After long last, Blackpool win. Nothing more and nothing less, but it is three points nevertheless and hopefully it can be used to help springboard Blackpool up the table. It was far from the complete performance, but the result was ground out in impressing fashion, with the Seasiders fighting off some considerable Southend pressure.
Blackpool were instantly on the front foot winning a few early corners and threatening quite surprisingly down the left wing. They could not capitalise though, as Gnanduillet, who diverted a Ben Heneghan header towards goal, failed to beat the tenacious Southend defender on the line, before miss-connecting with his overhead kick which bounced safely, from a Southend perspective, wide.
Southend looked unsure and, like Blackpool in recent games, failed to have any sort of spark. Nevertheless, in the 11th minute Sam Barratt tried his luck from distance, but Maxwell safely collected the speculative effort.
Blackpool were barely fazed by this opening though and continued to maintain possession and pressure well. In the 18th minute a Bola cross was almost deflected off Milligan and into the corner, but Southend were once more fortunate as the ball flashed wide.
Southend were looking dangerous on the counter though with Milligan and McLaughlin both squandering decent openings as Southend men flooded forwards. Blackpool were looking good in possession, but when out of it they also seemed far from certain of their defensive roles and capabilities. This pattern continued when Turton made an almost catastrophic error in the 33rd minute that set McLaughlin away. The winger could not convert however, with pressure for Turton and Maxwell proving too much as Mclaughlin lacked the composure with the final finish.
Thankfully, despite Southend’s promise it was Blackpool that ultimately had the cutting edge in the first half. In the 37th minute Feeney and Gnanduillet combined, with the goal playing out in a familiar format. Feeney beating his man down the right, hanging the ball up to the far post and Gnanduillet slamming the header home. Blackpool may not have been dominant, but at least they had the lead.
In the second half Southend seemed buoyed by their half time team talk, but it was Blackpool who were presented with the first big chance of the second half. In the 50th minute Gnaduillet found a pocket of space in the area and had time to pick his spot, but curled over with his left foot.
Southend were showing more and more endeavor though. In the 51st minute Maxwell did well to get a strong hand behind Mantom’s drive.
Southend were pressurising Blackpool, but the game turned in the 64th minute when Blackpool were awarded a penalty. Delfouneso twisted and turned before being abruptly taken down by the ‘keeper leaving the referee an easy decision. Indeed, there was extensive deliberation between Spearing and Gnanduillet prior to the penalty being taken, but when it came to the penalty itself Gnanduillet made no mistake.
Blackpool looked to be heading rapidly towards their first win in ten. Well, at least until Southend managed to find the most unlikely of goals to half the deficit. McLaughlin, who had been toiling all afternoon, unleashed a thunderous strike in the 72nd minute on the half volley that flew into the top corner.
Southend really were poor though and failed to really threaten the Blackpool goal in the closing minutes. If anything, it was the Seasiders that almost extended their advantage. Gnanduillet headed wide, failing to complete his hattrick, and Delfouneso couldn’t curl home when he got the ball out of his feet on the edge of the box.
Blackpool did manage to win today, but it was still far from convincing with Southend virtually going toe to toe with them. Gnanduillet’s finishing separated the two sides on the day and a ten-match winless comes to an end, but rather than pride a feeling of relief is what is most prominent. Hopefully Blackpool can kick on from this result, but whether they will is another question altogether.