Two videos of a pitch invasion during Blackpool’s League One clash with Southend United has been uploaded to Facebook and Twitter attracting thousands of views.
It came in the Tangerines’ first home game since Owen Oyston was removed from the board, seeing nearly 16,000 supporters flood back after protesting and boycotting so they would not financially benefit him.
The game didn’t start in Blackpool’s favour however as Southend defender Rob Kiernan – who ended ‘months upon months of injury hell’ – was at the back post to put the Blues in front after 20 minutes.
Ending months upon months of injury hell to then be on the scoresheet within 20 minutes on his return to the pitch.
A great moment for @KiernanRobbie pic.twitter.com/wbsjv1DPG0
— Southend United (@SUFCRootsHall) March 9, 2019
Their lead was short-lived however as Armand Gnanduillet got Blackpool back level just eight minutes later, firing into the roof of the net.
Just after the break, Michael Turner’s finish at the near post again put Southend 2-1 up and it looked very much that they were about to steal a very important three points at Blackpool.
However that wasn’t to be as Taylor Moore netted an own goal in the 96th minute to produce celebratory scenes for the home fans around Bloomfield Road before a pitch invasion took place and flares were thrown.
Take a look at all of that in the two videos below…
Posted by Brian Clark on Saturday, March 9, 2019
Scenes at Bloomfield Road when Blackpool equalised ?⚽?#BlackpoolAreBack #blackpoolfc @BlackpoolST @KnightTangerine pic.twitter.com/QX2vym2LCA
— Chris Webb (@Chris4BNC) March 9, 2019
On the game and those celebrations, Blackpool boss Terry McPhillips said, as quoted by the Gazette: “It was probably hard to write that ending.
“These lads we’ve got in our dressing room, they’ve got a never-say-die attitude.
“I thought we should have won the game but we conceded off two poor corners where we’ve got to do better.
“I thought we murdered them second half and the least we deserved was that goal at the end – but it’s football, you don’t always get what you deserve.
“I thought the crowd were magnificent and I thought the players gave back to the crowd.
“It was an exciting end and reminiscent of the Bradford game earlier in the season when we came back to win 3-2. The only difference this time is there were loads of fans here.
“There probably will be repercussions but in their defence, I don’t think anyone got injured.
“The fans sung their hearts out and it was an emotional game anyway.
“The way the game went, should we have been losing? I don’t think so. The goalie makes a save late on when they’re one-on-one and we’re throwing the kitchen sink.
“Eventually the kitchen sink goes in and it’s mayhem and it’s all those years of hurt coming out and the excitement of being here.
“They shouldn’t have come on but they did. Like I say, no one got hurt and football is all about emotions and passion and heart.
“I thought the players and the fans showed that in abundance and showed how important this football club is. It’s a major day in its history, the fans coming back and enjoying themselves.
“Lots of them told me the result didn’t matter but if the lads can put a show on, that’ll do. That’s what we did.”
“I think the referee decided to call it a day.
After watching the video of the pitch invasion following the late Blackpool equaliser, fans took to social media to give their reaction on it, some pleased for the Tangerines, others criticising those scenes – find out what they had to say on the next page.
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