Accrington came out of the blocks with an energy and desire that Blackpool were not foreseeing. Almost straight away Mingoia found a gap in the Blackpool defence and decided to have a pot shot, smashing the underside of the bar and, only by the grace of god, keeping the ball the wrong side of the line. 6 minutes in they would continue on this trend as Brown would then drag another dangerous effort, narrowly wide of the post. Although Blackpool may have had a control over the possession, Accrington were persisting to cause Blackpool problems on the counter and were creating fantastic openings.
17 minutes in this would finally tell as Connor Hall would put Stanley ahead as he finished off after Conneely striking an effort against the post. They were both lucky and unlucky, lucky it fell to Hall and unlucky the original shot didn’t find the net, it was a goal that was destined to come about at some point though.
But finally Blackpool began to realise that something had to be done, if there was to any chance of progression they would have to beat Accrington and then results would have to go their way. In the 20th minute, just four minutes after Accrington broke the deadlock, Blackpool almost found an instant route back into it, only for Gnanduillet to see his effort tipped around the post.
Blackpool would however, after reinventing themselves, would take the lead through something, quite fittingly, inventive from Joe Dodoo. He cleverly took the ball well and flicked it up and, with his back to goal, executed the perfect bicycle kick, finding the bottom corner in the 30th minute, leaving the keeper with no hope.
Accrington were still battling hard and this goal didn’t seem to dent their hopes as Accrington still attempted to catch the Seasiders on the counter as they won a couple of corners after Boney pulled off a couple of smart saves.
But the first half was to be Blackpool’s and Dodoo’s as the on loan Rangers man bagged a second and this time it would be Blackpool with the influence on the counter with Dodoo racing away. He would round the keeper and calmly slot into the empty net, giving Blackpool an essential lead to take into half time.
The second half was as a whole quiet and this is exactly what the Seasiders would have wanted. They limited Accrington through solid defending, such as Daniels making an essential intervention in the 51st minute, but at the same time were failing to create much themselves either.
That was until the 66th minute when Blackpool would find a third as Armand Gnaduillet would calmly beat his man and slot home, marking his return with a confidence boosting goal. After the goal the second half began to come alive.
In the 69th minute, Harry Pritchard would fire wide a good opening, but it was Accrington who would finish stronger. In the 80th minute Boney was tested when he beat away a cross that took a lethal deflection and then, one minute later, Pritchard could not find a way past Maxtet when he found himself at the end of another good move. Blackpool could have finished the game off at this point, as Davies missed a close range header, but Accrington still had much to do with that two goal difference.
In the 90th minute, however, they would win a penalty after a clumsy tackle by Bunney, and Hall convert into the top left hand corner. It would prove to be a case of too little, too late however.
Blackpool can travel to Southend with the knowledge that they can chop and change and still get results. A stronger side on Saturday will help, but also with Dodoo and Gnanduillet bagging goals and putting in good shifts, it will be a tough line up to call. Healthy competition is exactly what Blackpool need and that makes it three wins in a week. Blackpool are certainly finding their feet, all that is needed is for that to be transcribed into their League form and who knows how far they could go this year. Blackpool crash out of the Checkatrade Trophy, but is this simply a blessing in disguise? Blackpool can now concentrate on the League and FA Cup and see if this squad can withhold what will be thrown at it in the coming months.
UTP
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