'Pool Lose Again

A disappointing finish to the Latvia tour for the Seasiders saw them fall foul to a 4-1 thrashing at the hands of Skonto in Riga.

Reports from the ground suggest that Rhys Evans - who was under pressure from 'Pool support last season after some shaky performances - had another one of 'those games' where everything went wrong and nothing went right for the former Chelsea trainee.

Michael Flynn and Keith Southern were rested for the game - 'Flynny' suffering from a tight thigh, while 'Gnashers' has an infected blister which ruled him out - thus leaving David Fox and Marcus Bean to boss central midfield with Gary Taylor-Fletcher and Claus Jorgensen manning the wings.

Starting Line-up;
Rachubka


Coid - Evatt - Jackson - rainey


Taylor-Fletcher - Fox - Bean - Jorgensen


Morrell - Vernon




Skonto went 1-0 up following a header from centre back Smirnovs from a corner.

Ian Evatt grabbed a rare goal, his 2nd for the club - his first the leveller at Bloomfield Road against Norwich in the FA Cup last season. He was however shown the red card soon after netting his goal after he accidentally kicked an opposing player in the face in a challenge. However he was replaced by Kaspars Gorkss, which must suggest that the referee will not include it in his match report, therefore Evatt should get off without a suspension at the start of the season!

Three goals from Andrejs Perepļotkins, Aleksejs Višņakovs and Pēc Sluka sunk Simon Grayson's men in the second half and condemned them to a second defeat on the bounce.

Next up for the 'Pool are Premiership side Wigan at Bloomfield Road on Wednesday night (25/07/07) with a 7.45pm kick off.

We will have a match review and reaction up in the evening after the game.