Blackpool 3-1 Bristol City: Supporters see the funny side as the Robins make it all too easy for the Seasiders
Such was Bristol City’s misery in a disappointing defeat to Blackpool that the supporters turned to comedy, celebrating a harmless 25-yard free-kick when 3-0 down in the second half.
At least the fans who had made the 200-mile journey from the West Country saw the funny side, all be it briefly.
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Hide AdThis was an abject performance which saw the opposition take three points in comfortable fashion - it was only the second time they have scored more than two goals in a league game this season.
Bristol City named an unchanged side from their the outing, the 2-2 draw to Preston North End.
The Robins began the day directly behind Blackpool in the league table, three points adrift having played a game more.
The Seasiders almost got off to a flying start, coming close to taking the lead inside the first 100 seconds of the game.
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Hide AdIt followed an excellent run from CJ Hamilton, who used his pace to get from back to front in a matter of seconds before pulling the ball back into the path of Jerry Yates, who immediately teed up Josh Bowler whose low shot was well held by Max O’Leary.
His opposing number Dan Grimshaw was called into action in the 13th minute to get two strong hands to Antoine Semenyo’s near post effort after the visitors had forced their way through Pool’s press.
At the other end, Josh Bowler clipped a corner up for Kenny Dougall, who fired a first-time volley over the bar.
Blackpool continued to see plenty of success down both flanks thanks to Hamilton and Bowler, while Dujon Sterling and Jordan Gabriel also provided able support.
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Hide AdThe latter did well to overlap down the right before driving a cross/shot towards the Bristol City goal which O’Leary was forced to tip over.
Hamilton fired in another tricky ball in from the left, which was just a little too far ahead of Gary Madine who was sliding in at the back post.
Blackpool maintained their pressure and got their reward 10 minutes before the interval when Hamilton capped off his impressive display with the game’s opening goal.
The winger had the simple task of tapping home after Yates had unselfishly headed Gabriel’s dangerous deep cross back across the face of goal.
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Hide AdHamilton almost added a second within a minute of his first, only to be denied by the legs of the goalkeeper.
But a second did come from the resulting corner as Madine emphatically headed home despite the desperate attempts of a defender to keep the ball in play, appearing to use his arm.
Barely three minutes into the second-half, Blackpool made it three.
The goal was finished off with aplomb by Bowler, scoring for the second game running, but it owed a lot to Jordan Thorniley’s wonderful raking ball to spring the offside trap.
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Hide AdBowler took it down with ease before turning his man inside out and picking out the bottom corner, sending the keeper the wrong way in the process.
The visitors ought to have reduced the deficit when they picked out Alex Scott in acres of space, but his eventual shot was a weak one and Grimshaw saved with relative ease.
Such was Blackpool’s dominance at this point, and they were absolutely rampant, they had the luxury of being able to bring off their best two players in Bowler and Hamilton, who were both given rousing receptions as they left the field.
The visitors could have made things a little awkward when they missed a chance to make it 3-1 when Semenyo fired into the side netting, but otherwise Blackpool cruised to the final whistle.
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Hide AdThe only real drama came 10 minutes from time when the referee flashed three yellow cards following a small melee by the touchline involving Madine and Joe Williams.
Semenyo was also booked for blatantly shoving Yates as he came to the aid of his strike partner.
However, the Robins did grab a late consolation through substitute Nakhi Wells, who tapped home to ruin Grimshaw’s clean sheet.
But the damage had already been done by then and the three points had already been long secured for Blackpool.
TEAMS
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Hide AdBlackpool: Grimshaw, Gabriel, Keogh, Thorniley, Sterling, Connolly, Dougall, Bowler (Dale), Hamilton (Kirk), Yates, Madine (Beesley)
Subs not used: Moore, Casey, Robson, Lavery
Bristol City: O’Leary, Kalas, Klose, Pring, Dasilva, Scott, Massengo, O’Dowda (Williams), Weimann (Wells), Semenyo, Martin
Subs not used: Wiles-Richards, Vyner, Benarous, Bell, Conway
Referee: James Linington
Attendance: 11,026
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