Perfect Palmer sparks Latics

Photo: Alan Howarth

GET STUCK IN: Jonathan Forte.

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Athletic 1, Blackpool 0

ONE MOMENT of true quality appeared too much to hope for half way through this stale contest.

Both sides were doing a manful job of cancelling each other out on a bone-hard pitch and perspiration was easily outgunning inspiration. It was tough to watch.

But fired by a rocket in the dressing room from manager John Sheridan, it was “cometh the hour, cometh the man” - that man being Matt Palmer.

Matt Palmer’s performances have shone like Blackpool illuminations in a dull season, and here he netted a goal of true class to earn his boss a victory of massive significance.

Exchanging passes with another important loan signing, Aaron Amadi-Holloway, the 21 year old from Burton Albion composed himself to place a perfect shot beyond the grasp of Colin Doyle. The crowd’s volume signalled its importance.

Even though it came in the 53rd minute, there was a sense it was always going to be enough to beat a game but limited Blackpool side, themselves now seemingly doomed to League Two.

Athletic saw out the contest with relative ease, with goalkeeper Joel Coleman not called on to make one save of note all game.

“Rubbish” was Neil McDonald’s frank assessment of his side’s attempts in the second half and it was difficult to argue with him. Athletic were good enough to win, again. If they give more determined displays like this they will surely finish the season above the bottom four.

Sheridan made three changes to the line-up that had been beaten 3-0 at Sheffield United three days earlier. Out were Cameron Dummigan, Joseph Mills and Carl Winchester and in came Brian Wilson, captain Liam Kelly and Curtis Main.

The first half started scrappily and grew worse as a spectacle, as both struggling sides tried their best to accommodate the tennis-ball bounce on the hard surface.

Palmer hit one well-struck shot straight at Doyle midway through the opening period, as his attempted threaded pass bounced back into his path off a defender's heels. It was Athletic’s only attempt on target in the opening 45 minutes – but it was one more than the visitors managed.

Frustrations grew among Athletic’s fan base at their side's unwillingness to cross the ball early into the box, with Mike Jones the culprit on a couple of occasions.

Blackpool’s David Norris sliced well wide of the near post near the start of the second half, after taking on ex-Athletic man Danny Philliskirk’s flick in a rare moment of attacking fluency for the visitors.

Then came the goal that lifted the occasion. Liam Kelly picked the ball up in the middle and laid off to Palmer. He fed it to the feet of Amadi-Holloway and he too worked room before passing back to Palmer on his right. The touch to control was perfect and so was the finish, high and across Doyle.

A couple of minor infractions were dealt with in a peculiar way by referee Jeremy Simpson. Liam Kelly was booked after being struck by Brad Potts, who also received a yellow card, while Mike Jones was cautioned after being grabbed by the collar by David Norris, who escaped Scot-free.

That was the total of Blackpool's second-half fight. Forte rose to flick a header just past the far post from Brian Wilson’s centre and the home side saw out the game with some ease, zipping the ball around at times.

Main and Amadi-Holloway continued to give Athletic a focal point in attack. The only thing missing for that pair is goals. No better time than Rochdale to get off the mark for resurgent Athletic.