Scorers: Gnanduillet (19’)
H.T: 1-0
K.O: 7.45 Tuesday 23rd October 2018
Attendance: 2,769
Referee: Thomas Bramall
Scunthorpe Manager: Stuart McCall
Stadium: Bloomfield Road
Form: DDW - LLL
Line-Ups:
Blackpool XI: Howard, Nottingham, Daniels, Tilt, Turton, Spearing, Guy, Thompson, Delfouneso, Feeney, Gnanduillet
Subs: Boney, Heneghan, O'Connor, O'Sullivan, Pritchard, Dodoo, Cullen
Scunthorpe XI: Alnwick, Clarke, Borthwick-Jackson, McArdle, Ojo, Humphrys, Dales, Perch, Goode, Burgess, Colclough
Subs: Flatt, Horsfield, Lewis, Thomas, Sutton, Butroid, Ugbo
Blackpool started the game slowly, struggling to break the back lines of Scunthorpe, but they did have the greater percentage of possession. Blackpool, being the better side, could only sustain the pressure for so long before they would carve out a chance and they did on 9 minutes. A fizzing cross by Feeney found the head of Nottingham, who had stayed up following a corner, but the right back directed his header over the bar.
But despite the lacklustre nature of the match, a goal would come and certainly give the fans at least something to shout about. What a move it was too to open an up a largely stern Iron defence as Turton picked out Gnanduillet who would cushion wonderfully into the bottom corner just ever so slightly out of the goalkeepers reach.
This caused a new energy to flow through the Scunthorpe side who suddenly needed a goal. In the 20th minute James Perch, through frustration, tried his luck from distance, but Howard dealt with the awkward strike well, tipping over his bar in no nonsense fashion. Blackpool would once again be put under the cosh when Charlie Goode’s header prompted a goalmouth scramble, but Scunthorpe could not covert as a collection of blocks and saves epitomised what the Seasiders are all about.
Blackpool still had the all-important possession, but there was now a difference as Scunthorpe were a threat going forwards. Delfouneso however, who had been a threat all game, would create a chance for himself in the 22nd minute as he ghosted between defenders, but the final product failed to materialise as he pushed his effort wide of the target.
Scunthorpe, despite looking to be a threat going forward, once again resorted to those long distance efforts and as before, despite Humphreys getting everything behind it in the 29th minute Howard would get down and save with his left arm.
Blackpool had experienced an inevitable rough patch in the match, but this turbulence would be averted as Pool finished the second half strongly. In the 39th minute Feeney would fire aimlessly over from the edge of the area, but the real chance to double the advantage came in the 43rd minute as the Turton and Gnanduillet combination resurfaced, but this time Alnwick would turn the low shot behind for a corner.
In the second half Scunthorpe started well, but it was the Seasiders who would have the best chance of the opening exchanges. A neat interchange between Gnanduillet and Guy led to the latter weakly striking on target.
But it was clear Scunthorpe had a real purpose about their play and in the 59th minute this showed. Humphreys unleashed a lethal strike that went narrowly wide, it was especially dangerous when you consider that Howard was unsighted.
Scunthorpe were probing. In the 73rd minute Humphreys found himself in the box again and he looked set to score, that would be if Donervon Daniels hadn’t made an excellent challenge to prevent things from getting out of hand.
It just wasn’t falling into place for Scunthorpe as again in the 77th minute another chance would go begging as Thomas would flash a cross past the goal and it would elude everyone. Scunthorpe threw everything at the last few minutes, but would be left frustrated and they continued to be second best. It was Blackpool, in fact, that would have the best chance in the closing moments when Harry Pritchard struck a quickly taken freekick wide.
So that is two wins on the bounce in a match where once more Blackpool were not their normal, fluid selves. They are grinding out the results as they proceed through a dip in quality of play, something they didn’t do earlier on, and it is also great to see Gnanduillet back amongst the goals. Even when he doesn’t score he is a great asset, but when the goals come too, it is an added bonus and a bonus that Blackpool so desperately need. Scunthorpe go home underwhelmed, but Blackpool go into the Fleetwood derby with their tails up as the wins are beginning to come and, may I add, that result means they leapfrog Town.
UTP
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