Sullay Kaikai put in a performance of high quality, but will this be the catalyst for a more consistent spell?

Sullay Kaikai has been a figure of derision throughout this season, but his performance against Rochdale reminded people of what he is capable of.

The ex-Crystal Palace winger ran the show for Blackpool as Neil Critchley’s men edged past the visitors in a nervy finale at Bloomfield Road.

Kaikai, who last scored for his club at home against Wigan in November, arrived in the right place at the right time to power through a group of bodies following an 18-yard-box scramble to pick up the three points.

It was not the goal that cemented him as the Man of the Match, it was his all-round creativity and drive that has been lacking for so long that shone through.

Long been the designated set-piece taker for the Seasiders, his deliveries in recent months from dead ball situations have been void of the quality many know he has in his locker, often drilling corners low towards the near post defender or overshot above the heads of his teammates.

Against Brian Barry-Murphy’s side, the 25-year-old’s set-piece play was measured, composed and effective.

It seemed as if a coolness had descended upon the wide man. Forcing play and becoming erratic in approach when you are on a bad run of form is easily done and Kaikai has been guilty of that in recent times, but his usual languid, frustrated demeanour was replaced with someone who was full confidence in his ability to find the right pass.

Of the 11 shots Blackpool let off in the match, the Englishman had three of them and set up four of the others, meaning he was responsible for more than 63% of the Seasiders’ attempts at goal.

Strikingly, his intelligence of play grew in a game that was becoming compacted in the midfield. Rochdale set up to intercept possession on the shoulder of the Blackpool midfield whenever they dropped the shoulder looking to play an attacking phase pass, the former Crystal Palace player was aware of this from minute one.

Whilst some of Critchley’s men struggled to keep calm under such an aggressive midfield press, the winger took it in his stride, almost as if he enjoyed luring the press so that he could use his turn of pace to launch into the final third.

This is where a lot of Kaikai’s play came from and it was a great indicator as to his awareness on the pitch and where he can quickly identify gaps to exploit when necessary.

Whilst his on the ball play was top class, it was vital in this tactical battle that his off the ball work showed that same quality and he duly delivered.

Blackpool’s number ten remained high up the park when Rochdale looked to build an attack. The visitors tend to play a possession-based game that looks to play through the midfield on the floor and open up gaps through passing triangles around an opposition press.

However, they were left resorting to long diagonal balls trying to split the Tangerine defence open due to their lack of pace in the central defensive areas, especially when Marvin Ekpiteta was substituted through a hamstring injury.

Oliver Rathbone on the left-hand side of the opposition midfield was evident throughout the game, he had the freedom to press high in an attempt to force Blackpool into a mistake.

Alex Newby had less of that freedom. This is due to Kaikai sitting high and wide when Rochdale started to play out from the back, occupying right full-back Gabriel Osho so that he was not a viable out ball for the build-up.

With that being the case, it meant Newby had to drop deeper and narrow in initial build-up play in order to give that extra out ball to break the Seasiders’ press. However, once they broke that press they were forced backwards again or direct because the wide option that should have been there, was instead deeper in the play.

Kaikai, once Rochdale had the ball in the midfield areas, would sit deeper but engage narrower, cutting the passing lanes to the now free right full-back and covering the space Newby looked to exploit.

His impact in frustrating the opposition both on and off the ball was a major factor in Blackpool holding on for a vital win in the campaign. Having said that, the key word for Sullay Kaikai is consistency.

If he was putting in consistent performances like the one he produced on Tuesday night then he would not be playing League One football so there are always caveats in terms of supporters harbouring their expectations.

Looking at the impact CJ Hamilton has had on the right-hand side, it is about time Kaikai, as one of the club’s highest earners, started to perform less sporadically.

From his showing at Bloomfield Road, he is capable and Neil Critchley has persisted with him knowing that this performance was eventually coming. His hope now is that this will provide a catalyst for better things to come.

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