Championship - Blackpool reach Premier League

Eurosport - Sat, 22 May 16:54:00 2010

Blackpool reached the Premier League with a 3-2 victory over Cardiff in an action-packed Championship play-off final at Wembley.

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All five goals came in the first-half with Charlie Adam cancelling out Michael Chopra's early strike and then Blackpool quickly levelling again as Gary Taylor-Fletcher responded to Joe Ledley's goal.

It was veteran striker Brett Ormerod who scored what turned out to be the decisive goal in first-half injury time as the Tangerines returned to the top-flight of English football for the first time in 39 years.

Ormerod scored against Leyton Orient in the Third Division play-off final in 2001 in his first spell at the club, which underlines the remarkable rise of Ian Holloway's side who started the season among the relegation favourites.

It had taken just nine minutes for Cardiff to break the deadlock after a perfectly timed run from Chopra who dispatched Peter Whittingham's pass into the far corner past the diving Matthew Gilks.

But within four minutes Blackpool were level after Stephen McPhail was penalised for a handball and Tangerines top scorer Adam curled a superb 25-yard free-kick into the top corner, leaving David Marshall with no chance.

Cardiff regained the lead on 37 minutes when Ledley laid off to Whittingham and continued his run into the penalty area. Gilks came off his line and made the angle easy for Ledley to fire home.

But their lead again only lasted four minutes. Moments after Taylor-Fletcher hit the post with a strike from 20 yards, the Bluebirds failed to deal with a corner and although Ian Evatt's hook was cleared off the line by the thigh of Mark Kennedy it popped up to Taylor-Fletcher who headed home from close range.

And the Tangerines took the lead in first-half injury time as DJ Campbell wriggled into the penalty area and although he slipped when he attempted to shoot, the ball fell nicely to veteran Ormerod who found the net.

Darcy Blake poked home a free-kick at the back post in first-half injury time but it was correctly ruled out for offside and despite the pitch side thermometer reading over 106 degrees, the action continued apace in the second-half.

Cardiff dominated possession and Chopra, who hit the crossbar from close range after just three minutes, again hit the woodwork with his 20-yard drive having beaten Gilks.

Ledley beat Gilks at the near post but his flicked header from Whittingham's corner drifted just past the far post and Kelvin Etuhu - an early substitute for Jay Bothroyd - stung the palms of the Blackpool keeper who tipped the shot around the post for a corner.

Gilks then made a complete hash of a floated cross under pressure from Chopra and was relieved to see the ball drift past the far post.

Cardiff continued to throw men forward in the sweltering conditions but a surging run from Blake only ended with a shot straight at Gilks.

Four minutes of added time gave the Bluebirds a glimmer but Ledley's injury-time header was straight into the hands of Gilks and the Seasiders ensured they would be playing in the Premier League next season just nine years after making it out of the Football League's bottom tier.

Lee Walker / Eurosport

Comment 155 - 174 of 174

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  1. ian holaway manager not dowie

    From Colin, on Tue 25 May 2:54

  2. So glad cardiff did not win. Their fans are vile­ hooligans and we should be pleased they will not be­ infecting our english premier grounds. Top result­ Blackpool!

    From Philip, on Mon 24 May 9:42

  3. hahaha cardiff look over your should be minus10 points­ on their way for next season. You should have already­ been deducted them anyway. Too many chances to pay off­ your debts during regular season and failed to do so.­ cheating welsh scum.

    From DR, on Mon 24 May 7:38

  4. these are tippical comments , from the english­ about welsh teams , welsh team playing an english­ team in an english ground,with a english ref ,end­ result english win talk about a loaded dice against­ cardiff typical same old english allways cheating.­ never a leavel playing field for any side that plays­ the english any way englang will not win world­ cup just not good enough thats a fact. you wait and see

    From Evans, on Mon 24 May 6:40
  5. Comment hidden due to its low rating. Show

    these are tippical comments , from the english­ about welsh teams , welsh team playing an english­ team in an english ground,with a english ref ,end­ result english win talk about a loaded dice against­ cardiff typical same old english allways cheating.­ never a leavel playing field for any side that plays­ the english any way englang will not win world­ cup just not good enough thats a fact. you wait and see

    From Evans, on Mon 24 May 6:32

  6. great news-football and trip to the seaside-happy­ days-spurs fan!

    From ANDREW, on Mon 24 May 6:17

  7. And who said Ian Dowie wasnt a good manager? Getting­ Blackpool up to the prem is an amazing achievement!­ Relegation candidates and winning the play off!­ Congrats Dowie and congrats the whole of Blackpool!!

    From David, on Mon 24 May 5:17

  8. good luck blackpool well deserved never mind what that­ guy said earlier about being so many points off forest­ and cardiff!! rules are rules and blackpool played them­ to there best ability.so chuffed for you and enjoy the­ ride like im going to!! craig from newcastle

    From craig, on Mon 24 May 4:53

  9. i was at the game yeserday the whole of london was­ tangerine an amazing day in blackpool history many good­ days to come :)

    From juliebaum, on Mon 24 May 4:28

  10. Well done you Tangerines! They said possible­ relegation, you have a great season, get into the­ play-offs late on, then only go and WIN the final!!­ Absolutely brilliant. I'm dead chuffed, mixing it­ with the best for at least one season. Fantastic! ­ Jiblington.

    From James, on Mon 24 May 3:39

  11. well done blackpool

    From , on Mon 24 May 2:27

  12. over the play offs blackpool played the better football­ . crisp passing and good movement . its great to see­ hollaway in the prem . a very colorful character . he­ will bring good humour . i wish them luck . well done­ he hasd done a great job. perhaps they can finish­ building there stadium now

    From wayne, on Mon 24 May 1:40

  13. @#$% , after suffering a season in league 1 was looking­ forward to a day out on the lancashire coast but that­ hopes gone, never mind good luck in the premier league­ blackpool and we'll have to make do with stuffing­ preston nobend , all the best , O.T.B.C.........

    From the proud brit, on Mon 24 May 1:18

  14. as a pne fan, i take my hat of to well done you­ donkeylashers, but we'll meet again.­ CONGRATULATIONS, IT HERT WRITING THIS BUT YOU DESERVED­ IT

    From mark.dixon1969, on Mon 24 May 0:55

  15. Well in Blackpool. We shouldn't have a Welsh team­ anywhere near the football leagues, let alone the­ Premiership. Good luck to Blackpool for next season,­ (see you at Anfield)

    From blinx007, on Mon 24 May 0:45

  16. proud to be a seasider, sandgrowner and lifelong fan!­ well done to my club you have made blackpool proud.­ deepest comiserations got to cardiff! next year for you

    From ANDREW, on Mon 24 May 0:36

  17. Championship playoffs are nonsense. Cardiff finish 6­ points clear of Blackpool over the season and with a­ better goal difference but are denied promotion because­ of one match. This is very unfair. The three clubs­ which do best over the whole season should be promoted.

    From alan, on Mon 24 May 0:23

  18. Mourino is Blackpools next manager , he saw the­ potentinal in the team

    From andy, on Sun 23 May 23:35

  19. well done you donkey lashers welcome to the prem from a­ ROVERS FAN are you watching PNE ha ha

    From Paul, on Sun 23 May 23:23

  20. Well done Blackpool...congrats Charlie Adam.....Me­ thinks you will have a lot of support up here in­ Scotland for next season....Glasgow Rangers fan

    From marydoll, on Sun 23 May 23:03
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