Still waiting

But unlike Huddersfield who took the points in a similar scoreline last week, this was a game that the Seasiders were expected to win.

A combination of injuries to key players and some woeful defending prevented Pool from doing so and a disappointed crowd of 4,952 went home disappointed.

Ian Marshall, Tommy Jaszczun, John Hills and Richard Walker were all missing from the starting Blackpool eleven but probably most significant was Scott Taylors absence.

The striker has become an important part of the Seasiders line-up since his recent move from Stockport, so much so that Pool boss Steve McMahon has commented he has gone part of the way to filling the huge gap left by Brett Ormerods departure.

Taylor was suspended for this game and Pool certainly missed his pace upfront with the replacements of Fenton and Murphy not known for their speed. On a more positive note, Steve McMahon gave new signing Chris Clarke his first home appearance in the Pool defence. He played reasonably well, coping with most of what Northampton threw at him.

Pool got off to the worst possible start when Northampton found themselves a goal up with the first real chance of the game. After just 8 minutes Northampton won a corner which was floated to the back post. Midfielder Richard Hope rose above the Pool defence to nod on to Marco Gabbiadini who in turn looped the ball over Barnes and into the net.

It was a bad goal to concede from a Blackpool point of view as Pool had opportunity to win the ball in the initial header from Hope and then again when the ball dropped to Gabbiadini.

After the initial shock of the goal had passed, Pool started to get in the game. Hills had Pools first chance when he weaved his way through the visitors defence only to shoot straight at Keith Welch. A scramble followed on 25 minutes when John Murphy and Chris Clarke were amongst many who had stabs at goal blocked by some desperate defending from Northampton.

Paul Simpson had a few efforts from free kicks in the run up to half time but he couldnt find the target and the Seasiders went into the break a goal down.

Northampton started the second half strongly and could have doubled their league on 52 minutes.

A casual pass from Danny Coid was intercepted by Jamie Forrester and if it werent for a last gasp challenge from Clarke, the Northampton striker would have been given a free shot at Phil Barnes.

Pool were giving the ball away in defence like this too often and eventually they were made to pay. Rhys Day side footed what should have been a simple ball to fellow defender Chris Clarke but instead found Forrester iwho immediately released Gabbiadini through on goal. With just Barnes to beat Gabbiadini made no mistake and scored his and Northamptons second of the game.

It was a huge error from Day and he was subsequently took off for Ian Hughes shortly afterwards.

Pool responded immediately and quickly grabbed a goal back. Coid started the move, exchanging passes with Martin Bullock before teeing up a cross into the heart of the visitors defence. Graham Fenton reacted fastest and powered in an unstoppable header into the corner.

Coid and Bullock continued to work the wing well as Pool looked to level the scores in the half an hour that remained. But without Taylor on the field it seemed Pool had no player to run on to the balls that Coid and Bullock were creating and Northampton were happy to defend what they had. John Murphy came as close as Blackpool got to equalising when his just couldnt keep his 90th minute header below the bar.

The final whistle blew to boos from a discontented home support. Northampton were clearly delighted with the three points, as they look to find a way out of the relegation fight.

The visitors didnt particularly play well, even if they did take their chances well, it was more a case of Blackpool under-performing at home once again. Something is missing at Bloomfield Road at the moment, Pool have a couple more home games coming up to put that right.

Blackpool 1-2 Northampton

Fenton Gabbiadini (2)