Blackpool enjoys dream return
Source: Agencies |
August 16, 2010, Monday
|
Print Edition
Print Edition
BLACKPOOL enjoyed a dream return to English football's top flight when it thrashed Wigan Athletic 4-0 to illuminate the opening day of the Premier League season on Saturday.
Champion Chelsea hammered West Bromwich Albion 6-0 inspired by Didier Drogba's hat-trick but the day belonged to seaside club Blackpool which has been in the wilderness since 1971.
Tottenham Hotspur and free-spending Manchester City played out a 0-0 draw at White Hart Lane in which City was indebted to a sensational goalkeeping by Joe Hart.
Aston Villa responded to the shock resignation of manager Martin O'Neill with a 3-0 win over West Ham United with winger James Milner, poised to join City, scoring the third goal in what could be his last game for the club.
Blackburn Rovers beat Everton 1-0 and Wolverhampton Wanderers defeated visiting Stoke City 2-1. Birmingham City grabbed a later equalizer to draw 2-2 at 10-man Sunderland and Fulham and Bolton Wanderers finished goalless.
Top billing
Relegation favorites and with its dated Bloomfield Road ground still undergoing a makeover, Blackpool and its joyous orange-clad fans unexpectedly stole top billing as the world's most-hyped domestic league opened for business.
"This is a great group of lads and we had a great day today," Holloway told Sky Sports. "I had to throw in three boys today who had literally just met each other. If we stay together we may cut it and have half a chance to stay above three teams at the end of the season."
Blackpool's preparations for the season had been far from ideal but Wigan threw down the welcome mat as the visitors cruised into a 3-0 halftime lead.
Gary Taylor-Fletcher side-footed Blackpool ahead before Harewood struck twice. Wigan, jeered off at halftime, had a goal disallowed after the break and Alex Baptiste completed the rout.
Chelsea hit the ground running against West Brom to continue a remarkable scoring sequence at Stamford Bridge. From the moment Florent Malouda struck in the sixth minute Carlo Ancelotti's side played on cruise control and picked off its opponents at will.
Drogba scored either side of halftime and completed his hat-trick with a deflected effort after Frank Lampard opened his account for the season. Malouda added a sixth to take Chelsea's tally to 21 in its last three homes games after 7-0 and 8-0 wins over Stoke and Wigan at the end of last season.
Champion Chelsea hammered West Bromwich Albion 6-0 inspired by Didier Drogba's hat-trick but the day belonged to seaside club Blackpool which has been in the wilderness since 1971.
Tottenham Hotspur and free-spending Manchester City played out a 0-0 draw at White Hart Lane in which City was indebted to a sensational goalkeeping by Joe Hart.
Aston Villa responded to the shock resignation of manager Martin O'Neill with a 3-0 win over West Ham United with winger James Milner, poised to join City, scoring the third goal in what could be his last game for the club.
Blackburn Rovers beat Everton 1-0 and Wolverhampton Wanderers defeated visiting Stoke City 2-1. Birmingham City grabbed a later equalizer to draw 2-2 at 10-man Sunderland and Fulham and Bolton Wanderers finished goalless.
Top billing
Relegation favorites and with its dated Bloomfield Road ground still undergoing a makeover, Blackpool and its joyous orange-clad fans unexpectedly stole top billing as the world's most-hyped domestic league opened for business.
"This is a great group of lads and we had a great day today," Holloway told Sky Sports. "I had to throw in three boys today who had literally just met each other. If we stay together we may cut it and have half a chance to stay above three teams at the end of the season."
Blackpool's preparations for the season had been far from ideal but Wigan threw down the welcome mat as the visitors cruised into a 3-0 halftime lead.
Gary Taylor-Fletcher side-footed Blackpool ahead before Harewood struck twice. Wigan, jeered off at halftime, had a goal disallowed after the break and Alex Baptiste completed the rout.
Chelsea hit the ground running against West Brom to continue a remarkable scoring sequence at Stamford Bridge. From the moment Florent Malouda struck in the sixth minute Carlo Ancelotti's side played on cruise control and picked off its opponents at will.
Drogba scored either side of halftime and completed his hat-trick with a deflected effort after Frank Lampard opened his account for the season. Malouda added a sixth to take Chelsea's tally to 21 in its last three homes games after 7-0 and 8-0 wins over Stoke and Wigan at the end of last season.
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