Ian Poveda handed Mick McCarthy his first win as Blackpool manager as they produced one of the narrow football results of the weekend in the Championship. Poveda scored in the seventh minute to give the Seasiders a 1-0 victory, their first since October. Blackpool moved off the bottom of the Championship table and within two points of safety. Stoke is now only six points above the relegation zone after failing to convert multiple chances. The Potters threatened within the first minute at Bloomfield Road, with Jacob Brown handling well before having a precise strike saved by Chris Maxwell. Dwight Gayle also came close with a header before the hosts broke the stalemate.
Lewis Fiorini set up Poveda, who hammered past Matija Sarkic from the edge of the box with a small deflection. It was a welcome boost for the struggling Seasiders, but the Potters had previously squandered a couple of decent chances and were on the verge of equalising quickly. Josh Laurent took aim from 20 yards out, only to hit the wrong side of the upright. Will Smallbone was then denied by another good Maxwell save, before Gayle headed off target again as Stoke pressed for an equaliser.
Despite being behind, the visitors were still considerably ahead at the half-hour mark. Laurent did well to meet Tyrese Campbell’s through-ball, only to wastefully shoot over from 18 yards out. Smallbone was denied by another spectacular Maxwell stop, this time from point-blank range, shortly before the break, but Blackpool held on to their slim lead. The theme remained considerably after the restart, with the Potters pressing for that elusive leveller, as Smallbone and Laurent were both thwarted in the early exchanges.
After those chances, the Seasiders virtually doubled their lead shortly before the hour mark. After sneaking in behind the Stoke defence, half-time substitute CJ Hamilton pulled a low effort narrowly off goal. Soon after, the Potters returned, with Gayle pushing the exhausted Maxwell to another excellent halt. Maxwell then performed a fantastic one-handed stop to keep Campbell’s close-range effort out. As the final 20 minutes neared, the Seasiders clung on, but a second goal would have assured them of a vital three points.
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