Before I say anything about the match I am very disappointed in Paul Sturrock for not playing Paul Wotton in the final game at Home Park this season given their history together. Even if it was only as a cameo for the final 10 minutes to say goodbye to Home Park in a fitting manner, but he didn’t even feature on the subs bench! Anyway, Plymouth played a blinder today beating Blackpool convincingly 3 – 0 with Jermaine Easter kicking off the scoring in the 4th minute slotting Rory Fallon’s pass into the box into the back of the net. It was 2 – 0 in the 23rd minute, provider of the first goal, Fallon got up above the defence to send Luke Summerfield’s corner goal bound. Summerfield was provider again for the third goal, which was almost a carbon copy of the second with Fallon beating the Blackpool defence to the ball to head home Summerfield’s free kick into the box. But even with this comprehensive win, Plymouth still lay in 10th in the league because Ipswich were four points ahead at the start of the match and the Tractor Boys managed to salvage a 2 – 2 draw at Deepdale so are two points ahead with one game left to play. Sheffield United beat Bristol City at Bramall Lane to remain two points clear of Argyle in 9th. So basically Plymouth need to win, Ipswich and Sheffield United need to lose or draw for Plymouth to finish in 8th or one of the teams needs to lose or draw to finish 9th. A loss for Argyle could mean that we slip to 11th if Burnley beat Crystal Palace, a draw for Plymouth will mean they’ll remain in 10th matching last years achievement! A win is a must to finish higher than least season!
Liverpool salvaged a 2 – 2 draw at St Andrews as Birmingham let a two goal lead slip through their fingers. Mikael Forssell made space for himself to lash home James McFadden’s cross into the top left of the net in the 34th minute. Sebastian Larsson unleashed a fierce curling free-kick from 25 yards out that crept inside the left post after Martin Skrtel shoved James McFadden off the ball in the 54th minute. Then suddenly it seemed like Liverpool woke up and started playing with Peter Crouch finding the target in the 63rd minute finding himself in space to fire home from 12 yards out. In the 76th minute Yossi Benayoun found some good fortune as his headed effort was deflected off Radhi Jaidi to send the keeper the wrong way. Both Andriy Voronin and Yossi Benayoun had opportunities to clinch the win but fired narrowly wide. This draw all but secures 4th place with two games left to play with nearest rivals Everton nine points behind with a game in hand but Liverpool have commanding goal difference over their Merseyside rivals. But of course the big game for Liverpool will be on Wednesday night against Chelsea at Stamford Bridge in the Champions League hence why key men Gerrard and Torres were rested today!
