A last gasp effort from Kevin Phillips dealt the visiting Leicester City side a cruel blow, as the match at Bloomfield Road finished in an emphatic 3-3 scoreline.
Nigel Pearson made two changes from the team that lost against Chelsea on Sunday, with Shaun St.Ledger moved across the defence to centre-back in place of Sol Bamba, and Lee Peltier moving back into left-back. Paul Gallagher was the only injury absentee, having suffered a knee injury against the Premier League side on Sunday; Danny Drinkwater was selected over Ben Marshall for the empty right midfield slot.
Despite both teams having scored in every game so far in 2012, the match took a surprisingly long time to swing into life. David Nugent’s well struck effort from the edge of the penalty area shortly after 20 minutes caused concern for Blackpool’s goalkeeper, Matthew Gilks. Nugent’s strike seemingly kickstarted the encounter.
Kevin Phillips unsuccessfully testing Kasper Schmeichel in Leicester’s goalmouth, before a corner and a direct free-kick failed to provide the spark that the Seasiders’ chances promised. The game stepped up yet another notch moments later, after a big penalty shout from Leicester was waved away by referee Michael Naylor. The lively Nugent was seemingly chopped down in the area by Blackpool defender Neal Eardley. To further add salt to the wounds of Pearson’s men, Nugent’s dismay at the lack of penalty awarded resulted in the former England international receiving a yellow card.
Leicester’s turmoil was increased just seven minutes later after a barrage of Blackpool attacks finally yielded a goal. Kevin Phillips once again reminded people of his formidable goal-seeking presence with a well taken shot from close range that landed in the top left corner of the goal behind stricken Schmeichel.
Leicester bounced back with a now trademark immediate response coming courtesy of an in-form Jermaine Beckford. The former Everton and Leeds striker’s latched onto a Danny Drinkwater pass after a surge from midfield to score. Beckford’s goal meant that he has scored four in three games for the Foxes’, and in doing so banishing his early season goal drought.
The energetic proceedings continued after Leicester’s equaliser, with a number of chances for both teams being scuppered, with Nugent and Matt Phillips missed the two most potent efforts.
Blackpool came out fighting in the second half, seemingly inspired by Ian Holloway’s half-time words. Stephen Crainey’s powerful effort just after 50 minutes proved the most challenging for Foxes’ shot-stopper Kasper Schmeichel, who pushed the fierce strike over the bar. The Danish keeper’s save proved ever more fruitful moments later, as David Nugent scored a well deserved goal to put Leicester 2-1 up. The striker rose above Blackpool’s defence to head home from Drinkwater’s corner.
Leicester continued to push, keen to extend the one goal cushion that has so often crumbled this season. Lloyd Dyer’s effort on the counter attack was just inches away from crashing into the back of the net after Beckford’s slide pass to the wingman.
Leicester’s continued dominance throughout the second half prompted a double substitution from the home side, with Roman Bednar and Ludovic Sylvestre replacing Neal Eardley and Keith Southern respectively. Holloway’s brave substitute decision soon paid off, with Bednar quickly finding his feet in the game to make an impact. His low effort found it’s way past Schmeichel to tie the scoreline up at 2-2.
Not content with another winless match away from home (three out of three prior to the match), Pearson ordered his men to continue to push, with the freshness of Ben Marshall adding to their goal threat in place of Ritchie Wellens. A goal was the intention, and the intention was met just seconds later as Jermaine Beckford once again got onto the score sheet. He grabbed a headed goal from within the six-yard box after a beautifully lofted ball swung in from Marshall with his first touch.
The final 20 minutes saw Leicester go more defensive, with the introduction of Bamba in place of Drinkwater. Despite an onslaught of attack from Blackpool, Leicester held their nerve despite a number of characteristically shakey moments within the defensive ranks.
The Foxes remained ahead as the 90 minutes were up. But once again, in now typical fashion for City, they conceded extremely late on. Kevin Phillips was able to stab home from the edge of the six-yard box to ensure that Blackpool secured a point in a game they probably should have lost, leaving Leicester to make do with the solitary point in a match that they should have received all three.
Blackpool: Gilks, Crainey, Eardley (Bednar 65/Lua-Lua 75), Evatt, Baptiste, Southern (Sylvestre 65), Ferguson, M.Phillips, K.Phillips, Taylor-Fletcher, Ince.
Leicester City: Schmeichel, Peltier, St.Ledger, Morgan, Konchesky, Drinkwater (Bamba 87), Wellens (Marshall 72), Danns, Dyer, Nugent (Schlupp 88), Beckford.
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