Report: Baggies 3-2 Blackpool

Apologies for the lateness in this match report; our admin site has been down since Sunday.

We're back up and running now though and where better place to pick up than a look at what wrong on Saturday for the Seasiders?

There's no doubt that it was yet another entertaining game involving the 'Pool, but ultimately poor finishing and poor defending cost the Mighty dear as West Brom ended a run of five straight defeats.

Although the weekend's results were ok for the Seasiders, we can't afford to keep losing games to the teams below us between now and the end of the season if we are to remain in the Premier League.

'Pool took the lead with a stunning strike from David Vaughan (why doesn't he shoot more?!), but should have been ahead inside 90 seconds; DJ Campbell firing wide after creating space for himself inside the West Brom area.

After five goals in five games, Saturday sadly saw a return to the DJ of old finishing wise. His failure to hit the back of the net aside, it just goes to show the importance of a strong defence. All the most successful teams concede few goals, and if the Seasiders are to really establish themselves at this level, then our backline needs to be consistently difficult to breach.

West Brom have the worst defensive record in the league this season, but instead it was 'Pool's defence who were in sixes and sevens at the weekend.

After Luke Varney should have doubled the Seasiders' lead and with the hosts not really in the game, two defensive errors gifted the Baggies an equaliser.

Gary Taylor-Fletcher failed to close his man down after a partial clearance, and Graham Dorrans had all the time in the world to pick out Peter Odemwingie who fired home after being played onside by Stephen Crainey.

Two goals conceded in two games now by the Seasiders due to their failure to execute a successful offside trap - unacceptable at this level.

The second half began just like the second - DJ missing a great chance.

'Pool paid for that miss immediately - Jerome Thomas (the best player on the pitch on Saturday) weaking havoc in the 'Pool penalty area before James Morrison tapped in from close range.

Kingson then produced a brilliant save whilst Morrison blazed over the bar as the hosts looked to wrap up the three points.

But 'Pool looked like they had rescued a point late on after a wonderful move saw GTF slam home. How wrong we were.

Craig Cathcart was caught out by a long ball and Odemwingie pounced to hand the Baggies the points.

'Pool still had time to miss two gilt edged chances to secure a draw, DJ and Brett Ormerod missing. I guess it just wasn't our day.

Click here to join in the debate on the club forum.