Seasiders` Speedy Start To Tour

Simon Grayson`s Blackpool side got out of the traps with ease this afternoon as they left FK Auda standing in a 5-0 demolition.

The team that started:
Edge
Coid – Doughty – Evatt – Crainey
GTF – Flynn – Southern – Jorgensen
Burgess – Morrell

The Seasiders ended the first half one nil up thanks to a goal from Morrell after a route one move that started with Edge in goal and finished with Morrell after Ben Burgess had flicked a header on.

Chances were being spread around the team, as attacking midfielder Michael Flynn came close on a couple of occasions after driving runs through the middle of the park – exactly what ‘Pool need.

At half time – with ‘Pool one up – changes were made, seven in total.

The team that started the second half:
Edge
Barker – Doughty – Gorkss – Coid
GTF – Bean – Fox – Hills
Parker – Vernon

On as a substitute, David Fox helped himself to two goals early on in the second period, as he first followed up a Keigan Parker shot with a tap in, and secondly tapped in once again a Parker shot to make the game 3-0.

The lively Scot, Parker, was running the FK Auda defence ragged and was unlucky not to get on the scoresheet himself.

Then four more changes were made, with Edge, Doughty, Coid and GTF being replaced by Lawlor, Metcalf, Kay and Rachubka. These changes then meant the side now looked like this:

3-5-2:
——————Rachubka——————–
———-Barker – Lawlor – Gorkss———
—–Metcalf————————-Hills—–
————–Bean—-Fox—-Kay————
—————Vernon—–Parker————-

The above shows the management are open to ideas with regards to formation, which is great to see as next year we may have to change the way we play often, especially against the bigger teams.

The 3-5-2 formation allowed the wing backs (most notably John Hills) to bomb on and create chances for the forwards and Scott Vernon was the main benefactor of this. Hills crossed for Scott to head home on 63 minutes and soon after a super ball from Keigan Parker into the box found its way to Vernon who headed home once again.

The win was sealed long before Marcus Bean missed a glaring opportunity.

So, a good workout and a resounding win for The Seasiders, who play Ventspils on Friday in the next leg of their tour of Valeri Belokon`s homeland. Incidentally, Kaspars Gorkss` brother was playing for FK Auda today, and his father is chairman of the club.