Blackpool kept up the pressure on Championship leaders Blackburn with a convincing win over Middlesbrough.

Jason Steele had already denied Thomas Ince when Nathan Delfouneso latched on to a through ball from Gary Taylor-Fletcher before shooting home.

Delfouneso shot from 18 yards to double the Seasiders' lead but Andre Bikey headed a goal back before the break.

Ince then struck before Elliot Grandin converted a late penalty after he had been fouled by Bikey.

Ince's goal came after a pass from Delfouneso, who is on loan from Aston Villa and enjoyed a memorable full debut.

The striker thought he had scored a hat-trick after heading home a cross from Grandin late in the game but his effort was ruled out for offside.

The victory is Blackpool's fourth in six Championship fixtures and means Holloway's team have made their best start to a league season in 57 years.

It is also a fifth successive home league win for the Seasiders, who are showing no signs of a hangover after defeat in last season's play-off final.

The result might have been different if striker Ishmael Miller had not wasted a good chance to equalise after 34 minutes.

But by that stage Steele had already saved from Taylor-Fletcher, Delfouneso, Stephen Crainey and Tiago Gomes.

And shortly after Miller's miss, Delfouneso added his second.

Bikey clipped the bar with a header shortly before finding the net after Grant Leadbitter put the ball back into the box.

But Blackpool's two goals after the restart means the search for an away point continues for Tony Mowbray's side, whose form away from the Riverside is in sharp contrast to their three successive home victories.

Lineup, Bookings (3) & Substitutions (6)

Blackpool

  • 01 Gilks
  • 03 Crainey
  • 05 Eardley
  • 18 Osbourne
  • 20 Cathcart
  • 08 Gomes (Grandin - 70' )
  • 15 Baptiste
  • 16 Ferguson
  • 11 Ince (M Phillips - 71' )
  • 12 Taylor-Fletcher (Dicko - 70' )
  • 40 Delfouneso

Substitutes

  • 21 Halstead
  • 06 Evatt
  • 04 Robertson
  • 07 M Phillips
  • 10 Grandin
  • 09 K Phillips
  • 38 Dicko

Middlesbrough

  • 01 Steele
  • 02 Hoyte
  • 03 Amougou Booked
  • 04 Friend
  • 39 Woodgate
  • 07 Leadbitter Booked
  • 08 Thomson Booked
  • 16 McEachran
  • 09 Emnes (Jutkiewicz - 59' )
  • 19 Carayol (Zemmama - 72' )
  • 30 Miller (Ledesma - 77' )

Substitutes

  • 32 Leutwiler
  • 15 Hines
  • 05 Zemmama
  • 20 Arca
  • 33 Smallwood
  • 11 Ledesma
  • 17 Jutkiewicz
Ref: Robert Madley
Att: 12,746

Match Stats

Shots

14 8

On target

8 2

Corners

7 5

Fouls

10 7

Live Text Commentary

90:00 +3:05 Full time

Full Time The final whistle goes and the game is over.

90:00 +2:34

Elliot Grandin fouled by Emmanuel Ledesma, the ref awards a free kick. Barry Ferguson takes the direct free kick.

89:34

Merouane Zemmama has an effort at goal from just outside the penalty box which goes wide of the left-hand post.

88:55

George Friend crosses the ball, clearance made by Alex Baptiste.

87:14

The assistant referee signals for offside against Merouane Zemmama. Indirect free kick taken by Matt Gilks.

86:05

Elliot Grandin takes a shot. Save made by Jason Steele.

85:25 Goal scored

Goal - Elliot Grandin - Blackpool 4 - 1 Middlesbro Placed penalty scored by Elliot Grandin. Blackpool 4-1 Middlesbrough.

84:45 Booking

Booking Andre Amougou booked for unsporting behaviour.

84:11

Foul by Andre Amougou on Elliot Grandin, Penalty awarded.

82:47

Neal Eardley crosses the ball.

81:07

Nathan Delfouneso is flagged offside by the assistant referee. Jason Steele takes the free kick.

80:55

Outswinging corner taken by Elliot Grandin from the right by-line.

78:15

Emmanuel Ledesma is flagged offside by the assistant referee. Matt Gilks restarts play with the free kick.

76:53 Substitution

Substitution Ishmael Miller leaves the field to be replaced by Emmanuel Ledesma.

74:58

Isaiah Osbourne gives away a free kick for an unfair challenge on Grant Leadbitter. Free kick taken by Grant Leadbitter.

72:36

Corner taken right-footed by Elliot Grandin.

69:37

Stephen Crainey takes the direct free kick.

69:37 Substitution

Substitution Merouane Zemmama joins the action as a substitute, replacing Mustapha Carayol.

69:37 Substitution

Substitution Matt Phillips is brought on as a substitute for Thomas Ince.

69:37 Substitution

Substitution Tiago Gomes goes off and Elliot Grandin comes on.

69:37 Substitution

Substitution Nouha Dicko joins the action as a substitute, replacing Gary Taylor-Fletcher.

69:37

Josh McEachran concedes a free kick for a foul on Gary Taylor-Fletcher.

65:17

Ishmael Miller is ruled offside. Matt Gilks takes the free kick.

63:29

Foul by Barry Ferguson on Mustapha Carayol, free kick awarded. Grant Leadbitter produces a shot on goal direct from the free kick. Corner taken short by Josh McEachran.

62:49

Grant Leadbitter takes a short corner.

62:12

Effort on goal by Tiago Gomes from inside the box misses to the right of the target.

60:49

Grant Leadbitter produces a right-footed shot from just outside the box that misses to the right of the net.

60:03

Stephen Crainey concedes a free kick for a foul on Josh McEachran. Josh McEachran takes the direct free kick.

58:42

Jonathan Woodgate restarts play with the free kick.

58:42 Substitution

Substitution Lukas Jutkiewicz is brought on as a substitute for Marvin Emnes.

58:42

Free kick awarded for a foul by Nathan Delfouneso on Kevin Thomson.

55:14

Assist by Nathan Delfouneso.

55:14 Goal scored

Goal - Thomas Ince - Blackpool 3 - 1 Middlesbro Thomas Ince finds the back of the net with a goal from inside the area to the bottom right corner of the goal. Blackpool 3-1 Middlesbrough.

54:27

The ball is swung over by Mustapha Carayol, clearance by Alex Baptiste.

53:54

Foul by Isaiah Osbourne on Josh McEachran, free kick awarded. Josh McEachran takes the direct free kick.

53:04

Tiago Gomes takes the direct free kick.

53:04 Booking

Booking Kevin Thomson goes into the book.

52:56

Unfair challenge on Barry Ferguson by Kevin Thomson results in a free kick.

51:42

Isaiah Osbourne produces a right-footed shot from close range which goes wide of the right-hand upright.

50:54

Barry Ferguson takes a shot. Jason Steele makes a comfortable save.

49:42

Josh McEachran takes a shot. Comfortable save by Matt Gilks.

49:09

Unfair challenge on Josh McEachran by Isaiah Osbourne results in a free kick. Jonathan Woodgate takes the direct free kick.

45:31

Inswinging corner taken by Grant Leadbitter, clearance by Alex Baptiste.

45:01

The match restarts for the second half.

45:00 +2:33 Half time

Half Time The referee calls an end to the first half.

45:00 +1:27

Assist on the goal came from Josh McEachran.

45:00 +1:27 Goal scored

Goal - Andre Amougou - Blackpool 2 - 1 Middlesbro Andre Amougou scores a headed goal from inside the area. Blackpool 2-1 Middlesbrough.

45:00 +0:57

The ball is crossed by Josh McEachran,

44:40

Corner taken by Josh McEachran, George Friend takes a shot.

43:48

Grant Leadbitter produces a right-footed shot from the edge of the box and misses to the right of the goal.

39:58

Effort from the edge of the area by Nathan Delfouneso goes wide of the right-hand post.

38:49

The offside flag is raised against Ishmael Miller. Matt Gilks takes the indirect free kick.

36:46

The offside flag is raised against Nathan Delfouneso. Free kick taken by Andre Amougou.

35:07

Assist by Thomas Ince.

35:07 Goal scored

Goal - Nathan Delfouneso - Blackpool 2 - 0 Middlesbro Nathan Delfouneso fires in a goal from just outside the area to the bottom right corner of the goal. Blackpool 2-0 Middlesbrough.

33:28

Effort from the edge of the box by Ishmael Miller goes wide of the left-hand upright.

32:33

The assistant referee signals for offside against Marvin Emnes. Indirect free kick taken by Matt Gilks.

31:21

Inswinging corner taken by Thomas Ince.

29:59

Ishmael Miller gives away a free kick for an unfair challenge on Craig Cathcart. Alex Baptiste takes the free kick.

28:17

Corner taken right-footed by Tiago Gomes from the left by-line, Jason Steele makes a save.

27:41

Stephen Crainey has a drilled shot. Save by Jason Steele.

26:38

Inswinging corner taken left-footed by Thomas Ince, save by Jason Steele.

23:30

Tiago Gomes concedes a free kick for a foul on Marvin Emnes. Josh McEachran restarts play with the free kick.

21:50

Free kick awarded for a foul by Andre Amougou on Gary Taylor-Fletcher. Direct effort from the free kick comes in from Tiago Gomes.

19:22

Inswinging corner taken right-footed by Gary Taylor-Fletcher from the left by-line.

18:42

Nathan Delfouneso takes a shot. Save made by Jason Steele.

16:22

Free kick taken by Craig Cathcart.

16:22 Booking

Booking Grant Leadbitter booked.

16:14

Unfair challenge on Isaiah Osbourne by Grant Leadbitter results in a free kick.

14:15

Foul by Neal Eardley on Mustapha Carayol, free kick awarded. George Friend takes the free kick.

13:00

Barry Ferguson gives away a free kick for an unfair challenge on Josh McEachran. Grant Leadbitter restarts play with the free kick.

11:46

Inswinging corner taken by Grant Leadbitter from the left by-line, save by Matt Gilks.

11:02

Foul by Gary Taylor-Fletcher on Josh McEachran, free kick awarded. Indirect free kick taken by Josh McEachran.

10:11

Effort on goal by Thomas Ince from just inside the area clears the crossbar.

9:01

The assist for the goal came from Gary Taylor-Fletcher.

9:01 Goal scored

Goal - Nathan Delfouneso - Blackpool 1 - 0 Middlesbro Nathan Delfouneso scores a goal from deep inside the penalty area to the bottom left corner of the goal. Blackpool 1-0 Middlesbrough.

8:01

Ishmael Miller is caught offside. Craig Cathcart takes the free kick.

6:30

The assistant referee flags for offside against Barry Ferguson. Jason Steele takes the free kick.

5:18

Corner taken left-footed by Thomas Ince to the near post.

4:39

Thomas Ince takes a shot. Save by Jason Steele.

3:21

Gary Taylor-Fletcher has an effort at goal from just outside the box which goes wide of the right-hand post.

0:00

The referee gets the game started.

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