Blackpool vs Queens Park Rangers. Sky Bet Championship.
Bloomfield RoadAttendance11,769.
Report and highlights from the Sky Bet Championship clash between Blackpool and QPR at Bloomfield Road where Chris Willock's stunning opener was cancelled out by Gary Madine's second-half penalty as the points were shared
Saturday 6 November 2021 20:35, UK
Blackpool and QPR played out a 1-1 draw at Bloomfield Road, in a game where the hosts had an early goal controversially ruled out.
With just six minutes on the clock, Kenny Dougall headed in a corner, which was seemingly tapped over the line by Gary Madine, who was in an offside position and, despite replays showing the ball had already crossed the line, referee Joshua Smith ruled it out.
QPR then took the lead when Chris Willock curled home a stunner from the edge of the box (26), but Madine hit back from the penalty spot (54) to earn the Seasiders a more than deserved share of the spoils.
Ahead of the November international break, QPR sit sixth in the Sky Bet Championship table, with Blackpool a point behind in 10th.
Knowing that QPR had scored in their previous 27 league games, Blackpool started the game with great intensity and should have had their reward inside 10 minutes when they had a goal controversially ruled out by Smith.
Ryan Wintle's inswinging corner was met at the far post by Dougall, who headed the ball towards the opposite corner of the net, with Madine applying the final touch on the line to spark celebrations both on the pitch and in the stands.
But, after consultation with linesman Akil Howson, Smith ruled the goal out, having made the decision that Madine was offside when he touched the ball over the line. Replays, however, showed that although he was offside, the ball had already crossed the line.
In spite of the apparent injustice, the hosts responded well. But with 26 minutes gone, they fell behind when Willock cut in off the left flank, inside Jordan Gabriel and curled a delightful shot over the line via the right-hand post.
But it was not long after the break when the hosts grabbed the deserved leveller. Rangers goalkeeper Seny Dieng raced from his line and clattered into Gabriel, who had forced Yoann Barbet into a mistake, picking up a booking and conceding a penalty, which was duly tucked home by Madine.
It was the home side who looked likely to kill the game off after that. Madine dragged a shot wide, before substitute Sonny Carey rifled one off the outside of the right-hand post and, with just seconds left, Dieng managed to claw the ball away from Madine after an awkward cross from Demetri Mitchell had bobbled kindly for him.
Sky Sports's Don Goodman:
"I thought he was outstanding tonight. His decision-making was top drawer."
Sky Sports' Jamie Mackie on Sky Sports Football:
"Blackpool are going to feel aggrieved and rightly so but what has killed the linesman is the angle where he is standing, with Yoann Barbet on the line. I think he has gambled and I think that's what Blackpool will be aggrieved about.
"I don't think he can be 100 per cent certain the ball hasn't crossed the line."
Blackpool's Neil Critchley: "I thought we were fantastic tonight. I thought we played with real energy, both with the ball and without the ball. We made a really good team look average for long periods - they are one of the highest scorers in the division and we've limited them to very few chances. I thought we gave a really good account of ourselves and if we're disappointed with a point at home against QPR then we're doing something right.
"I didn't speak to the referee and the linesman about it [the disallowed goal], there's no point. But what do you expect? We're only little old Blackpool, we don't get anything - we've not had anything all season. There's numerous incidents I could go through, but I'm sick of talking about it. We don't get anything and it's ridiculous."
QPR's Mark Warburton: "I think it's a tough place to come. The atmosphere made by the crowd was magnificent for the full 90 minutes and it is a tough venue, without doubt. But having got the good goal and defended to half-time, to give away such a soft goal was a simple mistake. We've got to take care of the football, clear our lines and deal with it.
"That's the frustration, but we're sitting in a heated dressing room frustrated that we're only coming away with a point, so we're making good progress."
Both sides return to action following next week's November international break. QPR take on Luton at 7.45pm on Friday, November - in a game live on Sky Sports Football - while Blackpool travel to South Wales to take on Swansea at 3pm the following day.
