Snapshot: Cardiff's first road trip of the season ended in a lacklustre draw at Bloomfield Road, in a match that could have gone the way of our hosts.
The first half was opened with Blackpool the dominators across the field, though their inability to finish was the undoing. Eleven minutes of pressure however was then followed with Chopra giving Cardiff the lead with a sublime chip for the highlights reel to keep his tally going nicely.
Cardiff Settled after the goal, holding Blackpool with apparent ease as chances were limited on both sides. The sucker punch came late on however as with a minute to spare Ian Evatt was afforded space on the left to bag the equaliser.
The second half was far less productive for both teams, though Blackpool again found the steel to add considerable pressure on the visiting Bluebirds. Chances came for the Seasiders, though again the ability to finish was found wanting. Mark Hudson then had an injury time chance to win the game, but the luck was lacking and the point the only reward.
Cardiff now sweat on the injuries to McCormack and Quinn before the Tuesday trip to Plymouth Argyle.
Team News: City, as expected only made the one forced change to the starting eleven, fielding Tony Capaldi at left back in place of the injured Mark Kennedy. The rest of the opening day Scunthorpe starters were in place to test themselves against Blackpool on their own patch.
For home only supporters this was the opening of the season, with Ian Holloway the programme cover star in his first full season at Bloomfield Road. The message 'A new era', coupled with the new stand development outlined the Seasiders ambition and need to grow in order to develop into a force in the Championship.
One change came to Blackpool's starting eleven, with Ormerod stepping in for Burgess.
Cardiff: Marshall, Capaldi, Hudson, Gerrard, Quinn, McCormack, McPhail, Ledley, Whittingham, Chopra, Bothroyd. Subs: Enckelman, Rae, Burke, Blake, Comminges, Matthews, Magennis.
Blackpool: Rachubka, Crainey, Sothern, Evatt, Ormerod, Vaughan, Taylor-Fletcher, Baptiste, Euell, Edwards, Adam. Subs: Gilks, Clarke, Mitchley, Nardiello, Almond, Demontagnac.
Chronological Report: You couldn't have written it ... well, you get the point. Kick-off was approaching and sunny skies above. The City fans in place, the teams about to run out and what happens? The skies open and drench our well travelled Bluebirds support. The journo next to me said the stand is nicknamed the Gene Kelly stand as the away fans are always singing in the rain!
City ran out in a slightly changed strip, swapping the white shorts and socks for a blue number. Nice. The rain then began to come out of the sky sideways and from above.
The match started at a high tempo, with Blackpool opening the chances when Charlie Adam forced Marshall into a fingertip save one minute in. The twenty yard drive was hit with power, though Marshall showed the qualities to prevent the opener.
Blackpool continued to press early doors with pressure applied to give the home fans a cause to support. The opening ten minutes were predominantly played in our half, while service to Chopra and Bothroyd practically non-existent.
Despite the early pressure City held firm and took a surprise lead in the twelfth minute. The ball was built forward by a combination of neat touches and passes involving Whittingham and McPhail, before finding Chopra on the edge of the area.
Chopra then turned his man, beating the attempted offside trap and dinked a sublime lob to leave Rachubka stranded off his line. We waited, the ball fell in, we went crazy - singing in the rain.
GOAL: Blackpool 0 - 1 CARDIFF. Chopra. 11 mins
The goal somewhat settled Cardiff, though Blackpool were still a threat on the break and intent on causing problems by surging forward when permitted. City were more composed however, seeing Joe wide on the left and Ross in a free role in the middle.
We reached the twenty minute mark with Blackpool fans frustrated, complaining to every call against, while turning on the officials. The Seasiders then came close to a smile via the efforts of a nice shot from Keith Southern from the right of the area - his whistling shot just missing out on finding the top right corner of the City net.
For those of you on weather alert, we approached the half hour with the seaside skies slightly clearing. This was good news, particularly for the unprepared travellers in t-shirts and shorts, plus the occasional crazy few in topless mode (big blokes, not good).
Blackpool were limited, but did enough to win a succession of corners, mainly through the efforts of Jason Euell on the left. Their corner count was growing as the half rolled on, though Hudson and Gerrard were always on top of the situation.
Bad news came for City on the thirty fourth minute as a dangerous run from McCormack saw the striker cut short and pull-up with a hamstring problem, thereafter unable to continue. The change was immediate with Chris Burke coming on in right midfield. Credit to three quarters of the home fans for their applause as Ross was taken off on a stretcher, the injury hopefully not too bad.
Possession at this point was shared between both, though the chances were mainly Blackpool's. In the case of three minutes Euell set up Taylor-Fletcher with an outstretched shot and a close header, denied by solid defending and the eyes and hands of Marshall at the back.
The close of the half saw two key moments to turn the game on its head. First Chris Burke impressed all as he ran through countless Blackpool players towards goal. His quick feet saw the Scotsman into the visitors box, but unable to clear through on goal as players crowded him out.
A minute later honours were even through a solo effort from Ian Evatt. Finding space on the left of goal, Evatt picked his spot and placed the ball across the path of Marshall to make it 1-1. It was a cruel twist that made the hard work of the opening forty five minutes have to start all over again.
GOAL: BLACKPOOL 1-1 Cardiff City. Evatt. 44 mins.
HALF TIME: BLACKPOOL 1-1 CARDIFF CITY
No immediate changes to either line-up, as City opened the second half with an opportunity within sixty seconds as a free-kick awarded twenty yards out offered Peter Whittingham a chance. The ball was hit well and got around the wall, but was wide of the right post by around five yards.
The next eight minutes brought nothing extra to the party as chances dried up on both sides. Charlie Adam was then felled going forward, presenting Stephen Crainey a shot from the free-kick. The effort was solid, but over the bar and thankfully out of danger. Minutes later Stephen McPhail was booked for a soft challenge, marking his last contribution before being replaced by Gavin Rae in midfield.
The hour mark saw an opening that should have seen Blackpool take the lead, when a long ball was picked up by Brett Ormerod. He turned Mark Hudson and comfortably beat the City skipper for pace, charging forward on Marshall in the City goal. The end product however was lacking and an easy pick-up for the Cardiff keeper.
The discouraging factor was that Blackpool were for want of a better word bullying Cardiff and preventing any ability to build and go forward ourselves. As per the opening ten minutes, 'City were largely on the back foot and making mistakes as Blackpool charged down every pass. What was missing from a home lead was the finishing, while Cardiff couldn't buy possession of any note.
The bad news continued as Paul Quinn picked up an injury to add to our woes after seventy two minutes. Clearly unable to continue, Academy prospect Adam Matthews was introduced in his place. Blackpool then came close to taking the lead, prevented by Ormerod and Rob Edwards colliding as both tried to shoot in the area.
The match lacking any real bite, Blackpool made a personnel switch with just under ten minutes left, introducing Daniel Nardiello and Ishmel Demontagnac in place of Gary Taylor-Fletcher and Brett Ormerod respectively.
Blackpool then came massively close to a potential winner, with Jason Euell impressing to flick and turn past his marker before forcing Marshall to parry the resulting close range rocket out for a corner. City were clearly riding their luck, though firmly against the run of play came close moments later through a solo drive from Chris Burke.
The final minutes gave way to a barrage of pressure on the Cardiff goal, to which we were certain a goal would come. The man of the hour though was David Marshall, who all but singlehandedly prevented the winner coming for our hosts.
The last chance of the match came with a huge chance for Mark Hudson to grab the glory from a Peter Whittingham free-kick. Fate however was on hand to prevent any Blackpool fun for City as an outstretched boot two yards out fired the ball over the bar. Perhaps, though nobody cares, the goal would have been a cruel blow to our hosts. We would have all happily taken it though. Not to be.
FULL TIME: BLACKPOOL 1 - 1 CARDIFF CITY
Reaction and more to follow
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Full Attendance 7698
Away 1307
