March 28, 2024

Ishmel Demontagnac grabbed the first for Blackpool

Ishmel Demontagnac grabbed the first for Blackpool
Ishmel Demontagnac grabbed the first for Blackpool (Photo: David Penniall)

This was supposed to be the game Wigan found its feet again, but transpired to be another night to forget as Blackpool ran riot at Bloomfield Road.

Changes were expected, and Martinez certainly went to town in that respect, retaining just two of the players that started the Manchester United game. But Blackpool were not short of changes themselves, with Ian Holloway making seven changes to the team that drew with Watford on Saturday.

A matter of who would hit the ground running, then, and it was the Tangerines who managed to take the cake. Their three big attacking moves in the first half yielded an impressive three goals, whilst Latics’ own three chances only drew saves from an on-song Matthew Gilks.

When Gary Taylor-Fletcher snaffled a fourth for Blackpool with just over twenty minutes remaining, a clearly rattled Wigan side seemingly failed to even care–if the commentary of Graham Lovett is anything to go by–and the match was in danger of becoming another complete rout.

Changes were required, if only to salvage a slither of pride from a dismal evening. Hugo Rodallega, who Martinez had planned on resting for the whole of the match, looked promising in his brief substitute appearance, but ultimately didn’t have enough time to impose himself in what was essentially a lost cause. New boy Anotnio Amaya grabbed a late consolation with the final touch of the game, but it was too little, too late.

A rusty performance by a largely untested second string side, no doubt, but another rung on the ladder towards blooding a Premiership squad. Pity it resulted in such a hefty defeat. Still, I’m sure Bobby will have learnt a lot about his side – it’s just a matter of patience and rebuilding from the first level upwards, hopefully starting with a positive bounce-back performance against Everton this weekend.

Image licensed under Creative Commons by David Penniall at Wikipedia. Cheers man.

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