The Gazette MONDAY, DECEMBER 10, 2007
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KIDS PAINT SANTA
MEETTHE300BESTANDCHOOSEYOURFAVOURITE– INSIDE TODAY
BOMB SCARE AFTER TASER DRAMA
DRAMA SCENE: The Bispham house
Residents flee after police fear explosion EXCLUSIVE
By PAUL FIELDING AND JOE ROBINSON
RESIDENTS were forced to flee their homes in terror after suspected explosives were found in a house.
Police sealed off an address at Airdrie Place, Bispham, after being forced to Taser a man during an incident in the cul-de-sac.
What a feeling!
■ Pool boss Simon Grayson punches the air as the Seasiders win the Lancashire derby against bitter rivals Preston North End at Deepdale on Saturday. ■ For all the reaction to the game from Preston and Bloomfield Road turn to pages 3, 32, 33, 34, 35 and the back page.
Officers were called to the scene after 999 crews were told a large knife had been seen after a brick was thrown through a window hitting a man on the head. During a search of the property a “suspicious substance” was found inside and police evacuated nearby properties. Bomb disposal experts were called in and took the substance away. It was detonated during a controlled explosion. Detectives later told The Gazette the substance had proved to be harmless.
Det Insp Des Coop said: “There had been some kind of argument and police were called to this address. ■ TO PAGE TWO
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The Gazette Monday, December 10, 2007
FANS SHARE DERBY DAY JOY ON THE BIG SCREEN AT BLOOMFIELD ROAD
PAGE 3
in brief
Teenager was stabbed with key
AGONY AND ECSTASY: Two fans at Bloomfield Road go through the pain and then, left, the joy of Pool’s derby win. Top joy at Deepdale Pictures: MARK PEARSON and MARTIN BOSTOCK
Glad all over! By EMMA HARRIS
More than 3,000 Blackpool supporters made the short motorway trip to Deepdale to watch the powderkeg clash in the flesh.
Their cheers could be heard down the Fylde end of the M55 come the final whistle. But those fans who could not get tickets were able to join in the fun back at Bloomfield Road after the club laid on a special live screening of the big event. A tad warmer and cosier than their Tangerine comrades braving the icy conditions at the match, more than 700 danced in the supporters’ lounge on the final whistle. The atmosphere could not have been more charged as fans geared up for the game – the first time the side had met Preston North End in seven years. Through every tense twist and turn, every pass, every goal-scoring chance the sense of anticipation and excitement in the room built up more and more. For 60-odd minutes the game hung on a knife edge until the whole room exploded with joy as Wes Hoolahan’s second-half penalty flew past PNE keeper Andy Lonergan into the net. Fans cheered, screamed, chanted, jumped in the air and turned to hug total strangers next to them. Derby matches can have that effect on even the most mild-mannered football fan – especially when the derby in question is
against old foes PNE. In the last 15 minutes, the tension proved unbearable for some fans who were forced to turn away. The final whistle brought a deafening roar. 1-0 win – mission accomplished. Andrew Gay, 37, from Marton, beamed: “I’m delighted. I was really nervous during the last 10 minutes. But I’m so pleased with the result. I thought Blackpool was definitely the better team. “I can’t wait to rib my friends who are Preston fans. There was a really good atmosphere at the club today and I’m glad that they put it on. The club gets criticised, but this time they really got something right and did a good job.”
Tony Palin, 69, from central Blackpool, said: “We should have won by two or three goals. Blackpool were the better side. And the atmosphere inside the club was great." George Holden, 63, from Bispham, who was at the game with his brother Peter, said: We could have listened to the match on the radio at home, but we were glad we came down. Being with other people was great, there was a good atmosphere and of course, we won.” Let’s just hope its only three months – and not another eight years – before we see all that dancing again! emma.harris@ blackpoolgazette.co.uk
We’ve won the all-important bragging rights
JIMMY ARMFIELD
Two in fire drama
Where did you watch or listen to the Seasiders’ historic derby victory? Why not share your experiences with other fans by leaving your comments at www.blackpool gazette.co.uk
EIGHT years is a long time to wait for derby day delight . . . and boy did Seasiders’ fans make up for lost time.
“A GREAT day to be a Seasider!” That was the delirious shout after Saturday’s derby delight. Blackpool FC chairman Karl Oyston said: “It was a day for our supporters. For them to have the bragging rights until we play Preston again means such a lot for them and I hope they make the most of it. “It was a derby, emotions were running high and many of our supporters work with Preston fans and there had been plenty of jibes before the game. So it is nice that we got the victory and also won these allimportant bragging rights for a while!” Jimmy Armfield, who was on his way to commentate at Old Trafford, but had listened to the match on the radio, said: “It was a significant win really. I mean, I agree
with the fans, it was important in terms of it being against Preston, but also in terms of continuing in this division. “The team are so committed. For the players, they will now be focusing on the match against Cardiff, but the fans will be cheering about how we beat Preston.” Glenn Bowley, secretary of Blackpool FC Supporters’ Club, added: “It was great to renew the old rivalries. I am sure the Preston fans are looking forward to seeking revenge in the return match in March.” ■ NINE people were arrested before Saturday’s game after a bus was attacked en route from Preston railway station. A window was kicked in and a seat thrown through the empty window, causing thousands of pounds of damage.
■ Don’t miss tomorrow’s Gazette for a souvenir of this historic Seasiders victory
KARL OYSTON
A TEENAGER arrested in connection with an alleged stabbing on Blackpool’s Grange Park estate has been released without charge. Police say they are no longer investigating the incident, which took place shortly before midnight on Friday, on Dinmore Avenue. As reported in later editions of Saturday’s Gazette, a local resident called police to report an 18-year-old man had been stabbed. The victim suffered a minor injury to his leg, and was taken to Blackpool Victoria Hospital, but was later discharged. Although it was first reported he had been stabbed, it later turned out the weapon used was a key.
TWO people had to be taken to hospital after a fire at a house in Kirkham. A man and a woman suffered smoke inhalation after the blaze broke out in the front room of the property on Danes Close, Kirkham, at 2.10am yesterday. The fire caused damage to a small area of carpet and smoke damage. The occupants were not in a serious condition.
Blaze at house
FIREFIGHTERS were called to a house in Red Bank Road, Bispham, after reports of a smell of smoke. The incident happened at 1.40pm yesterday. Some food was destroyed by fire and there was “moderate” smoke damage to the ground floor.
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The Gazette Monday, December 10, 2007
DERBY EXTRA
STEVE CANAVAN REPORTING
Big Ben’s striking contribution BEN Burgess was a key figure in the Seasiders derby triumph – a role he’s beginning to play more often. The frontman earned the allimportant second half penalty, converted in such memorable style by Wes Hoolahan. He is beginning to display the kind of form which prompted Simon Grayson to shell out £100,000 on the striker from Hull City 18 months ago. Despite missing two months of the season with injury, Burgess is joint top scorer with four goals and more importantly is performing with more confidence and vigour than at any time since he joined the club. “Am I a regular choice up front at the moment? I don’t know but if I am it’s certainly different from last season!” joked the 26-yearold, who didn’t get much of a look-in during the Seasiders’ promotion season. “I don’t know whether I am first name down among the strikers but I do feel good. I’m surprised just how good I feel after having eight weeks out after the operation.
“I’m feeling fit and I feel as though I’ve got a few more goals in me and hopefully I can stay in the team. “I am getting chances and I am creating chances for other people, and I’m sure that’s what the gaffer wants from me.” Burgess loved every minute of his first derby and thought the Seasiders fully merited their victory. “It was a brilliant day,” he said. “The atmosphere was excellent and to score in front of our fans was brilliant because they sang all the way through.
Fought
“I’ve seen a few Manchester derbies from the terraces but it is good to play in a big derby like this. “It is an excellent win for us, not just because it is Preston but because we are down near the bottom and we need wins to get us away from there,” he said. “I think we definitely deserved it. Both teams created chances but we played the better. “I thought we passed the ball at the right times, we fought when
we had to and I think we deserved it. The only regret Burgess might possibly have is that he didn’t get on the scoresheet. He was denied early on, North End keeper Andy Lonergan making a one-handed save to stop his close range effort. The striker thought it was in. “The ball broke to me and I hit it first time,” he reflected. “He showed strong wrists because I thought it was going in when I hit it. But fair play it was a good save. “We had another couple of good chances in the first half. I thought we played particularly well in the first 45 minutes and ground it out in the second. “But although it was enjoyable to get the victory it is all over now. “We have a big seven days ahead of us. We’ve got Cardiff tomorrow, then Stoke on Saturday. They are both at home and so if we can pick up a couple of good results it will be a big boost because we want to get as many points as we can from these games and try and push up the league.”
“Jacko was ill on the Friday night but there was no way he was going to miss this one,” said manager Simon Grayson. “He was out on his
feet with about 20 minutes to go and full credit to him because he shouted out that he was struggling so he came off and Ian Evatt came on, which is a good replacement to have. “But what Jacko did and how he performed summed him up. “He’s a complete professional and the type of player every manager wants in his side. “He’s been a big
player for whichever club he has been at and I’m just glad it is us that has got him at the moment.” Jackson, 34, played for Preston for seven seasons, which coincided with the most successful period in North End’s recent history. He signed for Pool in summer 2006 and promptly captained the Seasiders to promotion from League One to the Championship.
Reward for the fans – Grayson ■ FROM BACK PAGE “Given the fact that it is a local derby and there is so much local pride at stake then, yes, it’s a massive win,” he said. “Of course I know what it means to the town. All last week I tried to play it down a little because you don’t want the pressure to get to the players. “But I knew this meant a hell of a lot to this football club and its supporters. They travel the length and breadth of the country and they have seen a lot of poor times in the last few years. “We are on an upwards surge as a club and we want to continue that.” Told that there would probably be a campaign for him to get the freedom of Blackpool, Grayson replied: “It’s not me that is the hero, it is the players. They took on board our instructions and they carried them out. “I’m really proud of the players in the way that they conducted themselves, the way they worked so hard and the fact that in very difficult conditions they tried to play in the right way.” Grayson loved being involved in a Blackpool-Preston derby for the first time as a manager or player – and claimed he would still have enjoyed it had the result been different. “I really enjoyed being involved in the derby,” he said. “It was a cracking atmosphere and a cracking result – but even if it had been a draw I would have still enjoyed it.
Survival
WhatatonicassickJackobattleson MICHAEL Jackson showed why he’s the captain by playing through the pain barrier to help the Seasiders get one over on Preston. Jackson was ill throughout the early hours of Saturday morning, suffering with a stomach upset. But he was determined to face his old employers and managed to last more than an hour before eventually succumbing.
PAGE 33
BURGESS: Rising to the occasion
“Both sets of supporters were outstanding and a credit to themselves. They were at each other but also appreciated the good football played by both teams. “Obviously the Blackpool fans now have the bragging rights though I’m sure Preston will now be wanting to beat us when they come to Bloomfield Road next year. “But ultimately it is the bigger picture of survival as far as we’re concerned. “We know that it is only three points, and the nice thing is that it has given us a bit of breathing space. “If we had lost we would have been too close to the bottom and psychologically that would have been a big negative for us. “But the players responded and they had yesterday off to savour the fact they’ve beaten their locals rivals and that we have taken seven points out of the last three games. “Now, though, it’s back to the hard work – and that starts tomorrow when we take on Cardiff at Bloomfield Road and go out with the aim of getting a positive result and continuing our good run.” The victory was Pool’s first success away from home since the opening day victory at Leicester. It is the 29th time the Seasiders have beaten Preston in 88 meetings between the two clubs. The fixture was first played in November 1901, in Division Two, and ended in a 4-1 win for North End at Bloomfield Road.
Irvine’s fury over the penalty that Preston didn’t get DEFEATED Preston boss Alan Irvine took derby defeat graciously, but he remains upset at a key decision he reckons cost his side a point. Kaspars Gorkss fouled substitute Neil Mellor on the edge of the Blackpool penalty area five minutes from the end. Preston thought it was inside the box and a penalty – referee Mark Clattenburg thought it was outside and awarded a freekick, which captain Paul McKenna blasted wide. Irvine was careful with his criticism of the official afterwards. But it was ironic that the controversy occurred at the end of a week when Clattenburg had
been roundly criticised by Everton’s David Moyes for decisions in the recent Merseyside derby – a match in which Irvine had been in the Everton dugout as Moyes’s number two. “We were given a free-kick for something that was inside the box,” said Irvine, who left Everton last month to take over at Deepdale. “I watched it again straight after the match because I didn’t want to speak to the media without knowing the facts. “The Blackpool lad who was guilty of committing the foul and got booked as a result of it was a couple of yards inside the box so it was a penalty. “But I am not going to cry
about luck and I don’t want to spend all my time as a manager talking about penalty decisions. “Everyone can see for themselves and work out for themselves whether they were penalties or not. “I have to say I thought Blackpool’s definitely was, and everybody can see ours was as well. “I don’t want to harp on about. I don’t want to trust refereeing decisions, I want to trust quality of the players.” The 1-0 reverse was Irvine’s fourth defeat in five games as Preston manager and means his side are entrenched in the relegation zone.
That hurts, and the fact that he lost a Lancashire derby at Deepdale also cut deep. “I am bitterly disappointed about the result and bitterly disappointed for the fans and the players,” he added. “Everyone is very upset about the result and the fact that we haven’t got anything from the game. “I think we deserved to get something from the match because I think we did well at times – both teams had their spells. “Andy Lonergan had to make a couple of very good saves early on in one attack Blackpool had. “We had a couple of chances
ourselves at the other end and things might have gone for us. “I think Blackpool started the second half better than us and our passing was poor at that point. “But it was wave after wave of attack from us towards the end of the game, we just didn’t get the goal we needed. “We just didn’t quite get the final pass or final decision right throughout the entire team. We didn’t pass the ball well enough to capitalise on the good positions we got into. “However, after our previous defeat (at Crystal Palace) I asked the players for a lot more endeavour, a lot more commitment and I can’t fault them as
far as that is concerned. “But now we need to play with a little more quality and that takes time. “We need points and I will take winning ugly at this particular moment. “We have to be difficult to score against and once again we were. Again we got into some promising positions but we didn’t capitalise on them. “It was a good occasion though. I expected it to be passionate and noisy and it was exactly that. “Obviously I just wish it was the Preston fans who were going home happy.”
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The Gazette Monday, December 10, 2007
PRESTON NE
WHO cares about tactics when you’ve beaten Preston? But for those who do, this historic victory for Blackpool was secured in the midfield where Claus Jorgensen and Michael Flynn got through a tremendous amount of work. On a day when the wind was howling and the rain pouring, it was about who would win the battle in that crucial area of the pitch. Paul McKenna was occasionally given too much space, especially during the first half when in one heart-in-themouth moment the impressive Preston skipper was allowed to wander all the way to the edge of the box and unload a shot. It’s just a good job Paul Rachubka was in inspired form, parrying that shot, as he did with several others. But that moment aside, the midfield two did their job, tackled hard and picked up many, many second balls. Kaspars Gorkss and Michael Jackson were also bang on form, despite the latter suffering from illness.
Toiled
It was hard to keep count of the number of blocks and interceptions they made, and they succeeded in keeping the erratic but potentially dangerous Patrick Agyemang relatively quiet. The Preston striker was subbed second half. Andy Morrell and Ben Burgess toiled up front. Morrell might not be scoring at the moment but he’s been around for a long time and his experience is there to see in everything he does. Burgess, meanwhile, is oozing confidence and as well as winning the penalty, he almost scored early on and won headers all afternoon. He gives Pool a physical presence up front that they need. In this division, every team requires a big, powerful figure who can give defenders something extra to worry about. Burgess is that man for Pool. Then there’s Wes. He again played well, and capped it off by a penalty which sums him up. Unique, supremely confident and a key man. Whatever the temptations in January, Pool should not accept any offers for their star.
Great,but now Pool
WE came, we saw, we conquered.
There have been many 1-0 victories in the history of Blackpool Football Club. Rarely, though, can one have been greeted with as much delight as this.
Simon Grayson punched the air like a lunatic. Paul Rachubka threw his goalkeeping gloves into the crowd (though he might regret that – at 20 quid a pop there’s no way the club will pay for another pair. Rumour has it he was spotted nipping into JJB Sports on his way to training today...) But Rachubka – splendid all afternoon in horrible, wet conditions – wasn’t the only way to get consumed by the euphoria. Ben Burgess raised arms aloft, Ian Evatt ran towards the Blackpool fans and screamed in happiness, Claus Jorgensen was ecstatic. Wes Hoolahan, penaltytaker extraordinaire, just stood on the pitch beaming. No wonder. He need never buy another drink in Blackpool again. The day could only have been improved upon had Karl Oyston run into the centre circle after the final whistle, grabbed the PA man’s microphone and bellowed: “Look, I feel bad about what’s happened lately. I’m going to start the south stand without delay!”
Fuss
But let’s not venture into the realms of fantasy. Let’s just dwell on a memorable day in the town’s footballing history – the moment Blackpool finally announced to their great local rivals that they
BURIED TREASURE: Penalty hero Wes Hoolahan is submerged under the pile as Pool celebrate are no longer their inferiors. Pool are back in football’s higher echelons and determined to stay there. It’s just occurred to me at this point that anyone reading this who is not of a football-loving nature will think we’re absolutely mad. “It’s only a game of footie,” they might quite rightly point out. “What’s all the fuss about?” Well let me explain. Preston North End are to Blackpool what a policeman is to a burglar.
They don’t like each other. Never have. And both want to outdo the one another. For the last eight years North End fans have been able to look down on their Tangerine counterparts with the disdainful sneer of a rich aristocrat telling his peasant servant to get a move on dishing up the caviar. While Preston’s footballing stock has risen over the past decade, Pool fans have had so little to cheer about they may as well have moved to Hartle-
pool, nipped out on a canoe and turned up few years later claiming memory loss. They wouldn’t have missed anything apart from dozens of dismal League Two and League One games at halfempty stadiums and a couple of wins in a competition sponsored by a transit van. But then, in November 2005, this guy called Simon Grayson took over as manager and since that moment but club has been on an upward trajectory so astonishing it is sometimes hard to take in. Young and old alike are witnessing the best football played by the club in more than 30 years. It’s not the golden period of the 50s, but then again a period so glorious is unlikely to happen again. Times have changed and so has football.
Glowing
Match facts Preston: Lonergan, Hill, Mawene (Jones 79), St. Ledger, Chilvers, Davidson (Mellor 79), Whaley, McKenna, Sedgwick (Lewis Neal 69), Agyemang, Gallagher. Subs Not Used: Chris Neal, Carter. Referee: Mark Clattenburg 7 – Alan Irvine might not agree but the ref did a good job in keeping things under control and, the PNE penalty decision aside, there were no real controversial moments Att: 17.807 (2,800 visitors) Bookings: Gorkss, Evatt Next match: v Cardiff City, Bloomfield Road, Championship, tomorrow, 7.45pm
0
MY BALL: Rachubka clings on as PNE keeper Lonergan joins the attack
RACHUBKA 8 With wet weather and a slippy ball, did tremendously well. Held on to almost everything and made plenty of sharp stops under pressure
BARKER 8 First to dive on Hoolahan after penalty. Loves playing for Pool and it continues to show in his performances
JACKSON 8 Ill with a stomach complaint but you’d never have known it. Many vital tackles in a cracking contest with Agyemang
GORKSS 8 Outpaced once by Agyemang but pretty faultless otherwise. Positionally very good and continues to make many vital interceptions
But what Blackpool are doing is progressing. They are playing at their best since the days of Tony Green, Glyn James and Mickey Walsh and bringing some pride back to the Fylde coast. Credit has to go to the board too. Karl Oyston, whatever anyone might say, has overseen all this and deserves credit for getting the ambitious and – crucially – enthusiastic Valery Belokon in on the act. Those two, along with a manager doing a brilliant job,
CRAINEY 8 Continues to flourish.Very cool, calm and collected and enjoyed his afternoon
have transformed the club’s fortunes. But although it’s easy to do so in the glowing aftermath of a 1-0 win in the backyard of your fiercest rivals, let’s not go too overboard. One victory does not make a season. If Pool go down, then all this will have been in vain. It will be back to square one, and potentially back to 30 more years of depressing and dismal lower league football. And that’s why it’s important for Oyston to back his talented manager in the transfer window in January and get some quality players in, to add to the quality that is already in the squad. Norwich and QPR, teams below Pool, are certain to spend, and spend big, so they will improve after the New Year. If the Seasiders want to stay up – and surely they do – then spend some cash. Not a million, maybe not even half a million. But at least give Grayson a decent amount of dosh to get some of his targets in, starting, perhaps, with the £250,000-rated Andy Bishop at Bury. And, of course, if Oyston were to get that blasted south stand up and running that would add the feelgood factor that is often necessary to get through a season. When a side is battling at
TAYLORFLETCHER 8 Grew in confidence throughout, took defenders on and made an important contribution
JORGENSEN 8 –
Played a disciplined holding role and won countless tackles and headers
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The Gazette Monday, December 10, 2007
PAGE 35
1 BLACKPOOL
must build on derby glory the bottom every little bit of good news helps. A new stand, coupled with new players, would surely prove once and for all that the chairman and the board do have lofty ambitions for the club. The ball is in their court. Anyway ramble over and back to Deepdale where for a moment prior to kick-off, with the weather filthy and the atmosphere muted at best, I, for one, was beginning to wonder what all this fuss about the North End-Blackpool derby was about. Then, as the teams emerged from the tunnel, the PA announcer screamed: “Welcome Blackpool and the pride of Lancashire Preston North End!” – and that was all it took.
Safety
The blue touchpaper had been lit and it burned bright for the next 90 minutes. When Seasiders fans travel in large numbers it remains a splendid sight and the 2,800 Tangerine-clad fans again did their club proud. They chanted and sang throughout and were rewarded with a scoreline which enabled them to smile, even during the 20 minutes they spent in the freezing rain locked inside the ground “for your own safety”, as the voice over the tannoy ominously put it. Wes Hoolahan’s penalty FLYNN 8 Made a fine start in attempting to cement his place. Almost a hero early on when he squirmed clear but was denied by Lonergan
BOTH teams went for it in the right style and created chances. Sometimes when it is as close as it was these games can hinge on a decision or two. It was a terrific win for us. Obviously it is a big game for everybody at the club so it’s a big result. But as I said before kick-off the main thing is that we have another three points towards our aim of survival. I know how big this result is for the fans and how important it is for them. I hope they enjoy it while they can. The derby was everything I thought it would be. It was a cracking atmosphere, there were tackles flying in. The conditions made it more of a derby atmosphere with people sliding in and there were some thunderous tackles. But I also thought there was some good football by both teams. We both tried to get it down and play. There were some good chances in the first 15 minutes and Andy Lonergan made a couple of good saves.
Mistimed
HEAD MAN:PNE’s Mawene outjumps Morrell Pictures:BILL JOHNSON and MARTIN BOSTOCK
was the reason they and thousands of others throughout the town were in raptures. The Irishman stepped up in the 67th minute after Ben Burgess, rapidly becoming a cult-hero among supporters, was chopped down by Youl Mawene as he ran into the area. By rights, Hoolahan should have been nervous. He had missed his previous penalty at Norwich and now had to take one against the club’s biggest rivals in front of the massed Blackpool fans. Nervous? You must be joking. He converted in the cheekiest, cockiest of styles, dinking the ball into the middle of the net with Lonergan sprawling and fingering thin air. It was typical, classic Hoolahan, a player on his own when it comes to providing magic moments that few others would dare even attempt. Preston raged about a penalty they thought they should have had. Neil Mellor was hacked down by Kaspars Gorkss on the edge of the area. He fell in the area but Mark Clattenburg, who was excellently positioned, awarded a free-kick outside the box. Alan Irvine thought the decision was dreadful. Me? Great refereeing… A few minutes later the impressive Paul McKenna, on his 400th appearance for
✩
HOOLAHAN 9 Not many would have attempted that penalty. Typical Wes, a touch of genius about it, and it proved to be the day’s crucial moment
North End, smacked a 25yard free-kick against the bar. It was a cracking effort, the closest by far that the home side had come to scoring all day. But when Stephen Crainey thumped the ball clear, North End’s chance of salvaging a draw, and their pride, had gone. In a match that wasn’t a classic – but given the conditions it was never going to be – the Seasiders had their chances too. Michael Flynn, preferred to David Fox, got clean through on goal early on but was denied by Andy Lonergan. The keeper also saved one-handed from Burgess at point-blank range.
MORRELL8 Worked tirelessly and slid several good passes into the path of others. Continues to be a excellent frontman
Minute by Minute
Deserved
Pool battled throughout and worked like Trojans to get in front and then to defend it. It was a typical derby, tackles flying in and both sides displaying 110 per cent commitment, as well as attempting to play the game in the right manner. For that all the players on show deserve credit. Preston may feel they deserve a draw (they had 13 shots on goal compared to Pool’s four), but in football you rarely get what you deserve. Blackpool went to Deepdale and emerged triumphant, and, blimey, didn't it feel good. BURGESS 8
Won the penalty with a clever touch away from Mawene. His all round game is as good as it has been at any time during his Pool career.
But we also had to be fully aware of the threat Preston carried. Paul Gallagher caused us one or two problems first half and Paul Rachubka made some good saves as well. I thought it was a penalty for us. It looked like Ben Burgess had got the wrong side of the defender and Youl Mawene had mistimed his tackle. The only thing I couldn’t tell was whether he was in or outside the box. As for Preston’s penalty shout, when a lot of bodies are in there, there is contact and people will catch each other. I don’t know. It is hard to comment when you are in the mixture of the emotions of the game. I am just relieved it wasn’t given and that other balls in the box dropped for us and we were able to clear our lines and we’ve got another three points.
FULL STRETCH: Rachubka foils Preston’s Chilvers SUBSTITUTES: Evatt (Jackson 65) – Massive tackle moments after he came on – it set up the attack which led to the penalty award Parker (Taylor-Fletcher 74) – Always gives Pool a good outlet and he ran the right flank well, causing problems as Preston became stretched Welsh (Hoolahan 90) – Time-wasting substitution at the death Not used:Vernon, Fox
2 Hoolahan’s corner drops at the feet of Gorkss who miskicks from six yards 14 McKenna fires a rising drive inches past the upright 19 Flynn finds himself one-on-one with Lonergan, but keeper saves with his legs 20 Burgess volleys goalwards from six yards but Lonergan saves one-handed 33 McKenna slides the ball to Agyemang, who rounds Rachubka but can only half-hit the ball, Gorkss clears 36 McKenna shoots from 20 yards. Rachubka saves 55 Jorgensen deflects St Ledger’s shot over the bar 60 Barker’s header from Hoolahan’s freekick saved by Lonergan 67 GOAL! Hoolahan cheekily chips in a penalty after Burgess is felled by Mawene 70 McKenna into the area and past Gorkss but Rachubka makes a fine stop 85 Mellor dragged down on edge of the area. Referee awards free-kick and not a penalty. McKenna fires a free-kick just wide 90 McKenna’s free-kick comes back off bar
Sport MONDAY, DECEMBER 10, 2007
The Gazette LATE FOOTBALL SPECIAL
SATURDAY, DECEMBER 8, 2007
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MISSED IT? You can still order your copy of Saturday’s special edition marking the Seasiders’ famous Deepdale win, ring (01253) 361858. And in tomorrow’s Gazette there’ll be a special souvenir of the big day.
PILING ON THE AGONY FOR PRESTON: The jubilant Seasiders pile on top of penalty hero Wes Hoolahan
VERDICT AND PICTURES: Pages 34/35 BIG MATCH EXTRA: Page 33
PLUS
SEASIDERS LEGENDS SPECIAL Page 32
HELLO MR CHIPS! ‘Coolahan’ scores the cheekiest of winners ... and Grayson admits: I just couldn’t believe he’d done that in a derby game
ARISE Sir Coolahan ... that’s the new nickname for the Seasiders matchwinning hero Wes Hoolahan after his cheeky chip secured a famous derby win at Deepdale.
Hoolahan converted a 67th minute penalty but instead of blasting the ball into the net, the cocksure Irishman nonchalantly dinked the ball into the net leaving Preston keeper Andy Lonergan grasping at thin air.
Considering he had missed the previous penalty he’d taken, a fortnight ago against Norwich, it was quite something. And it proved the crucial moment of a pulsating derby in which Pool beat North End on their own patch for the first time since April 1999. Wes’s moment of magic sent the town into delirium, not that any of his team-mates were surprised.
By STEVE CANAVAN
“That’s Wes all over,” said Claus Jorgensen. “We’ve started calling him Coolahan in the dressing room! “But it just sums up what kind of a player he is. “Only Wes could do that and get away with it. It was a terrific piece of skill and we’re just glad that we’ve got him in our team.” Ben Burgess, who won the penalty after he was tripped in the area, added: “I didn’t expect Wes to do the chip but I suppose really we should have done because that’s what he’s like!
CHIP AND WIN: Wes Hoolahan is spot on – and Simon Grayson (top) can celebrate Pictures: BILL JOHNSON and MARTIN BOSTOCK
“I felt sorry for their goalkeeper because he was diving and yet trying to stay on his feet at the same time. “It was an excellent penalty from Wes and there aren’t many people who can do that. “That’s what makes him such a good player. He is unpredictable and no one knows what he is going to do next.” It gave Pool Lancashire bragging rights until the sides meet again at Bloomfield Road in March – and more importantly lifted them to 18th in the table and three points clear of the drop zone. They are also five points
clear of North End, who are second bottom and struggling. Manager Simon Grayson is delighted with that but as for Hoolahan’s penalty, he admitted he didn’t even see the historic match-winning moment. “I turned my back on it,” said the boss, who strode onto the pitch at the full-time whistle and punched the air in delight at the derby day victory. “I can’t bear to watch anyone take penalties, never mind Wes. “I knew from the cheer that it had gone in but I didn’t know he’d had the audacity to do what he did.
Proud, but now it’s back to work – boss SIMON Grayson admitted he was a proud man after becoming the first Blackpool boss since Nigel Worthington to oversee a derby victory over rivals Preston. Grayson’s side became the first Seasiders team to win at Deepdale since April 1999. Asked how he celebrated on Saturday night, the Pool boss replied: “Well I certainly didn’t go out for a drink in Preston!”
On a more serious note, Grayson did admit he knew full well what it meant to the town. And although he is keen to stress that it is only three points and his main aim remains survival in the Championship, the Seasiders chief did concede that beating North End meant a lot.
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“As I turned back Tony Parkes said ‘he’s only gone and chipped it in!’ “I couldn’t believe he’d done that in a derby game but that’s the confidence the lad’s got and you wouldn’t believe he’d missed his previous penalty. “To go and do something like that … As a manager I think I’d have preferred him to whack it as hard as he could in the top corner and give the keeper no chance. But that is Wes for you. He does things differently.” Hoolahan is fit and available for tomorrow night’s clash with Cardiff, where he’ll be aiming to add to his five goals already this season. steve.canavan@ blackpoolgazette.co.uk
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