Sheffield Utd Vs Blackpool

My first time at the famous Bramall Lane stadium the home of the Blades Sheffield United. What an incredible stadium with so much history and unspoiled by the temptation like many other top teams to ruin. We travelled in style with Bobs Luxury Travel BLT as he kindly had a 3 spare seats at the last minute. We arrived in good time at the ground only for various road closures and road stewards not very good at guiding us where to park, I don’t know how Bob kept so calm. We eventually found a nice place and parked Bobs mini bus. As we left the bus we were asked by Sheffield Utd safety stewards to form a line whilst a sniffer dog sniffed us in areas that I won’t like to mention, I was thinking welcome to Sheffield ! We made our way excitedly to the turnstiles and was searched again from top to bottom and we made our way inside. The Blackpool fans once again the reliable 12th Man in great form, singing loudly and we then took our seats inside the ground.

Now to the game itself, I honestly could not believe what I was watching, so many emotions just about every one from jubilation to anger and frustration. I am going to mention the officials quite a lot because they heavily influenced the game and failed to spot an obvious head injury to a Blackpool player. Blackpool found themselves to be 2-0 down inside the first 25 minutes. but a Jerry Yates brace in 30 and 42 minutes sent the travelling Blackpool fans into Wonderland, after the half time break Kenny Dougall very cooly slotted home Blackpool’s 3rd goal in the 50th minute to make 2-3 to Blackpool. Blackpool deserved to be leading and playing very confidently. Sheffield getting increasingly more desperate decided to make a triple substitution on 64 mins. Sheffields sometimes over physical play so often overlooked by the referee David Webb it was disappointing to see. The frustrations boiled over and in the 78th minute And 81st minute Blackpool were reduced to 9 players when Expiteta and Thompson receiving their 2nd yellow cards and were dismissed from the pitch. Sheffield went all out attack and Blackpool has to dig deep. Again the referee over influenced the game and awarded Sheffield a penalty kick in the 88th for a pull on a shirt that only he spotted. Justice was served and it was missed. When 4th official signalled 8 minutes of added time we couldn’t believe it, I was half expecting Jeremy Beadle to appear on the pitch with his microphone. Blackpool definitely up against it now with corner after corner being awarded to the home side it seems like it to me that the referee was trying to influence the result of this game. In the 98th minute Sheffield United got their goal to make it 3-3. The final whistle was soon blown by the referee and a brawl started on the pitch. Blackpool’s Shane Lavery was clearly assaulted but was sent off for reasons only known by the referee and then soon after the Sheffield goal keeper. What a day !!

Outside the stadium as we were leaving once again ridiculous scenes as a few Sheffield fans tried to punch randomly Blackpool fans as they were making their way to the coaches. These assaults were reported to the Police but they were not overly keen to do anything about it.

A big mention to Bob the owner of Bobs Luxury Travel BLT, thank you for getting us there and back safely with some really good stops. I will definitely be booking again

Thank you for reading

Peter Mowbray Live In Blackpool