Following the fine comeback to draw at Charlton last week Neil Harris started his first home game with the same team: Stevens in goal, L Bennett, Okedina, Morrison, Andrew at the back, Digby, Cousins flanked by Brophy and Kaikai with Ahadme ahead of Kachunga at the front.
U’s started brightly without troubling their keeper, but Blackpool soon imposed themselves on the match and showed why they are up at the top, passing the ball nicely and forcing U’s to defend, and block shots.
Referee Breakspear was happy to give free kicks for very little reason, and Blackpool were pleased to get a free kick from in front of the North Habbin Terraces. I’m sure those who were awake will have told Mr Breakspear of his error! A lot of movement at the back post before the kick pulled most players away from the back post where Rhodes rose unmarked to power in a header. 0-1 after 24 minutes. Bad defending by Ahadme, but good movement by Rhodes to make the space.
Another free kick more centrally was tipped over by Stevens, he then made a further good save from a curling 20 yard shot to keep the goal count to one.
U’s equalised on 31 minutes from a counter attack, Brophy into space on our left put over a low cross to the feet of Ahadme who sort of shot but the keeper blocked and the ball ran for Kachunga to tap in from 6 yards. 1-1.
Just before half time Ahadme was again put through to go one on one with the keeper, Ahadme knocked the ball past before being felled for an obvious penalty. Despite their keeper dancing around and pointing to the right, he dived to the left as Ahadme placed the ball in the corner he had been pointing to! None of the “dink down the middle” this time. 2-1 on 43 minutes.
Into the second half and first real action was again Ahadme being put through, this time the keeper saved and the ball was cleared.
Blackpool managed some half chances but couldn’t convert them into goals due in the main to fine defending.
Thomas replaced Kaikai on 68 minutes, and soon had a great chance as he met a cross from our right but the ball hit the post and rocketed away.
Throughout the match Breakspear had been handing out cards right left and centre as if they were Christmas cards, and Digby was the recipient of his second yellow of the match on 78 minutes so off he went and U’s had to defend even harder with 10 men.
May and Rossi came on for Andrew and Kachunga as U’s moved to a back 5 with Brophy dropping back, he was replaced by Haustrup at the start of 6 minutes of added time.
Blackpool played the ball around making use of their extra man, but the space tehy used was wide and the U’s defence dealt with anything thrown into the middle.
Final score: 2-1.
So what has changed from the Bonner days to the Harris days? The players are much the same, playing in the same formation. To me our team are playing with more energy, and looking to force the opposition back, giving them little time, defending from the front rather than the back. The extra liveliness means defenders are getting to the ball quicker, or blocking a shot when in the past they would have been just too late. And the extra running means players are finding space so passing is better which breeds confidence.
Okedina, playing alongside Morrison had a great game. He is not the biggest or great in the air, but when he has a runner to chase he shows his best quality, and a couple of times against Blackpool he used his pace to get into a position to tackle.
Ahadme could have had a hattrick, now he seems to have sorted out how to score from 12 yards he should practice scoring 1 on 1’s! At least he is making the runs and our players are finding him.
Brophy also looked at the top of his game, causing problems running with the ball, but also defending against their tricky winger. He has to find out where the goal is though!
U’s won the Breakspear card game by 6 yellow cards to 3, but it wasn’t a dirty game! Maybe Digby is the new Tom Finney, picking up enough cards to ensure he gets Christmas off! Andrew, Brophy, Kachunga and Stevens were the other U’s bookings.
Finally a big thank you to the 674 fans from Blackpool in the South Stand, they made a lot of noise, especially in the first half and hour.