever Ronnie Moore said to the Players at half-time seemed to work as they got themselves back in the game inside a minute of the restart as Calvin Zola scored his second goal of the game at the second attempt after Chris Greenacre had seen his header parried by Edge.

 

Just four minutes later though joy turned to despair for the 1,200 Rovers fans as John Mullin and Jason McAteer were both deservedly dismissed in an unsavoury incident.

 

A high and somewhat reckless challenge from John Mullin on Claus Jorgenson sparked a mass confrontation which resulted in not only a red card for Mullin for the challenge but also for Rovers’ veteran midfielder Jason McAteer for kicking a player and trying to attack Blackpool Boss Simon Grayson on the touchline.

 

With Rovers down to nine-men, Danny Harrison replaced Chris Shuker soon after as the players were forced to battle hard to preserve a point and a few minutes later, Kevin Ellison replaced Gareth Taylor leaving Calvin Zola upfront on his own.

 

Rovers looked like they may hold on to a point but in the 74^th minute Andy Morrell popped up to head in Ian Evatt’s floated ball and seal the win for Blackpool.

 

The fact that Rovers’ fans were blaming the referee at the final whistle, somewhat hides the fact that this was yet another poor showing from the Rovers players against an average Blackpool side who barely looked good enough to be in the play-offs at times.

 

Rovers now face Brighton at home on Easter Monday and whilst the play-offs are still mathematically possible, realistically it’s all over for this season.

 

 

Calvin Zola – On a day when Moore got his tactics wrong and played players out of position, Zola was just about the pick of a bad bunch courtesy of his two goals either side of half-time which looked at one point to have sealed at least a point for Rovers.

 

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