Blackpool 2-0 Doncaster Rovers

Blackpool booked their League One play-off place with a game to spare thanks to a routine victory against mid-table Doncaster.

Everton loanee Ellis Simms notched a goal in each half to seal the Seasiders' third straight win.

Rovers goalkeeper Louis Jones dived full length to keep out Luke Garbutt's curling 25-yard free-kick early on.

Blackpool broke the deadlock in the 22nd minute when Jerry Yates flicked a header perfectly into the path of strike partner Simms, and he comfortably beat Jones from 15 yards.

Rovers midfielder Reece James curled a shot disappointingly off-target seconds before the interval.

Just after the restart Simms saw a goal-bound strike headed off the line by Rovers full-back Joe Wright.

Jones also produced a smart one-handed save to keep out Yates' crisp effort.

Rovers finally tested Chris Maxwell in the 73rd minute when the Blackpool goalkeeper superbly kept out substitute Josh Sims' header.

But Simms struck again with 10 minutes left. After meeting Garbutt's through-ball, he bundled home from close range after Jones had blocked his initial strike.

Match report supplied by PA Media.

Line-ups
Match Stats
Live Text

Line-ups

Blackpool

Formation 5-3-2

1Maxwell
2Lawrence-GabrielBooked at 42minsSubstituted forStewartat 45'minutesBooked at 55minsSubstituted forAndersonat 64'minutes
26Ballard
4Thorniley
3HusbandBooked at 58minsSubstituted forEkpitetaat 64'minutes
29Garbutt
20Turton
12Dougall
32Embleton
9YatesSubstituted forMitchellat 82'minutes
19SimmsSubstituted forHolmesat 90'minutes

Substitutes

8Anderson
15Mitchell
21Ekpiteta
28Moore
34Shaw
38Holmes
39Stewart

Doncaster

Formation 4-4-2

13Jones
5WrightBooked at 40mins
4Anderson
21Butler
28Horton
10LokiloSubstituted forCoppingerat 65'minutes
14Smith
3JamesSubstituted forGreavesat 45'minutes
17Richards
19John-JulesSubstituted forSimsat 66'minutes
9OkenabirhieSubstituted forBogleat 34'minutes

Substitutes

7Bogle
15Bostock
16Amos
20Sims
26Coppinger
27Greaves
32Bottomley

Referee:: Robert Lewis

Match Stats

Home TeamBlackpoolAway TeamDoncaster

Possession: Home40%; Away60%

Shots: Home22; Away11

Shots on Target: Home10; Away3

Corners: Home9; Away7

Fouls: Home17; Away7

Live Text

Post update
Match ends, Blackpool 2, Doncaster Rovers 0.
90'+4'
Full Time
Second Half ends, Blackpool 2, Doncaster Rovers 0.

90'+3'
Post update
Attempt blocked. Keshi Anderson (Blackpool) right footed shot from the right side of the box is blocked. Assisted by Oliver Turton.
90'+1'
Post update
Attempt missed. Keshi Anderson (Blackpool) right footed shot from the right side of the box is too high. Assisted by Demetri Mitchell.
90'+1'
Post update
Corner, Blackpool. Conceded by Branden Horton.
90'+1'
Post update
Attempt blocked. Demetri Mitchell (Blackpool) right footed shot from a difficult angle on the right is blocked. Assisted by Bradley Holmes.
90'
Substitution
Substitution, Blackpool. Bradley Holmes replaces Ellis Simms.
89'
Post update
Joe Wright (Doncaster Rovers) wins a free kick in the defensive half.
89'
Post update
Foul by Keshi Anderson (Blackpool).
88'
Post update
Corner, Doncaster Rovers. Conceded by Chris Maxwell.
88'
Post update
Attempt saved. Matthew Smith (Doncaster Rovers) right footed shot from the right side of the box is saved in the bottom right corner. Assisted by Taylor Richards.
83'
Post update
Attempt missed. Omar Bogle (Doncaster Rovers) header from the centre of the box misses to the right. Assisted by James Coppinger with a cross.
82'
Substitution
Substitution, Blackpool. Demetri Mitchell replaces Jerry Yates.
82'
Post update
Attempt missed. Taylor Richards (Doncaster Rovers) left footed shot from outside the box is high and wide to the left. Assisted by James Coppinger following a fast break.
80'
Goal!
Goal! Blackpool 2, Doncaster Rovers 0. Ellis Simms (Blackpool) right footed shot from very close range to the centre of the goal following a fast break.
80'
Post update
Attempt saved. Ellis Simms (Blackpool) right footed shot from the centre of the box is saved in the centre of the goal. Assisted by Luke Garbutt.
79'
Post update
Corner, Blackpool. Conceded by Andy Butler.
79'
Post update
Attempt blocked. Elliot Embleton (Blackpool) right footed shot from the left side of the box is blocked. Assisted by Kenneth Dougall.
78'
Post update
Attempt blocked. Ellis Simms (Blackpool) right footed shot from the centre of the box is blocked.
78'
Post update
Attempt blocked. Keshi Anderson (Blackpool) left footed shot from the centre of the box is blocked. Assisted by Jerry Yates.

As It Stood

	Team	P	W	D	L	F	A	GD	Pts
1	Hull	45	27	8	10	80	37	43	89
2	Peterborough	45	25	9	11	79	45	34	84

3	Blackpool	45	22	11	12	59	37	22	77
4	Sunderland	45	20	16	9	69	41	28	76
5	Lincoln City	45	22	10	13	69	50	19	76
6	Portsmouth	45	21	9	15	65	50	15	72

7	Oxford Utd	45	21	8	16	73	56	17	71
8	Charlton	45	19	14	12	69	56	13	71
9	Ipswich	45	18	12	15	43	45	-2	66
10	MK Dons	45	18	11	16	64	59	5	65
11	Gillingham	45	18	10	17	62	60	2	64
12	Doncaster	45	19	7	19	62	63	-1	64
13	Accrington	45	17	13	15	62	68	-6	64
14	Crewe	45	17	12	16	53	59	-6	63
15	Fleetwood	45	16	12	17	48	43	5	60
16	Burton	45	15	12	18	61	69	-8	57
17	Shrewsbury	45	13	15	17	48	54	-6	54
18	Plymouth	45	14	11	20	53	79	-26	53
19	Wimbledon	45	12	14	19	54	70	-16	50
20	Wigan	45	13	9	23	51	73	-22	48

21	Rochdale	45	10	14	21	58	78	-20	44
22	Northampton	45	11	11	23	40	66	-26	44
23	Swindon	45	12	4	29	51	86	-35	40
24	Bristol Rovers	45	10	8	27	40	69	-29	38

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2 comments

Comment posted by Johnny Englander, at 11:31 5 May 2021
Interesting to see that the three previous Rovers managers have been involved in promotion/relegation battles. Congratulations to Hull (McCann) and Peterborough (Fergie) for promotion to Championship...whilst Moore may yet bring Wednesday down to his rightful level (L1).
Comment posted by Johnny Englander, at 11:15 5 May 2021
Can't wait for the season to be finished. Having been realistic promotion contenders in January to the worst team in the league has been a bitter pill to swallow. The 'smart' plan of filling the managerial role, vacated by two-faced Moore, with Butler has clearly failed and Rovers fans are hugely disappointed.

Roll on next season.

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Blackpool 2-0 Doncaster Rovers