Gaffer’s Gabber

Much like the Northampton game a week prior, Grayson was once again agreeing with the old adage that the game was ‘a game of two halves’ thanks to a Cheltenham side who were certainly no pushovers as they aimed to pull away from the relegation places.

‘The game was a tale of two halves. I thought before the break we passed the ball around really well and they never really caused us problems. I knew they’d come out second half and have a go at us – but when they got the goal early on it gave them a lift and they caused us real problems after that, and gave us a good going over.’

Keith Southern was the man who the ball fell to – like against Leyton Orient – fire Blackpool into the lead late on in the game with his fourth goal of the season.

‘When thinks are going your way, like they are at the moment, you tend to come through and get the goal – and it was even sweeter that it was Keith Southern’s left foot. He doesn’t get many of them. In fact that’s not quite right. Keith has been telling us that all his goals this season have been with his left foot. Presumably there must be something wrong with his right foot but I’m not complaining.’

Actually one of Keith Southern’s goals this season was a header against Brighton in the game live on Sky which showed many that Blackpool were a team to be wary of this season. I’m fairly certain one of his other 3 goals was a header at Bloomers – correct me if I’m wrong! He only seems to score when we’re up against it which is a shame!

Larry was keen to praise the team spirit and the never-say-die attitude that got them back into the game.

‘The match typifies the team. They never give up. We had to withstand a lot of pressure, the goalkeeper made some good saves, people threw themselves in the way of the ball and got blocks in – they never know when they are beaten, they always want to win a game. We kept going and it was a fantastic strike.’

Not only was he quick to praise his team, but he also reserved special praise for the fans that made the trip and sold out the away end at Whaddon Road.

‘The travelling support was fantastic. I think if we had been given the whole ground we might have filled it. We took 2,500 to Huddersfield the other week and we’d have probably taken two or three thousand on Saturday had we been given the chance. It’s fantastic. It keeps the lads going. The encouragement they give us keeps us driving forward because the lads want to repay the faith that the fans have shown them. We are all in it together and hopefully by the third week of May we will have something to cheer about.’

I have always been of the opinion that Blackpool fans are the loudest fans away from home. Fortunately this season personally, I have been able to attend more away games – thanks in part to the generosity of people on the board for offering lifts and such – and at every ground we have been to, including Huddersfield twice, we have certainly outsung the opposition fans for the 90minutes and made it seem like we are the home team.

In my opinion there were more than 2,500 fans there at Huddersfield on Easter Monday – then again I didn’t sit there and count everyone!

The point about having something to cheer about is somewhat missing the point in my opinion. This time last year we were celebrating being JUST mathematically safe from relegation. What a mirror image this time around, now celebrating the fact that we are GUARANTEED, yes that’s right, if you didn’t read that properly, GUARANTEED a playoff finish this season.

For that, I will be certain to stay behind after the final whistle on Saturday for as long as it takes to sound my appreciation to the players and the management for taking the club where it deserves to be – on the verge of a promotion to the 2nd tier of English football.

I urge everyone to stay until the game is over to applaud everyone off the pitch – this applies to the ones who leave 5 minutes before the end! – to show them how much it means to this town to finally be on the verge of something big!

Now…whatever happened to that South Stand…