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Seasiders Fall To Comprehensive Defeat At Bloomfield Road
Blackpool fell to their first home defeat of the season, as MK Dons recorded a 3-0 victory at Bloomfield Road.
On an afternoon to forget for the Seasiders, goals from Russell Martin, Jordan Houghton and David Kasumu wrapped up the three points for the visitors and made it consecutive losses for the team in tangerine.
Manager Simon Grayson made two changes for the fixture, with Ben Heneghan making his first league start since returning to the club and Jordan Thompson restored to the line-up following his international commitments.
The Seasiders didn’t get off to the best of starts though, conceding a goal inside the first five minutes. A cross into the box wasn’t dealt with and that allowed the unmarked Russell Martin to put the visitors in front.
Armand Gnanduillet did his best to try and reply on the 15-minute mark, sending a glancing header just wide of the far post.
That proved to be the only chance of note that the team could muster in the first half hour, with numerous crosses and passes going astray, or just missing their intended targets.
At the other end, Kieran Agard managed to turn and get a shot off inside the Blackpool box, however his effort flew wide.
Jordan Thompson heard cries of ‘shoot’ from the North Stand when he received the ball on the edge of the area, yet his attempt failed to trouble Lee Nicholls in the MK Dons goal.
Half-Time: Blackpool 0 MK Dons 1
Things continued in a similar fashion immediately after the interval, as Blackpool struggled to create anything to trouble the opposition.
In an attempt to change that, Jordan Thompson had another effort from distance, this time seeing Lee Nicholls parry it away from the top corner.
Some good link-up play between Joe Nuttall and Armand Gnanduillet then saw the latter go close with an 18-yard strike.
Just when things were improving, MK Dons increased their lead. Curtis Tilt was caught in possession and Jordan Houghton pounced to find the bottom corner.
That goal prompted a double change from The Seasiders. Ryan Hardie and Sean Scannell were the players to come on, replacing Joe Nuttall and Curtis Tilt.
Two minutes later, Scannell almost made a crucial impact, however his low, drilled strike hit the side netting.
Defender Ben Heneghan then came the closest Blackpool had been to scoring in the game when he headed the ball against the bar.
A sucker punch soon followed when David Kasumu put MK Dons three goals up, latching on to a cut back from George Williams.
Ryan Hardie had a chance to reduce that deficit when he nipped in at the near post, only to head wide, while Sam Nombe struck the outside of the post on an MK Dons counter attack.
Nombe was then denied by Alnwick just prior to the final whistle.
MK Dons Postmortem on 18:10 - Sep 14 by spell_chekker
‘Where there is harmony, may we bring discord. Where there is truth, may we bring error. Where there is faith, may we bring doubt. And where there is hope, may we bring despair’
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MK Dons Postmortem on 18:16 - Sep 14 with 1154 views
MK Dons Postmortem on 18:10 - Sep 14 by spell_chekker
Report: Blackpool 0-3 MK Dons
Paul Tisdale's men secure first away league win...
MK Dons picked up their first away league win of the season courtesy of an impressive 3-0 victory at Blackpool.
Russell Martin put the Dons ahead just five minutes into the game at Bloomfield Road before Jordan Houghton and David Kasumu extended the advantage in the second half — the latter netting his first career league goal.
Paul Tisdale’s men also secured their first clean sheet since opening day, but it will be the victory that will please the Dons most, as they move to within a point of the play-off places in Sky Bet League One and three adrift of second.
Boss Tisdale was forced into making two change to his starting XI, one of which was made shortly before kick-off.
Regan Poole came back into the side to replace an injured Alex Gilbey while Rhys Healey withdrew in the warm-ups and Kieran Agard took his place.
The Dons didn’t let the late switch affect them, however, as they took the lead inside the opening five minutes.
Dean Lewington’s corner was won at the near post by Nombe, whose lofted cross into the mix wasn’t dealt with properly by the Blackpool defence. The loose ball fell to Martin who, on the volley, rifled home through a crowded six-yard area for his first goal of the campaign. 0-1.
Tisdale’s men went close again from another corner five minutes later. George Williams kept the attack alive with a header at the far post and it was his eventual shot which flew just wide of the post.
Blackpool threatened for the first time from a corner of their own. Armand Gnanduillet climbed well to meet the cross but saw his header fall wide of the post.
Joe Nuttall got behind the Dons’ backline in the 20th minute but saw his cutback intercepted by Nicholls. Joe Walsh then put himself in the way of Sullay Kaikai’s drive from the edge of the area. Kaikai had another opportunity soon after, from similar range, but dragged wide.
It took a vital last-ditch tackle from Lewington to deny Kaikai on 31 minutes, as he looked set to try to and convert from a cross. Nicholls then did well to punch clear a deep cross above Gnaduillet.
The Dons responded with Agard going close. Regan Poole did brilliantly down the right before picking out the striker, who turned well and sent his curling strike just past the far post.
With eight minutes to play in the half, Nicholls was called into action to keep out Jordan Thompson’s bending strike. At the other end, Lewington’s corner somehow made it through the six-yard box untouched.
The Dons also worked themselves back into the penalty area in first-half stoppage time but were halted by the referee’s whistle, signalling the interval.
Tisdale’s side, unchanged at the break, started the second half well and Nombe came close to meeting a whipped Lewington cross at the near post just five minutes in.
Nicholls was then forced into a save on 55 minutes, doing well to keep out Thompson’s long-range drive. Blackpool kept the attack alive but Gnanduillet’s header was also saved by the MK Dons number 1.
The Seasiders remained on the front foot but they were denied again courtesy of a goal-line block from Poole. With their next attack, Gnanduillet fired wide.
Tisdale went to the bench for the first time on the hour, replacing Agard with Hiram Boateng. Within a minute, his side’s lead had doubled.
The change had pushed Houghton higher up the field and that had him in position to intercept Curtis Tilt’s pass. The midfielder then raced through and kept his composure to finish past Jan Alnwick. 0-2.
Boateng had a chance to extend the advantage further soon after but his left-footed attempt was blocked. Walsh then saw a left-footed shot kept out after latching onto Poole’s terrific ball across goal.
Blackpool’s substitute Ryan Hardie had a strike deflected behind by Martin with 20 minutes to play, moments before Poole headed over from under his own crossbar to deny Gnanduillet.
Sean Scannell crashed an effort into the side netting as the Tangerines came forward once again on 71 minutes. Ryan Edwards also headed over for the home side while defensive partner Heneghan headed onto the crossbar a few minutes later.
The Dons were under the cosh but, with a quarter of an hour to play, they made the game safe.
Boateng did well initially before McGrandles picked out Williams with a stunning cross-field pass. Williams crossed for an on-rushing Kasumu, who sent a first-time finish past Alnwick to make it three-nil - his first league goal for MK Dons. 0-3.
Kasumu’s third allowed the Dons to play with freedom for the final 10 minutes, although Hardie did go close to reducing the deficit with a near-post header while Nicholls was forced into a comfortable save to keep out Spearing.
That said, it was the Dons who went closest to scoring a fourth as Nombe struck the outside of the right post with a curling right-footed shot before also drawing a fingertrip save from Alnwick in stoppage time.
The score remained 3-0, however. A fine trip to the Seaside for Paul Tisdale’s side and the 300 travelling MK Dons supporters.
MK Dons secured their first away win of the season with a classy 3-0 victory at Blackpool.
Russell Martin scored in the opening exchanges, Jordan Houghton notched a second before the hour and David Kasumu added a late third.
Blackpool struggled throughout and were behind after five minutes when Martin put the Dons ahead. The Scotland international was quickest to react when a corner fell his way and he fired home.
Midfielder Jordan Thompson then tried his luck from distance but his strike was comfortably dealt with by Dons goalkeeper Lee Nicholls.
Blackpool started brightly after the restart and just when it looked as though they may get back into the game, they shot themselves in the foot.
Curtis Tilt's loose pass was picked off by Houghton who raced through and doubled the Dons' lead.
Dons added gloss on 75 minutes when Kasumu capped a fine team move with a first-time finish to secure the win, which moves them into the top half.
Learning to read clusters is not something your eyes do naturally. It takes constant practice.
MK Dons secured their first away win of the season with a classy 3-0 victory at Blackpool.
Russell Martin scored in the opening exchanges, Jordan Houghton notched a second before the hour and David Kasumu added a late third.
Blackpool struggled throughout and were behind after five minutes when Martin put the Dons ahead. The Scotland international was quickest to react when a corner fell his way and he fired home.
Midfielder Jordan Thompson then tried his luck from distance but his strike was comfortably dealt with by Dons goalkeeper Lee Nicholls.
Blackpool started brightly after the restart and just when it looked as though they may get back into the game, they shot themselves in the foot.
Curtis Tilt's loose pass was picked off by Houghton who raced through and doubled the Dons' lead.
Dons added gloss on 75 minutes when Kasumu capped a fine team move with a first-time finish to secure the win, which moves them into the top half.
Been away in York today so can’t comment.
Hugely disappointing result though.
when the monkey is high you do not stare you do not stare 🥴
MK Dons Postmortem on 19:06 - Sep 14 by spell_chekker
Grayson: Disappointed And Angry
Manager Pulls No Punches In Post-Match Assessment
An angry Simon Grayson pulled no punches in his assessment of Blackpool’s performance at home to MK Dons, as the Seasiders fell to a 3-0 defeat.
The manager felt his players were second best all over the pitch and didn’t do things right in either box.
“I’m hugely disappointed and angry,” he said. “To win any football match you’ve got to do a lot of factors — you’ve got to make sure that you defend properly as individuals and as a team, you keep retention of the ball in the midfield areas and win your individual battles, then when you get to the top end of the pitch, you’ve got to be ruthless, inventive and do whatever you can to try and score goals. We had none of those factors today.
“We were a soft touch right the way through the team. We started the game alright and the first goal again was another one that was avoidable. That allowed them to sit back and soak pressure up. First-half, we didn’t have any inventiveness about us and we put balls in the box but were too predictable. We then make stupid mistakes second-half that kill the game for us.”
A much-improved display is now required away to Doncaster Rovers on Tuesday night and a number of changes to the team could be inevitable.
“Players are not going to be happy because they’ve not played well enough. If I mix it up on Tuesday night and make 11 changes, nobody will have any complaints.
“We’ll get back to work in the morning and prepare a team that goes to Doncaster and puts in a more professional performance, a more spirited performance and a more ruthless performance,” the manager insisted.
Learning to read clusters is not something your eyes do naturally. It takes constant practice.
MK Dons Postmortem on 19:09 - Sep 14 by spell_chekker
Grayson: Disappointed And Angry
Manager Pulls No Punches In Post-Match Assessment
An angry Simon Grayson pulled no punches in his assessment of Blackpool’s performance at home to MK Dons, as the Seasiders fell to a 3-0 defeat.
The manager felt his players were second best all over the pitch and didn’t do things right in either box.
“I’m hugely disappointed and angry,” he said. “To win any football match you’ve got to do a lot of factors — you’ve got to make sure that you defend properly as individuals and as a team, you keep retention of the ball in the midfield areas and win your individual battles, then when you get to the top end of the pitch, you’ve got to be ruthless, inventive and do whatever you can to try and score goals. We had none of those factors today.
“We were a soft touch right the way through the team. We started the game alright and the first goal again was another one that was avoidable. That allowed them to sit back and soak pressure up. First-half, we didn’t have any inventiveness about us and we put balls in the box but were too predictable. We then make stupid mistakes second-half that kill the game for us.”
A much-improved display is now required away to Doncaster Rovers on Tuesday night and a number of changes to the team could be inevitable.
“Players are not going to be happy because they’ve not played well enough. If I mix it up on Tuesday night and make 11 changes, nobody will have any complaints.
“We’ll get back to work in the morning and prepare a team that goes to Doncaster and puts in a more professional performance, a more spirited performance and a more ruthless performance,” the manager insisted.
Sounds like a few changes are required reading reports.
Heneghan played well apparently.
Think Larry needs to shake things up a bit?
when the monkey is high you do not stare you do not stare 🥴
Sounds like a few changes are required reading reports.
Heneghan played well apparently.
Think Larry needs to shake things up a bit?
It was hoped last week’s defeat to Coventry City was just a one-off, but it appears there might be deeper-lying problems.
I defended the players for the loss against the Sky Blues, given it was their first of the season and came in injury time — when they were holding on with 10 men — against a very good side who are now top of the table.
But there is no defending Blackpool’s display this week, where Simon Grayson’s men slumped to a second straight defeat in pretty embarrassing fashion.
To lose your unbeaten run on home turf is frustrating in its own right, but to do it with a 3-0 scoreline ought to serve as a wake-up call.
Because Pool’s three-game winning start to the season now seems like a distant memory. Grayson’s side are now winless in their last five.
The Seasiders are now looking far too predictable and appear to have been sussed out fairly quickly by their opponents.
The tactic of working the ball out to Liam Feeney in space down the right-hand flank to whip balls into the box for Armand Gnanduillet initially proved successful. But, quite clearly, you need more strings to your bow than that.
It’s far too simplistic to put Pool’s woes down to the absence of Nathan Delfouneso, but the Seasiders have looked a little ‘off’ since going to two up top in the forward’s absence.
Grayson’s men appear a far more threatening outfit when Sullay Kaikai and Delfouneso are able to swap and change freely behind Gnanduillet.
But Kaikai looked anonymous against MK and in truth, a little lost. For all of his talents, which there are many, he is not your typical number 10 who will thread balls through to the strikers. He is a pacey, exciting winger who gets the fans off their seats every time he gets on the ball.
Blackpool’s problems at the top end of the pitch are only part of the problem though, because the defence looks all at sea.
Conceding three goals two weeks running is quite simply unacceptable and not what you would expect from a side battling to stay up, never mind one that has its eyes on promotion.
Grayson says his Pool side will go back to basics and with 11 goals conceded in eight games, that must surely start with being solid, hard to beat and a side that keeps clean sheets. If that means struggling in front of goal for a game or two, then so be it.
That’s by and large the way things are going anyway, because the Seasiders have a dearth of creativity and a real lack of inventiveness at the moment.
MK, to their credit, did their homework. They got their early goal, which came after Pool failed to deal with a cross into their box yet again, sat back, pressed well and got their rewards in the second half.
But the game, much like last week, centred on one specific defensive lapse in concentration.
With an hour on the clock, Blackpool had MK on the ropes and it was just a matter of time until they got that equaliser.
But Curtis Tilt, for the second home game running, inexplicably trod on the ball attempting an unnecessary drag back on the edge of his own area.
It allowed Jordan Houghton the simple task of surging through on goal where he slid the ball past Jak Alnwick with ease.
What was most worrying after that setback was how easily the Seasiders wilted, the visitors running in a third with barely an attempted tackle or block in sight. MK had chances to add a fourth and fifth, too.
Should the alarm bells be ringing? Not just yet. But it’s clear changes must be made.
It’s concerning that it took until the 68th minute for Grayson to make changes, when it was clear early on that the system — and the personnel he chose to play in it — wasn’t working.
Ryan Edwards is a strong centre half who should only be playing in the middle. Having him bring the ball out from the back on the right-hand of the back three is just not his game and that’s through no fault of his own.
That’s a position Ollie Turton has excelled in early on this season and yet he found himself on the bench.
Edwards’ flaws were laid bare when Feeney, looking for support down the right when being tightly marked, had no one behind him willing to get involved.
Armand Gnanduillet and Joe Nuttall is a combination that just isn’t working up top and one suspects never will. They are too similar and often occupy the same areas of the pitch.
But the biggest concern will be over Tilt, who stormed down the tunnel after finding himself in the peculiar position of being subbed off — something he’s certainly not accustomed to.
He didn’t take it well, initially walking off the pitch, rather than jogging — when Pool were 2-0 down and were desperately searching for a route back into the game — before opting to head to the changing rooms, rather than watch the rest of the game from the dugout.
Nuttall, the other man to be replaced at the same time, sat among the rest of the substitutes.
Perhaps we shouldn’t read too much into this, but maybe all is not well. This, after all, is Blackpool’s strongest asset who has still yet to sign a contract after almost three months of negotiations.
With that deal up at the end of the season, it’s a situation Grayson will have to handle delicately. It’s far from the only issue at his door right now though...
‘Where there is harmony, may we bring discord. Where there is truth, may we bring error. Where there is faith, may we bring doubt. And where there is hope, may we bring despair’
0
MK Dons Postmortem on 18:25 - Sep 15 with 1079 views
It was hoped last week’s defeat to Coventry City was just a one-off, but it appears there might be deeper-lying problems.
I defended the players for the loss against the Sky Blues, given it was their first of the season and came in injury time — when they were holding on with 10 men — against a very good side who are now top of the table.
But there is no defending Blackpool’s display this week, where Simon Grayson’s men slumped to a second straight defeat in pretty embarrassing fashion.
To lose your unbeaten run on home turf is frustrating in its own right, but to do it with a 3-0 scoreline ought to serve as a wake-up call.
Because Pool’s three-game winning start to the season now seems like a distant memory. Grayson’s side are now winless in their last five.
The Seasiders are now looking far too predictable and appear to have been sussed out fairly quickly by their opponents.
The tactic of working the ball out to Liam Feeney in space down the right-hand flank to whip balls into the box for Armand Gnanduillet initially proved successful. But, quite clearly, you need more strings to your bow than that.
It’s far too simplistic to put Pool’s woes down to the absence of Nathan Delfouneso, but the Seasiders have looked a little ‘off’ since going to two up top in the forward’s absence.
Grayson’s men appear a far more threatening outfit when Sullay Kaikai and Delfouneso are able to swap and change freely behind Gnanduillet.
But Kaikai looked anonymous against MK and in truth, a little lost. For all of his talents, which there are many, he is not your typical number 10 who will thread balls through to the strikers. He is a pacey, exciting winger who gets the fans off their seats every time he gets on the ball.
Blackpool’s problems at the top end of the pitch are only part of the problem though, because the defence looks all at sea.
Conceding three goals two weeks running is quite simply unacceptable and not what you would expect from a side battling to stay up, never mind one that has its eyes on promotion.
Grayson says his Pool side will go back to basics and with 11 goals conceded in eight games, that must surely start with being solid, hard to beat and a side that keeps clean sheets. If that means struggling in front of goal for a game or two, then so be it.
That’s by and large the way things are going anyway, because the Seasiders have a dearth of creativity and a real lack of inventiveness at the moment.
MK, to their credit, did their homework. They got their early goal, which came after Pool failed to deal with a cross into their box yet again, sat back, pressed well and got their rewards in the second half.
But the game, much like last week, centred on one specific defensive lapse in concentration.
With an hour on the clock, Blackpool had MK on the ropes and it was just a matter of time until they got that equaliser.
But Curtis Tilt, for the second home game running, inexplicably trod on the ball attempting an unnecessary drag back on the edge of his own area.
It allowed Jordan Houghton the simple task of surging through on goal where he slid the ball past Jak Alnwick with ease.
What was most worrying after that setback was how easily the Seasiders wilted, the visitors running in a third with barely an attempted tackle or block in sight. MK had chances to add a fourth and fifth, too.
Should the alarm bells be ringing? Not just yet. But it’s clear changes must be made.
It’s concerning that it took until the 68th minute for Grayson to make changes, when it was clear early on that the system — and the personnel he chose to play in it — wasn’t working.
Ryan Edwards is a strong centre half who should only be playing in the middle. Having him bring the ball out from the back on the right-hand of the back three is just not his game and that’s through no fault of his own.
That’s a position Ollie Turton has excelled in early on this season and yet he found himself on the bench.
Edwards’ flaws were laid bare when Feeney, looking for support down the right when being tightly marked, had no one behind him willing to get involved.
Armand Gnanduillet and Joe Nuttall is a combination that just isn’t working up top and one suspects never will. They are too similar and often occupy the same areas of the pitch.
But the biggest concern will be over Tilt, who stormed down the tunnel after finding himself in the peculiar position of being subbed off — something he’s certainly not accustomed to.
He didn’t take it well, initially walking off the pitch, rather than jogging — when Pool were 2-0 down and were desperately searching for a route back into the game — before opting to head to the changing rooms, rather than watch the rest of the game from the dugout.
Nuttall, the other man to be replaced at the same time, sat among the rest of the substitutes.
Perhaps we shouldn’t read too much into this, but maybe all is not well. This, after all, is Blackpool’s strongest asset who has still yet to sign a contract after almost three months of negotiations.
With that deal up at the end of the season, it’s a situation Grayson will have to handle delicately. It’s far from the only issue at his door right now though...
I think Larry does need to change things. The decision to drop Turton for Edwards wasnt a good one, and I'm all in favour of a back four. We did great defensively last season with Turton, Heneghan, Tilt and Bola. Just replace Bola.
More surgery is required in midfield and up front. Going to four at the back means we can get bodies in midfield. We have players who can move the ball around, Spearing, Guy, Thompson. Virtue is a bit different, more of a box to box player. We need to work out the best combination. Can Thompson and Guy pass their way through the middle, and stop the opposition? Or do we ask Virtue to break forward?
The linking up between midfield isnt working, we rely on Feeney crosses too much. How can we work the ball through the middle and down the left? Get players in scoring positions. That said we had 18 attempts yesterday. We dont have enough players who look like scoring at the moment.
I think a more mobile central striker than Gnanduillet who can make runs and receive the ball to feet would help. Hardie is that type of player. So is Nuttall. Are they good enough? Don't know yet.
We could play 433 with a wide player either side of one of those. Feeney or Hardie on the right, Kaikai or Scannell on the left.
I am a nutter. I come from the sea.
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MK Dons Postmortem on 18:53 - Sep 15 with 1078 views
I think Larry does need to change things. The decision to drop Turton for Edwards wasnt a good one, and I'm all in favour of a back four. We did great defensively last season with Turton, Heneghan, Tilt and Bola. Just replace Bola.
More surgery is required in midfield and up front. Going to four at the back means we can get bodies in midfield. We have players who can move the ball around, Spearing, Guy, Thompson. Virtue is a bit different, more of a box to box player. We need to work out the best combination. Can Thompson and Guy pass their way through the middle, and stop the opposition? Or do we ask Virtue to break forward?
The linking up between midfield isnt working, we rely on Feeney crosses too much. How can we work the ball through the middle and down the left? Get players in scoring positions. That said we had 18 attempts yesterday. We dont have enough players who look like scoring at the moment.
I think a more mobile central striker than Gnanduillet who can make runs and receive the ball to feet would help. Hardie is that type of player. So is Nuttall. Are they good enough? Don't know yet.
We could play 433 with a wide player either side of one of those. Feeney or Hardie on the right, Kaikai or Scannell on the left.
A good post which reflects my thoughts since a long time Voyeur.
3 at the back is vulnerable to attacks on the flanks. It stretches the centre halves too far apart.
It therefore becomes 5 at the back, meaning that we're lacking out wide and there's precious little left in the middle of the park.
All the good teams play 4-3-3, with 2 defensive mids capable of making lung pumping runs forward and a an interchangeable front 3.
For me, Gnanduillet wouldn't suit this system.
Spearing is the team's best footballer and spiritual leader. Otherwise, I'd question his ability to play this system.
I wouldn't give up on Tilt yet! He's had a strop after being subbed. He no doubt is eager to get a big money contract, or the best he can, before its too late, having come into the football league relatively late in his career. Think he's 29 already. He knows 30 changes things. He's our best defender and will come round. To get what he wants he needs to be playing and performing well.
Larry isn't tactically the most astute but he's a good people manager and that is why he gets decent results over a period of time, I think, because success depends a lot on keeping players focused, confident and contented. He's got some work to do with Tilt now, and Nuttall I suspect, too.
I am a nutter. I come from the sea.
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MK Dons Postmortem on 19:23 - Sep 15 with 1074 views
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