Scorers: Sunderland: Baldwin (75') Blackpool: Gnanduillet (31')
H.T: 0-1
K.O: Tuesday 7.45 12/02/2019
Attendance: 27,580
Referee: Carl Boyeson
Sunderland manager: Jack Ross
Stadium: Stadium Of Light
Changes in the table: Blackpool are now 6 points off the playoffs, with Sunderland just 4 points off the automatic promotion spots.
Form: WWD - WDW
Teams:
Sunderland XI: McLaughlin, Honeyman, Gooch (Wyke), O'Nien, Watmore, Baldwin, James (Flanagan), McGeady (Morgan), Leadbitter, Dunne, Grigg
Subs not used: Ruiter, Maguire, McGeouch, Sterling
Blackpool XI: Howard, Turton, Heneghan, Tilt, Bola (Feeney), Virtue (Kirby), Pritchard, Evans (Long), Thompson, Delfouneso, Gnanduillet
Subs not used: Mafoumbi, Shaw, Dodoo, Sorensen
Preview: https://theblackpoolblog.wixsite.com/theblackpoolblog/home/sunderland-a
Match Events:
It is fair to say Blackpool did not get off to the best of starts. Even before the match started Blackpool lost the services of Daniels and then, after a period of sustained Sunderland pressure, they lost Bola just 5 minutes in. Blackpool would have to make do without both of their first choice full-backs and when facing a side like Sunderland, you could only fear for the worst. This fear was worsened when Watmore fizzed the ball across the 6 yard box, fortunately missing everyone.
Blackpool would grow into the match though, with Delfouneso in particular looking lively. The winger had a shot 14 minutes in, which was narrowly wide.
Sunderland were constantly a threat and Blackpool seemed nervous at stages. On 24 minute Dunne drove at the heart of the Blackpool defence and, with Howard rooted to the spot, his shot drifted just wide of the target.
Sunderland had the quality on the break, but Blackpool were beginning to have some degree of composure on the ball. Turton won a corner and, on 30 minutes, that corner was swung in. That was a far as Tilt who, at the back post, headed against a combination of glove and post, only for Sunderland to build an attack of their own. The ball would eventually find its way through to Grigg and he had more than enough time to pick his spot. The multi-million pound man could only find the gloves of a relieved Howard though, a miss that he would regret just moments later.
31 minutes had gone when Gnanduillet rolled his man and unleashed a lethal, left footed, 25 yard strike that would find the bottom corner. It was a feeling of shock that proliferated throughout the Stadium of Light, for Sunderland's home unbeaten record was under threat.
Sunderland were obviously going to come back at Blackpool strong and this was the case when McGeady hit the outside of the post with a free kick on 37 minutes. A real let off for the Seasiders.
In reality though, it was Blackpool who finished the half better. Henghan headed over from a corner with a free header and the half was capped with Virtue bringing about a fine save from McLaughlin. Blackpool went in with the advantage and it would be a huge second half for both sides.
2nd half:
Blackpool began the second half similarly to how they ended the first. On 49 minutes Evans nearly won a penalty, as his standing leg was taken from beneath him. What Boyenson's thinking was is beyond me. Blackpool would keep going however, and Gnanduillet would attack. His eventual shot was just wide though.
Sunderland were in desperate need of finding a way back into this match and they would begin that process in the 56th minute. Watmore would drill wide from a tight angle.
If Blackpool had been fortunate up until this point, they were even more so for the next Sunderland chance. Will Grigg rounded Howard and had an open net on the angle, only to find the wrong part of it, the outside of the net. It was clear Blackpool had to change something though.
On 66 minutes Sunderland would come again, they were like waves, and Wyke would find the target, but again Howard would save. It continued to feel like just a matter of time and indeed it was.
So it would be and how simple it was too. A corner, on to Baldwin's head and into the net. For all the chances that Sunderland had, it was surprising to see such a cheap goal to be given away
The final few minutes were tense, but Blackpool managed to hold out. Leadbitter struck over a free kick a few minutes from time, but Blackpool had the best chance of the closing stages. All that long had to do was control the ball in and he would have simply had to beat the keeper.
Sunderland were a good side, particularly in the second half, but Blackpool should have both had a penalty and won it right at the end, despite that dreadful miss from Grigg. It was a shame they did not manage to snatch the three points, but just the one is an exceptional result for Blackpool.
Player Ratings:
Howard 7 - Could not really do much about the goal, made an important save against Grigg in the first half.
Turton 9 (Star Man) - Best player on the park. Being paired with McGeady was far from easy, but he stood up to it well.
Heneghan 8 - Immense at the centre of defence.
Tilt 8 - Did well as captain and kept Blackpool organised.
Bola - Came off very quickly, hopefully he will be fit for Saturday.
Feeney 6 - Came on and caused problems, but is far from defensively sound.
Virtue 7 - Very tired towards the end, but grew with confidence.
Kirby 6 - Did well when he came on.
Pritchard 7 - Was an adequate replacement at left back and caused problems going forward.
Evans 7 - Should have won a penalty and looked very lively.
Long 6 - If only he could have controlled the ball at the end! Blackpool looked better with him on though, so why did he not start?
Thompson 8 - A good all round performance from him and showed real tenacity.
Delfouneso 8 - Very lively at the start, but quietened when Blackpool were on the back foot.
Gnanduillet 8 - What a goal it was he got! He was very good in the first half, but seemed isolated in the second.
In Addition:
Blackpool were too negative in the second half. The Seasiders need wins now and need to go for them, they were too passive and the goal was to be expected for the way they played. Gnanduillet got isolated and frustrated and the rest of the side simply sat back.
Bola, Daniels and Spearing need to get back in the side. What must be remembered is that Blackpool were playing without their preferred full-backs and their star midfielder and were playing a full strength Sunderland side. I think a full strength Blackpool side could have definitely seen off the Black Cats today; they almost did it without them.
6 points is the gap between Blackpool and the playoffs (Without a 12 point deduction). They need as many points as they can get now and draws, although they are better than losses, are simply not good enough any more. Blackpool need to believe they can win and today it just did not seem that way.
UTP