The View Outside The Premier League: Wycombe washed out but its raining goals in Blackpool
Saturday's games saw the rare occurrence of a match being abandoned due to health and safety reasons. With thunderous clouds overhead and lightning flashing, Wycombe Wanderers and Bristol Rovers were called off well into the second half of their League Two contest.
Rovers were the most aggrieved by the situation having taken a 3-1 lead and were left with a long trip home with no reward. However, everyone accepted the decision because there have been many fatalities at sports events in this kind of weather.
At the Army Cup Final in 1948 two players were killed in similar conditions and the decision to end the game in Buckinghamshire came after two lightning strikes had already hit the stands.
Not too far away, Leyton Orient's game never started but the heavy rain over the capital wasn't the reason. The Hartlepool team coach became so jammed in traffic that the visitors weren't able to reach the ground and fulfill the fixture.
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Ipswich Town may well have hoped their game at Bloomfield Road suffered a similar fate as they ran into the form team of the campaign so far. Already with two good wins in the bag, Ian Holloway's rampant Blackpool smashed six past the Tractor Boys.
The demolition included another two for Thomas Ince and Tangerines fans just can't wait to see the transfer market closed on Friday. Their hopes were buoyed in the week though, by reports that the midfielder's famous father- Paul, of England fame - had advised the midfielder to gather some more experience in the Championship before stepping up a level.
There is real depth to Holloway's attacking options as Matt Phillips started on the bench for this one and the veteran Kevin Phillips gave way to Wigan loanee Nouha Dicko early in the second period. Gary Taylor-Fletcher provided another thoughtful display and also got on the scoresheet.
The suspicion is that some teams will be able to put Blackpool under pressure at the back but at the moment the season has been an exhilarating ride and if the squad stays together, another promotion challenge will develop.
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The notable results in League One came from teams expected to prop up the table. Both Yeovil and Walsall have been embroiled in relegation battles over recent seasons but each club has managed to do enough when it matters to avoid the drop.
On Saturday they proved again that there is spirit in abundance in Somerset and the Black Country. Yeovil's win at Scunthorpe actually put the Cidermen on top of the table, while Walsall quietly punctured Notts County's early season optimism by grabbing the only goal at Meadow Lane. Fans of both clubs enjoy upsetting the bookmaker's odds and more than a few will have had a punt on their teams to stay up again.
It's a different story for Scunthorpe who have endured a traumatic opening to the season. The Iron were expected by many pundits (this one included) to challenge for a play-off spot and Alan Knill has to lift his players urgently before the campaign goes into a tailspin.
Already we have the first managerial casualty of 2012/13 as Andy Thorn received hsi cards from Coventry City after three successive draws. His dismissal without losing a game yet continues the trend established in League One last season when managers were given the boot despite leading teams to more wins than defeats.
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Middlesbrough beat Crystal Palace 2-1 at the Riverside. At first glance that doesn't seem a very significant result but home form cost the Boro their promotion chances last season.
Opening with two home victories is exactly what Tony Mowbray required from his players and while there were anxious moments against the Londoners, so often in 2011/12 Boro were unable to close out the three points in these circumstances.
Mowbray teams are always easy on the eye and capable of fluent football but a harder edge is needed to ensure they can grind out results when not playing at their best. The early signs in this campaign are promising.
Related Articles:
Blackpool: Holloway's men hit the ground running
The View Outside the Premier League: Week One
