90’+5’Full TimeSecond Half ends, Blackpool 0, West Bromwich Albion 2.90’+4’Post updateAttempt missed. Jerry Yates (Blackpool) right footed shot from the centre of the box is close, but misses to the right. Assisted by Keshi Anderson.90’+3’Post updateAttempt blocked. Keshi Anderson (Blackpool) right footed shot from outside the box is blocked. Assisted by Jerry Yates.
Blackpool’s Championship survival hopes suffered a major blow as West Bromwich Albion boosted their own push for a top-six finish with a 2-0 win at Bloomfield Road. Albion’s victory – the first time they have won three successive Tuesday games since October 2007 – left Carlos Corberan’s men muscling into the final play-off spot, albeit on goal difference. For Blackpool, the defeat leaves them four points from safety, with three games to play. However, Reading and Cardiff, the two sides immediately above the Tangerines, both have a better goal difference and could increase that gap when they are in action on Wednesday.
Blackpool started the brighter of the two sides and former West Brom youngster Morgan Rogers almost opened the scoring inside the opening five minutes. The Manchester City loanee pounced on CJ Hamilton’s left-wing cross and sent an angled shot against the post. It was Albion who opened the scoring when the Seasiders dozed off at an 18th-minute corner. Conor Townsend sent John Swift’s corner towards the goal, with the unmarked Brandon Thomas-Asante claiming the final touch by hooking the ball past Dan Grimshaw.
The goal was somewhat against the run of play with Blackpool continuing to look the more potent side during a lively first-half. Curtis Nelson went close from a 23rd-minute Charlie Patino corner, only to see the ball scrambled away, before Keshi Anderson fired wide eight minutes later following a one-two with Jerry Yates that cut through the Baggies’ back-line. Blackpool finished the half strongly with Albion keeper Alex Palmer diving low to his left to keep out Morgan Rogers’ strike.
Karlan Grant was unfortunate not to double Albion’s lead in the 52nd minute after a swift move caught Blackpool off guard. The Albion forward’s final shot was strong, but failed to beat Grimshaw’s outstretched leg. Gardner-Hickman secured the victory just after the hour when Thomas-Asante’s perseverance enabled him to squeeze the ball into the path of Swift, whose lay-off was smashed home by the Albion substitute. The second goal left their opponents winded, with Stephen Dobbie’s side slowly running out of ideas and Albion holding on for a vital victory.
Interim Blackpool head coach Stephen Dobbie said: “At this level you have to take your chances and defend in your box. We lost a goal from a corner in the second phase. We knew, from the way they play, that they would be a threat like that. They got the goal at the right time. I cannot fault the players and the fans were fantastic, banging the drum the whole night. They’ve seen what we’ve been trying to do and the way we want to play. It was just unfortunate for us on the night.” West Brom head coach Carlos Corberan said: “It was a very combative game. They are fighting to survive and we knew that this was one of the last opportunities they would have and it would be very demanding. We had to play with a lot of concentration. Blackpool started very well in the game. But after their opportunities I thought we managed the game with maturity. We tried to press and found a way to create attacks and create opportunities with set-pieces. We had to manage the game to get the three points. We controlled the game better in the second-half. We showed a lot of maturity to get all three points. When we play like this the fans are proud. We have to concentrate now in those final games.”