October 2 2009

Crystal Palace

Crystal Palace against Blackpool is a pairing that took a 30 year break between league meetings when we competed in 2007, writes Simon Pophale.

Looking back into history, the majority of the matches played in the league have been in the second tier, with one match up in the top flight. The record does not make great reading for us either; we have only three wins at home, with three draws and four defeats.

So, let us start with the sorry tale of our record at home since footballing “hostilities” resumed back in 2007/08 season. Blackpool, back in the second tier after years in the doldrums of the lower leagues, came to a Spring Selhurst in March 2008 and secured a point in a 0-0 draw.

Last season Blackpool went one better in January 2009 as despite having Ian Evatt sent off after five minutes, not only did Blackpool manage a clean sheet but won the match with a penalty converted by DJ Campbell to win 1-0.

The last time we scored against Blackpool at home in the league was back in the 1977/78 season. This was the beginning of the leanest of times for ‘Pool as they came to Selhurst Park in April and, following a long series of postponements, saw the division skewed in terms of league positions.

Blackpool required a win and although they managed a 2-2 draw, they were relegated when they were on a post-season tour of the USA as Orient managed to snatch a victory over Cardiff. To emphasise how tight the division was that year, Blackpool went down on 37 points, we finished ninth with 41, in the days of two points for a win.

Blackpool spent the majority of their time in the Seventies in the second tier and while we were going between the first and third divisions, our last win came in the 1970/71 season when we managed to score the only goal of the game. By the end of the season, we stayed up while Blackpool finished bottom.

There were just two seasons in the 1960s where we crossed swords with the men from the seaside. In 1968/69 season Blackpool did the “double” over us, including a 2-1 win at Selhurst as we gained promotion to the top flight for the first time. The season before we managed to avoid defeat with a battling 2-2 draw.

Forty three years had separated us before the previous set of matches back in the 1920s. The first time we entertained Blackpool at Selhurst was in the grounds inaugural season of 1924/25 and we found that the move to Selhurst was not to our liking, as Blackpool, as so often in these matches, took all 3 points with a 2-1 win.

Our time at the Nest was much more fruitful as the previous three seasons saw two wins and a draw. So, as our home record needs some serious improvement, let us hope for three points on Saturday. The Blackpool/Selhurst hoodoo has to end!