Match ends, Blackpool 0, Stoke City 1.
BlackpoolBlackpool0StokeStoke City1
Stoke City sneaked back into the Championship's top six as they scored the only goal of the game at Bloomfield Road to beat Blackpool.
But they needed a slice of luck to crack open the Tangerines' defence with Steven Fletcher's fortuitous 79th-minute winner.
Newly arrived substitute Mario Vrancic floated over a delicately weighted free-kick from the left with his first touch which defender Harry Souttar met beyond the far post with a thunderous right-foot volley.
But the ball smacked against the left upright straight back into the path of Fletcher - and the ball went in off his thigh for his third goal in two games.
Not only did it end Blackpool's run of three straight wins, the club could also be in trouble with the Football Association, as at least one missile was thrown on to the pitch in the dying minutes.
They also lost veteran former Coventry and Derby centre-back Richard Keogh to a 15th-minute injury.
Blackpool drop from sixth to 10th, leapfrogged by Michael O'Neill's Potters who won for the first time since their Nick Powell-inspired Friday night win over West Bromwich Albion on 1 October - also a 79th-minute winner.
And it was also perhaps more importantly their first win in the four games since the talismanic Powell got injured.
It was Stoke's first trip to Blackpool since the two sides last met in a 0-0 Premier League draw at Bloomfield Road in April 2011 - and it brought five first-half bookings for Ben Wilmot, Romaine Sawyers, Jordan Thompson, Josh Tymon and Fletcher.
But Stoke keeper Joe Bursik did not have a save to make - and the Potters, who shipped three goals in five minutes to only draw with Cardiff last Saturday can now go into their next game in a lot brighter spirits.
They now face former Potters boss Nathan Jones' resurgent Luton, who they overtook with this win, while Blackpool are at home in Saturday's late game against QPR.
Blackpool manager Neil Critchley:
"I didn't think there was anything in the game until Stoke scored. And it was a really poor goal for us to concede - a lapse in concentration has proved costly.
"There's fine margins in the Championship, and it's disappointing when results go against you. We did well in the first half, created some good opportunities and looked a threat.
"Stoke did improve in the second half but it should have ended 0-0. After that it wasn't going to be easy to get back in it. Don't forget, Stoke conceded three goals in five minutes at the weekend, so they will have sharpened their senses.
"A bit of better decision-making in vital areas might have helped us but, overall, we played OK and it was a performance we can take heart from."
Stoke City manager Michael O'Neill told BBC Radio Stoke:
"After Saturday, it was a great reaction from the lads against a team who are very much in form.
"We knew the atmosphere would be good and we'd have to react. We've played better but our attitude was good.
"Steven Fletcher was great. He led the line extremely well, linked the play well, showed great energy and got the goal he deserved.
"Mario Vrancic is a player who adds great quality. When he came on the match was still in the balance but he's shown again that he's capable of making a difference. It was a great delivery from him and thankfully it's led to an important winning goal."
Line-ups
Blackpool
Formation 4-2-3-1
- 32Grimshaw
- 4Lawrence-Gabriel
- 21Ekpiteta
- 26KeoghSubstituted forGarbuttat 16'minutes
- 3Husband
- 12Dougall
- 8Wintle
- 15MitchellSubstituted forBowlerat 79'minutes
- 16Carey
- 10Anderson
- 9YatesSubstituted forMadineat 69'minutes
Substitutes
- 2Connolly
- 5James
- 7Dale
- 11Bowler
- 13Moore
- 14Madine
- 29Garbutt
Stoke
Formation 3-5-2
- 12Bursik
- 36Souttar
- 6Batth
- 16WilmotBooked at 37minsSubstituted forØstigardat 45'minutes
- 2Smith
- 28SawyersBooked at 27mins
- 4Allen
- 15ThompsonBooked at 29minsSubstituted forVrancicat 78'minutes
- 14TymonBooked at 44mins
- 9FletcherBooked at 45mins
- 18BrownSubstituted forCampbellat 69'minutes
Substitutes
- 1Davies
- 8Vrancic
- 10Campbell
- 19Østigard
- 21Duhaney
- 22Surridge
- 23Ince
- Referee:
- John Busby
- Attendance:
- 12,297
Match Stats
Home TeamBlackpoolAway TeamStoke
- Possession
- Home51%
- Away49%
- Shots
- Home9
- Away11
- Shots on Target
- Home1
- Away4
- Corners
- Home4
- Away4
- Fouls
- Home6
- Away9
Live Text
Post update
Full Time
Second Half ends, Blackpool 0, Stoke City 1.
Post update
Attempt missed. Ryan Wintle (Blackpool) right footed shot from outside the box misses to the left.
Post update
Attempt blocked. Sonny Carey (Blackpool) right footed shot from outside the box is blocked. Assisted by Gary Madine with a headed pass.
Post update
Corner, Blackpool. Conceded by Romaine Sawyers.
Post update
Corner, Blackpool. Conceded by Danny Batth.
Post update
Attempt blocked. Josh Bowler (Blackpool) left footed shot from the right side of the box is blocked. Assisted by Jordan Lawrence-Gabriel.
Post update
Attempt saved. Steven Fletcher (Stoke City) left footed shot from outside the box is saved in the top left corner.
Substitution
Substitution, Blackpool. Josh Bowler replaces Demetri Mitchell.
Goal!
Goal! Blackpool 0, Stoke City 1. Steven Fletcher (Stoke City) left footed shot from very close range to the bottom left corner following a set piece situation.
Post update
Harry Souttar (Stoke City) hits the left post with a right footed shot from the centre of the box. Assisted by Mario Vrancic following a set piece situation.
Substitution
Substitution, Stoke City. Mario Vrancic replaces Jordan Thompson.
Post update
Jordan Thompson (Stoke City) wins a free kick in the attacking half.
Post update
Foul by Ryan Wintle (Blackpool).
Post update
Corner, Blackpool. Conceded by Joe Allen.
Post update
Offside, Blackpool. Demetri Mitchell tries a through ball, but Gary Madine is caught offside.
Post update
Foul by Tommy Smith (Stoke City).
Post update
Keshi Anderson (Blackpool) wins a free kick on the left wing.
Substitution
Substitution, Stoke City. Tyrese Campbell replaces Jacob Brown.
Substitution
Substitution, Blackpool. Gary Madine replaces Jerry Yates.
Comments
Join the conversation
If we are still near top 6 after Christmas it will be tough to keep us out of the playoffs.