‘Pool fail to draw…

The one change made by Larry this evening was Danny Coid in for Gary Taylor-Fletcher who picked up a knock on his ankle during the game at the weekend. He had to settle for a place on the subs bench. This meant that Simon Grayson’s men lined up in a 5-3-2 formation, with Coid and Crainey acting as wing-backs and Hoolahan operating just behind the front two.

Rachubka

Coid – Barker – Jackson (c) – Gorkss – Crainey

Fox – Southern

Hoolahan

Parker – Vernon

West Brom took the lead on 22 minutes thanks to highly-rated Manchester City loanee, Ishmael Miller as he slotted home a shot from 18 yards into the bottom left hand corner.

However, the lead would last less than 10 minutes as Scott Vernon would net his first of the season. Skinning a defender on the edge of the area after Keigan Parker held up the ball, he smashed the ball passed Dean Kiely to send the ‘Pool fans barmy.

West Brom would hit the bar before the half was over, but the score remained all square at one apiece.

Matt Jackson was brought on for his namesake Michael, whom picked up an injury before the interval.

‘Pool would have most of the pressure in the 2nd half – as is usually the case this season, it seems – and even hit the post when a deflected Keigan Parker cross from the left found its way onto Kiely’s post with him well-beaten.

Danny Coid was then replaced by Gary Taylor-Fletcher, with ‘Pool reverting back to 4-4-2 as a result, however it would be West Brom who would re-take the lead and subsequently grab the 3 points 3 minutes later.

James Morrison shot from the left hand side, 20 yards out and saw his shot fly into the top right-hand corner past a beaten Paul Rachubka.

David Fox was replaced by Michael Flynn late on, but despite pressing for a point (again) late on, ‘Pool couldn’t find an opening and as the final whistle blew, found themselves in 18th place in The Championship.

With Sheffield Wednesday next up on Saturday, this is the time when the Seasiders need to be picking up maximum points. Jacko no. 1 may miss the game with his injury that ruled him out of the second 45 tonight, meaning Marcus Bean might find his way onto the substitutes bench with only having something like 16 or 17 fit first team players.

Larry mentioned in the Gazette this evening that he is looking to get permanent signings in during the January transfer window. By then, could it be too late? One would hope not, but if we don’t start winning games soon, our season may be over before the window opens.

That’s not being negative, for those who might want to brand me as a ‘doom and gloomer’ for the above, it’s being realistic.

Larry has done excellently well with the resources he has at the moment. However, with very few changes to the side that won Promotion last season, it would be fair to say that he is just coping with what he already had.

A striker or two is an absolute must in the window, in my view. Until then, it is paramount that Keigan Parker re-ignites that form from the end of last season, particularly Swansea away, along with Andy Morrell and Scott Vernon who both shot into double figures last term.