Blackpool make the playoffs!

[boltonboris]

Blackpool deserved that win, they played Forest off the field. In true forest fashion, we just gave up.

I'm 100% rooting for Pool to go up.

I don't think your lads 'gave up' as such, it's just that when you're chasing the game and you just go for it, you leave yourself open at the back... There's no other option and it's just unfortunate for you that Blackpool were 'on it'

[jaffka]

They have only gone and done it!

Well done you tangerines.

[FaninOz]

A great game of football to watch, Blackpool bossed the first half and came back from 1 goal down twice as Cardiff scored against the run of play twice and then took the lead just before half time. It was Cardiff's turn in the second half but a great rearguard action and Blackpool are promoted.

Who would have believed it, what a fairy tail! BUT, with that group of players they are very unlikely to stay up.

Well done the Tangerines, though, make the most of it whilst you can!

[Prufrock]

First game of the season....Bolton at home, please. Be a lovely August day trip.

Was a cracking game, and in fairness Blackpool thoroughly deserved it. My Cardiff supporting housemate has disappeared too...

[officer_dibble]

Well done the tangerine men!! Want to play em away about October/november time when the magic has worn off and they have taken a few heavy defeats. No harder time to play them than august! Hopefully it's not a midweek match as I'll try to go. Ian holloway has done a great job there.

[Bruce Rioja]

I was convinced that Cardiff were going to nick a goal late on, but in the end they didn't get a single decent shot away.

[Prufrock]

I was convinced that Cardiff were going to nick a goal late on, but in the end they didn't get a single decent shot away.

Aye, they were poor throughout, only really created two chances all game, apart from Ledley's header the corner. With my housemate being a Cardiff fan I've seen a fair bit of them this season, and they were woeful today. Losing Bothroyd was massive, I'd always thought of him as shite but he's been awesome for them this season. They seemed to want four or five touches all over the pitch, and defensively were shocking. Taylor-Fletcher's goal summed it up for me, two Cardiff players went with their feet, he stuck his head in there and scored.

Big ask for Cardiff to bounce back as well. Ledley is out of contract and will presumably go (be a decent signing for us for nowt), there'll be interest in Whittingham, and Chopra (who I don't rate mesen, though he was their best player today).

[jaffka]

I was convinced that Cardiff were going to nick a goal late on, but in the end they didn't get a single decent shot away.

Aye, they were poor throughout, only really created two chances all game, apart from Ledley's header the corner. With my housemate being a Cardiff fan I've seen a fair bit of them this season, and they were woeful today. Losing Bothroyd was massive, I'd always thought of him as shite but he's been awesome for them this season. They seemed to want four or five touches all over the pitch, and defensively were shocking. Taylor-Fletcher's goal summed it up for me, two Cardiff players went with their feet, he stuck his head in there and scored.

Big ask for Cardiff to bounce back as well. Ledley is out of contract and will presumably go (be a decent signing for us for nowt), there'll be interest in Whittingham, and Chopra (who I don't rate mesen, though he was their best player today).

Spot on with that, something I picked up on and pointed out to a Burnley fan who I was watching the game with.

[officer_dibble]

I quite like chopra, only interested in getting a goal, and gets a fair few. Seems to lack something for the top flight though... Speed of thought perhaps? I'd take ledley though on a free. Anybody sniffing?

[Prufrock]

I quite like chopra, only interested in getting a goal, and gets a fair few. Seems to lack something for the top flight though... Speed of thought perhaps? I'd take ledley though on a free. Anybody sniffing?

Ledley has always seemed an Everton signing to me, but not sure they'll be interested. Reckon we'd have a chance too. Think Stoke have been linked before as well, as will most in our tranche of the table.

As for Chopra, he'd have been a good prem player 10-15 years ago, but I don't think you can carry people up front who do nothing other than score goals anymore. I think it's an unfair critisism Klasnic seems to get, but I think it's fairly true of Chopra. He's not quick, not particularly good in the air, not particular good at linking up, his movement is good, but not exceptional. Given the fact age is creeping up on Davo I'd rather have Bothroyd.

[Bruce Rioja]

I was convinced that Cardiff were going to nick a goal late on, but in the end they didn't get a single decent shot away.

Aye, they were poor throughout, only really created two chances all game, apart from Ledley's header the corner. With my housemate being a Cardiff fan I've seen a fair bit of them this season, and they were woeful today. Losing Bothroyd was massive, I'd always thought of him as shite but he's been awesome for them this season. They seemed to want four or five touches all over the pitch, and defensively were shocking. Taylor-Fletcher's goal summed it up for me, two Cardiff players went with their feet, he stuck his head in there and scored.

Big ask for Cardiff to bounce back as well. Ledley is out of contract and will presumably go (be a decent signing for us for nowt), there'll be interest in Whittingham, and Chopra (who I don't rate mesen, though he was their best player today).

Spot on with that, something I picked up on and pointed out to a Burnley fan who I was watching the game with.

Let us not forget also the keeper's dreadful flap at the ball in. All in all a textbook example of how not to defend a set-piece.

Interesting, Pru, that you say Bothroyd's been awesome for them this year as I too have him down as being absolute shite. Maybe that's a pointer as to how far away they really are from being a Premiership side?

[Prufrock]

I was convinced that Cardiff were going to nick a goal late on, but in the end they didn't get a single decent shot away.

Aye, they were poor throughout, only really created two chances all game, apart from Ledley's header the corner. With my housemate being a Cardiff fan I've seen a fair bit of them this season, and they were woeful today. Losing Bothroyd was massive, I'd always thought of him as shite but he's been awesome for them this season. They seemed to want four or five touches all over the pitch, and defensively were shocking. Taylor-Fletcher's goal summed it up for me, two Cardiff players went with their feet, he stuck his head in there and scored.

Big ask for Cardiff to bounce back as well. Ledley is out of contract and will presumably go (be a decent signing for us for nowt), there'll be interest in Whittingham, and Chopra (who I don't rate mesen, though he was their best player today).

Spot on with that, something I picked up on and pointed out to a Burnley fan who I was watching the game with.

Let us not forget also the keeper's dreadful flap at the ball in. All in all a textbook example of how not to defend a set-piece.

Interesting, Pru, that you say Bothroyd's been awesome for them this year as I too have him down as being absolute shite. Maybe that's a pointer as to how far away they really are from being a Premiership side?

I'm not sure, I think the front six of Cardiff would be good enough to stay in the Premiership, but their defence is horrific. I think Bothroyd has always had the attributes, he's just done fook all with them. He has led the line brilliantly all season. He is a a similar sort of player to Davo, albeit at that level, he doesn't score many but he is strong, good in the air and holds it up well. The first goal was down to him, and as soon as he went off Cardiff just couldn't keep it anymore. It's difficult to tell if that would translate, he has been as good a line-leader as anyone in that division. Perhaps he could make it, or perhaps it signifies how big a gap there is between the Prem and the Championship as a whole as opposed to Cardiff particularly. Bothroyd is also a bit of a dick. 'Hot-headed' perhaps.

I'm not sure how much anyone has seen of Cardiff this year but they let themselves down today, played no-where near have they have all season. You're right about the keeper too, pathetic flap at the ball, and he got away with another one earlier getting a freekick for a striker being within breathing distance, but the point I was making about Taylor-Fletcher was that it summed up, to use a SkySports phrase, 'how much more Blackpool wanted it'. They harried Cardiff, who seemed to want far too much time. I haven't seen much of Blackpool until the play-offs, where I have seen all their games, and I've been really impressed. However, perhaps how well DJ Campbell has played is another sign of the gulf between the top two divisions. Adam, obviously, is a good player, as is David Vaughan in midfield. I've also been impressed with Crainie at left back, and Seamus Coleman on loan from Everton, but the rest are distinctly average players. I really think they'll struggle. They keep the ball very well, but at this level I don't think they'll have enough cutting edge. Witness how many times Adam played, and shanked, a hopeful diagonal ball where they still managed to win the second ball from an unchallenged defender. That doesn't happen in the prem.

[Bruce Rioja]

Aye, but we've already seen Bothroyd in the Prem; he was far from up to it.

[hisroyalgingerness]

Cue a load of tacky headlines from the redtop Premier League reports with the words "rock", "illuminations" and "all at sea" and the like

[Tombwfc]

Blackpool can be fairly accurate described by this discussion on Soccer AM.

Cardiff Fan: We'll win today, Blackpool only have one player.

Blackpool Fan: Yeah..... but what a player.

If Adam isn't up to the Premierleague, then we're looking at Derby County levels I'm afraid. Even then, they'll need at least a Steven Fletcher style striker and a new centre half. They should probably take Ledley back on the coach if he's out of contract aswell..

[finlayson]

If Blackpool vs Bolton is a Saturday 3pm kick off, i'll show my arse on the town hall steps!

[bobo the clown]

If Blackpool vs Bolton is a Saturday 3pm kick off, i'll show my arse on the town hall steps!

... & if you do, will you do so at 3pm on a Saturday ??


Congrat's to Blackpool, btw. I also think it'll be a serious step too far, but nonetheless ...

... & it keeps us up with 8 'Lancashire' teams in the Prem. Which is amazing.

(& no Welsh team, which is both brilliant .... & let's Sir Nut get pissy at me again for being negative)

[jimbo]

Massive result for the town as well. In the build up to the game the place was mental, so god knows what it'll be like this week. The place needs a lift like this and hopefully a bit of money can come in to improve its image!

[officer_dibble]

I'm not sure the gap between the bottom 6 or 7 premiership teams and the championship is that much to be honest. I wouldn't confidentally predict we'd go back up if we dropped down to be honest.

[CrazyHorse]

They can still shove their Blackpool Tower up their arse.