Blackpool are getting that air of inevitability back at Bloomfield Road

Neil Critchley and his men did it again, masterfully pushing aside their Lancashire rivals, Blackburn Rovers to make it three wins in four games.

An early deflected strike from red-hot Northern Ireland international Shayne Lavery and a poacher’s header from his first half replacement Jerry Yates were enough to seal the three points, in spite of Ben Brereton-Diaz’s second half goal.

Walking towards the ground pre-match it was clear that Rovers supporters saw this as an opportunity to lay another marker down in what has been a superb start to their Championship campaign.

Inside the stadium, the atmosphere grew from the strong away support who were in fine voice, but they were drowned out however by the raucous, traditional elements of the North Stand at Bloomfield Road.

Times of old will tell you that Bloomfield Road at its best had one of the finest atmospheres in the land and, with all that has occurred over recent years, that has been reinvigorated through collective solidarity that brings with it a unique, wholehearted backing of the team come rain or shine.

It just means more now. Not many other clubs will get that, but it is adding an extra five per cent to Blackpool’s performance levels when it is most needed.

Neil Critchley made a point again of heading straight for the North Stand after the full-time whistle was blown to soak up the acclaim of supporters whose admiration for their commander grows every week and it is clear to see why.

Blackpool started the game with a direct intensity, pressuring a makeshift Blackburn backline into high turnovers time after time, winning every second ball to retain control of the play within the opposition half.

It is everything Critchley wants to see from his side, as his anger showed following the disappointing second half performance against Hull City in midweek.

Another factor in that anger was efficiently brushed aside as Shayne Lavery’s first shot on target floated over Rovers goalkeeper Thomas Kaminski following a Daniel Ayala deflection to give Blackpool an early lead.

The Seasiders have paid the price in games this season for not being ruthless in front of goal when chances arose, and even with a two-goal advantage when Gary Madine’s back-post header was parried into the path of Jerry Yates who slotted the ball into the net, Blackpool could well look back on that half feeling it could have been four or five.

Not since the free-flowing attacking exploits of Ian Holloway’s side has Bloomfield Road seen a near-full house watching over their side completely dominate a team believed to be in an upper echelon that a newly-promoted side should not be knocking on the door of.

However, here they were again, on merit, firing past all pre-season expectations of those around them to knock another high-flying team from their perch.

This is not a story of the plucky underdog, this is a side full of ambition, with a supporter-base confident in their club’s ability to punch above its weight and an owner who is the most expectant of all.

What made this victory all the more special was that it came as a combination of that attacking swagger that can slice teams open. Direct runner after direct runner whether it be Keshi Anderson or Josh Bowler unhinging any form of structure in the Blackburn defence to create chances, alongside the gritty defensive work of an increasingly fatigued side come the end of the game.

If you were to ask Blackpool supporters what they want to see from their team, it is an exciting attacking unit that can dig in when required and this performance and this squad encapsulate that.

Throughout lockdown, despite supporters not being able to get to games, a relationship and bond with the players donning the Tangerine jersey grew, and upon return, it is clear that the players feel that connection too.

Bloomfield Road is an incredibly special place to be these days, confidence is flowing and, despite some disappointing injuries to players like Chris Maxwell, Shayne Lavery and Richard Keogh, others in the squad will step up with the same vigour, knowing their role and expected level of performance.

Neil Critchley is pulling the strings of this ever-improving set of players and with his mind and his players’ ability to play out his instructions, Blackpool supporters may just be dreaming of another trip to their second home at the national stadium.

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