Cod Almighty | Article
by Richard Lord
16 October 2020
Town's game at Bolton brought back memories for Rich. Two very different games, but the same result, and the same away team manager
After Town played out a drab 0-0 draw at Bolton in the fourth division on Saturday — in front of zero fans, with zero shots on goal — I suddenly remembered the time I'd attended a match at the very same stadium almost 10 years ago, on an absolute whim. Back then it was a Premier League game, with an attendance of nearly 26,000, and the place was rocking. The visitors? Blackpool, in their solitary top flight season. I think you'll know who their manager was.
The contrast between that game and Town's at the weekend couldn't have been greater. This particular game finished 2-2 although it could and probably should have finished 6-6. It remains one of the most open games of football I've ever seen, in person or on the telly. Honestly, it was that good.
Both sides went for it from the very first minute. Holloway's philosophy during his time in the Premier League with Blackpool was to attack. He figured that they were always going to leak goals, so why not have a go. Bolton were a very well drilled top-flight team, with a strong home record. Not many teams visited what was then known as the Reebok Stadium and ruffled Sam Allardyce's feathers (just ask Arsenal).
I'm not surprised at Holloway's solemn post-match interview in which he once again pleaded for fans to be allowed back into stadiums. That game 10 years ago was a freezing cold late November afternoon, but the action had me up on my feet more times than I ever thought possible
But this Blackpool team did. Bolton weren't known for their passing game but they ended up equalising very late on with a fantastic team effort that was a Goal of the Season contender. I searched for some match stats to check whether I'd exaggerated any of the details. The game had 49 shots, 16 of which were on target. In Holloway's team that day was current Bolton manager Ian Evatt and one Elliott Grandin, listed as a striker in a 4-2-4 formation.
If Holloway had any memory of that particular game then I'm not surprised in the slightest at his rather solemn post-match interview in which he once again pleaded for fans to be allowed back into stadiums. That game 10 years ago was a freezing cold late November afternoon, but the action on the pitch had this neutral supporter up on my feet more times than I ever thought possible for a game between two sides I had no affiliation to whatsoever. It deserved an audience of 26,000, and then some. Holloway's brand of football deserves to be witnessed. He's an entertainer; it's what he lives for.
Blackpool's away following was tremendous. As I walked around the ground by myself, more than an hour before kick-off, I bumped into Blackpool striker Luke Varney, closely followed by a handful of his teammates (and Holloway). They were so relaxed, mingling with fans, it was untrue. I wondered then whether they'd get steamrollered by a cute Bolton team, but they were well up for the challenge.
If Holloway can get our Town team playing with that sort of fearless endeavour then he'll warm the hearts of every Mariner who may have gone cold on Town since our return to the Football League.