Sam Allardyce began his managerial career at Blackpool. He’s experienced plenty of highs and lows in the 27 years since but rarely all within the same 120 minutes.
Allardyce returned to Bloomfield Road on Saturday aware that his Premier League strugglers badly needed a pick-me-up after recent thrashings against Aston Villa, Leeds and Arsenal.
Instead they suffered a further bloodied nose against a club forever synonymous with the FA Cup because of the 1953 Matthews Final but currently mid-table in League One.
Sam Allardyce was left furious on the touchline as his men were beaten on penalties
West Brom players could only stand dejected after being eliminated by a side two tiers below
Gary Madine rushed to goalkeeper Chris Maxwell after his crucial save to deny
Maxwell was also on hand to save a penalty from West Brom’s Kyle Edwards in the shootout
Darnell Furlong trudged away after also missing one of the pressure spot kicks
Though Allardyce has only been in a job at The Hawthorns for just over three weeks, he won’t want the search for a first win as West Brom manager to continue too long.
They did show character to twice fight back against Blackpool in regular time but there was lack of quality with both goals scored by the underdogs works of art in comparison.
Even the supposed technical superiority of Premier League players wasn’t proven in the penalty shoot out, particularly as Albion goalkeeper David Button saved from Jerry Yates in the first kick of the shoot out.
In response, Kyle Edwards, Darnell Furlong and finally Matheus Pereira all had attempts saved by Blackpool goalkeeper Chris Maxwell.
They were excellent stop but Allardyce wasn’t impressed with his lot. ‘We got the best possible start but I am hugely disappointed in the penalty takers that missed.
‘The level we are at, we should not have lost at all.’
West Brom had the better of the first half with Maxwell making saves from Filip Krovinovic and Pereira but saw Neil Critchley’s underdogs take the lead after 40 minutes with a great team goal.
Critchley developed his coaching skills with Liverpool under-23s and it was a touch of class as Gary Madine released Bez Lubala and his low cross from the left reached Yates who timed his run to convert from close range.
Pereira had taken West Brom to extra-time after scoring a pen to make it 2-2 on 80 minutes
A wide-angled shot of Gary Madine’s goal which had put Blackpool in the lead with a 2-1 score
The 30-year-old puffed his chest in celebration after putting the League One side back ahead
New West Brom boss Allardyce looked aghast as his side struggled at Bloomfield Road
Allardyce threw on Furlong for Kieran Gibbs at the interval and within seven minutes of the restart they were level thanks to Ajayi’s aerial power.
Polish international Kamil Grosicki supplied the cross and Ajayi’s strength was proved again with a firm header having recently scored a similar equaliser at Anfield.
Conor Gallagher then shot over for the visitors before Blackpool abruptly stopped a shift in momentum with their second goal after 66 minutes.
It was another fabulous swift passing move from inside their own half with Dan Kemp involved before Yates turned provider to slip in Gary Madine who buried his finish into the bottom corner.
Albion had to dig deep again and levelled in controversial circumstances after 80 minutes.
Kamil Grosicki’s shot cannoned into Ollie Turton’s arm from close range and referee John Brooks, who didn’t have the use of VAR, pointed to the spot. Pereira dispatched the penalty convincingly to Maxwell’s left.
Semi Ajayi repeated his Anfield heroics by rising highest to head home a corner ball for 1-1
The big defender watched on as his effort evaded the goalkeeper’s attempted dive
Ajayi pointed to the skies and was mobbed by team-mates after leveling the scoreline
Blackpool has taken a shock lead after Jerry Yates was left unmarked inside the six-yard box
Blackpool were bright in extra-time despite losing Icelandic international defender Daniel Gretarsson with a muscular injury and nearly snatched it when sub Matty Virtue shot over.
At the other end, Maxwell had to get down low to stop Kyle Edwards’ shot creeping in.
A see-saw penalty shoot-out saw Button save from Yates with the first attempt. But Albion threw it away.
Sullay Kaikai could have won it for Blackpool at 3-1 but struck the post. To his relief though, another excellent dive from Maxwell denied Pereira.
‘Liverpool sounds nice,’ smiled Critchley when asked about who he fancied in the fourth round.
‘You have to put in a real physical shift against Premier League opposition and our players did that.’
‘We more than matched them. It was a great feeling to win and I felt it was a deserved victory. They were top goals.’
It was a sobering moment for Allardyce back at the ground he worked at for two years.
Yates finished with aplomb and send West Brom keeper David Button tumbling into his goal
Blackpool players celebrated after getting off the mark and taking first blood in the contest
‘It was a great third round battle – I didn’t expect anything else,’ he said. ‘We dealt with Madine at 6ft4ins but we gave the ball away cheaply.’
Allardyce made seven changes from the side thumped 4-0 by Arsenal and is now ready for an assault on the transfer window.
‘I’ve seen players I have not seen before. I will make judgement on them and we will go into market.’
Robert Snodgrass has already signed from West Ham and with Charlie Austin on his way out to QPR, Big Sam is interested in Josh King from Bournemouth.
He was forced to play winger Pereira up front on Saturday. ‘We need a striker, maybe two, to get out of our position.’
Back where it all started, Allardyce realised clearer than ever his record of never being relegated as a manager is under serious threat.