Dream start for Tangerines

14 August 2010 18:01
Blackpool towered over the Premier League after a sensational return to top flight life as they thrashed hapless Wigan 4-0. The team Ian Holloway has constructed on half a shoe-string proved to be too well organised, too determined and frankly, too good for a Wigan outfit bereft of any quality remotely acceptable at this level of the game. In their first appearance at the highest level since 1971, Blackpool struck three times before the break to effectively wrap up the points in quite staggering fashion. New-boy Marlon Harewood scored twice after Gary Taylor-Fletcher had put the visitors in front. Alex Baptiste profited from more wretched goalkeeping by Chris Kirkland to ensure Wigan were well and truly squashed by this group of Tangerines and draw ironic chants of "Bring on the Arsenal" from the visiting supporters, who head for the Emirates next week. The Premier League has a relatively short history but since the competition was formed in 1992, no side has been written off quite so mercilessly. Nothing can be read into a single performance. Last season's results include a Burnley triumph over Manchester United from August 2009. But days like this will never be forgotten. It might not be in the class of the 1953 "Matthews" final. But those who were there will never forget the performance at the DW Stadium.

Source: PA