BLACKPOOL'S clash with the breakaway leaders of Division Two, Fulham, at Craven Cottage on Saturday (March 20) was always going to be a mammoth struggle for the Seasiders.

Manager Nigel Worthington said after the match that he had a lot of thinking to do about his future with Blackpool Football Club.

His opposite number, Kevin Keegan, left Craven Cottage for a much more publicised reason - to look after England ahead of the Poland match.

It's strange when you consider just how much the clubs have in common.

Fulham have a millionaire owner - Mohammed Al Fayed - and have made swift progress through the table where they now perch comfortably at the top.

Blackpool too are in the hands of millionaires- the Oyston family.

That is where the similarities between the clubs end because Blackpool's swift progress in the league has been in a direction which looks to be setting up one almighty relegation battle.

Fulham, while not creating too many chances, always looked the better side.

The Seasiders started well, dominating play, but their lack of firepower meant that Fulham were posed no problems whatsoever.

It was only a matter of time before the Cottagers grabbed the game by the scruff of the neck and made Blackpool look like part-timers (not forgetting that one of our best players is a part-timer!).

Barry Hayles opened the scoring on 20 minutes when Clark Carlisle failed to clear.

His left-footed shot rocketed into the roof of the net past a helpless Steve Banks.

That was the end of the first half for the Seasiders.

Only Phil Barnes managed to shoot, lobbing the ball well over the net.

Fulham made sure of the points 18 minutes into the second half when Geoff Horsfield snatched his 24th goal of the season.

He volleyed into the top corner of the net, despite looking offside, to put Fulham 2-0 up.

Blackpool's squad have only managed 33 between them this season and have failed to score six times in the past eight games.

Six minutes before Horsfield scored, Brett Ormerod saw Blackpool's best chance of the match shave past Taylor's post.

Fulham's third on 74 minutes was the goal of the day.

Gus Uhlenbeek worked down the right wing, passing for Paul Peschisolido to pull the ball back to Steve Finnan who launched the ball past Banks.

It was a super-quick, super-smooth move which left the Seasiders standing.

And to put the icing on the cake, Kit Symons slotted home from a Steve Hayward cross with two minutes left on the clock to make it 4-0.

The scoreline could have been higher but for strong tackling from Carlisle and John Hills in the second half.

Fulham now go into their next match knowing that a win can secure them at least a play-off place.

Their 15-point lead at the top of the table looks unassailable.

Where exactly Blackpool will finish up is anyone's guess.

On Saturday (March 27) Blackpool travel to Chesterfield.

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