Source: Daily_Mail
Blackpool 2 Fulham 2: No sign of Holloway's hurricane blowing out
A Tangerine tidal wave, theannouncer assured us, was going to roll through the Premier League thisseason and the raucous Blackpool fans chorused that this was the besttrip they had ever been on. [LNB]You want to believe them, so refreshing are their club, so honest are their team. [LNB] Bobby dazzler: Zamora beats keeper Alex Baptiste to score for Fulham[LNB] If ever a town's excitement and enthusiasm can stave off relegation, then it will here on the breezy, bracing Fylde Coast. [LNB]Ian Holloway's spirited side made their first home Premier League game an occasion to remember. [LNB]They fell behind to Bobby Zamora butrecovered to lead in five breathless secondhalf minutes through a JohnPantsil own goal and the debutant Luke Varney. [LNB]Dickson Etuhu's late equaliser mayhave taken some wind from the home side's sails but still BloomfieldRoad rose to acclaim a side who will not, should not, be written off. [LNB]Holloway said: 'It's a fantastic dayfor the club. What an achievement just to get the game on, just to beplaying at this level. And some of the football we played was worthy ofit. I can't tell you how proud I am and to see how the crowd haveresponded.' [LNB] Luke at me: On-loan Varney scored Blackpool's second[LNB]Blackpool's last home game in the top flight before relegation saw them also draw, 1-1 with Manchester United in 1971. [LNB]But if that was a gloomy day, here was a joyous one. [LNB]Fulham, who won just once on theroad in the Premier League last season, were grateful for a point thateased the pain of injuries to Zamora, who pulled a thigh muscle, androokie goalkeeper David Stockdale, who turned an ankle. [LNB]They were watched by Fabio Capelloand are likely to be in his England squad for the European Championshipqualifiers against Bulgaria and Switzerland but both are deemed 'verydoubtful' by Fulham boss Mark Hughes. [LNB]'We made a couple of mistakes but showed great character to get back on terms,' Hughes added. [LNB]'We haven't picked up many away points lately and it's something we need to improve on.' [LNB] Ready for action: Blackpool's Bloomfield Road [LNB][LNB] Blackpool may have been cautious in the transfer market but Holloway's men are determined to risk an attacking 4-3-3 approach. [LNB]Having missed their opening cue whenthe match against Wigan had to be switched due to building work, theytimed their entrance right a fortnight later. [LNB]The new, temporary East Stand wasup, all the Premier League merchandise was in the club shop and the suneven shone, though a wicked wind blew in from the Irish Sea.[LNB] It pushed Fulham back as the homeside rode the roars of their support. Varney, newly arrived on loanfrom Derby, quickly forced Stockdale to beat away a volley then flasheda shot across goal.[LNB] After being subjected to anexhibition at Arsenal last week, Blackpool were given another lesson:that you can be on top but a swift break by top-flight players can undoall your good work. [LNB] Oh no: Fulham's John Pantsil (left) deflects the ball into his own net[LNB]Damien Duff found Moussa Dembele who crossed from the right for Zamora to head home. [LNB]Half-time let Holloway rally his team and after having an effort disallowed for a foul by Varney on Stockdale, they equalised.[LNB] Adam robbed Etuhu in midfield and found David Grandin, who spotted Varney on the right. His cross-shot was going wide until Pantsil diverted it into his own net. [LNB]The home fans grew even louder after Blackpool's second. Brett Ormerod fed Varney with a neat through-ball and he tucked it away. [LNB]But they were brought back to reality when Dembele sent Etuhu clear and he fired home.[LNB]BLACKPOOL ( 4- 3- 3): Gilks; Baptiste, Cathcart, Evatt (Eardley 64mins), Crainey; Grandin, Vaughan, Adam; Ormerod, Taylor-Fletcher, Varney. Subs (not used): Halstead, Basham, Euell, Sylvestre, Demontagnac, Keinan. Booked: Vaughan. [LNB]FULHAM (4 - 4- 2): Stockdale; Pantsil, Hughes, Hangeland, Kelly; Davies, Etuhu, Murphy (Gera 80), Duff (Greening 85); Dembele, Zamora (Dempsey 59). Subs (not used): Zuberbuhler, Baird, Riise, Briggs. Referee: M Oliver (Northumberland). [LNB] Blackpool snap up striker Varney from Derby on season-long loanLiverpool hand over starlets to clinch £4m Konchesky dealFULHAM FC
