Report by SJG

LEAGUE DIVISION ONE

BLACKPOOL vs WIGAN ATHLETIC

28^th October 2024

TANGERINE DREAM TURNS INTO NIGHTMARE.

Wigan Athletic were denied a win on the road as a late Blackpool equaliser resulted in a 2-2 draw at Bloomfield Road in front of the Sky Sports cameras.

Latics started brightly and went ahead inside 21 minutes as Dion Rankine fired in his first Latics goal. The lead was then doubled three minutes before the break through a precise Matt Smith finish, but the home side grabbed a lifeline seconds before the half time whistle as a cross from the right bounced awkwardly in font of Jason Kerr and his sliced clearance wrong-footed Sam Tickle. Both sides had chances in the second half, but it was Blackpool who grabbed a late leveller after another unfortunate own goal.

Shaun Maloney made four changes from the fixture against Mansfield Town, with Calvin Ramsay, Matt Smith, Michael Olakigbe and Dale Taylor replacing James Carragher, the injured Adeeko, Silko Thomas and Joe Hugill. There was also a welcome return to the matchday squad for Luke Robinson after a long injury lay-off.

Latics first attempt at goal came on 15 minutes as Tyrese Francois won the ball and fed Taylor. He did well to turn to feed Olakigbe who fired low at former Latics keeper Richard O’Donnell who produced a good save.

The travelling Latics contingent were in fine voice right from the off and they had something to cheer about five minutes later as great work down the left from Aasgaard saw him cross for Taylor, the ball found its way right the way through to RANKINE at the back post and he fired first time with a low drive that flew past O’Donnell.

Latics could have been two up less than five minutes later when Matt Smith played Olakigbe in down the left, but his final effort was straight at O’Donnell.

Rankine then came to Latics rescue at the other end with a crucial interception as another former Latics man, Ashley Fletcher through ball so nearly found Latics academy graduate, and now Blackpool’s top scorer, Kyle Joseph.

The hosts, through Elliot Embleton tried their luck from distance, but Tickle wasn’t unduly troubled. The Wigan keeper was called into action six minutes before the break as a Will Aimson back pass fell short and allowed Joseph to nip in, but Tickle stood tall to deny Joseph in a one-on-one situation.

That save proved big for Latics as Maloney’s men went up the other end and doubled the lead. Matt SMITH won the ball high up the field when he dispossessed Lee Evans (another ex-Tic). He then drove to the edge of the penalty area before arrowing a perfect strike into the bottom corner.

The Seasiders looked to respond, but Joseph poked wide from five yards after a cross from the right. Then with half time just seconds away the Tangerines were handed a route back into the game as a Lee Evans whipped cross from the right was diverted into his own net by KERR.

Half Time; Blackpool 1-2 Wigan Athletic.

The hosts came out on the front foot, but it was Latics with the first clear chance of the second period and it was a big opportunity.

Aasgaard did well to win the ball in midfield and drove forward before slipping in Olakigbe. The wing man was through on goal, but his final shot was poor and was blocked by O’Donnell. Moments later and Aasgaard again proved too good for the Blackpool defence but his goal-bound effort was diverted over by Matthew Pennington.

Maloney had made a number of changes and one of those changes, Jonny Smith crossed perfectly for Taylor, but he headed just over from 10 yards.

Blackpool threw on a number of attacking substitutes as they began to press Wigan deep into defence and one of those substitutes, the evergreen Jordan Rhodes had a header drift just wide of Tickle's far post.

Wigan looked to have ridden out the storm but Blackpool claimed a late leveller when a low driven cross from the right by Apter was diverted into his own goal by the unfortunate AIMSON.

Blackpool continued to press and they nearly grabbed a third when a mad scramble in the Wigan box fell to Offiah, but he blazed over the bar and the points were shared.

Full Time; Blackpool 2-2 Wigan Athletic.

Scorers; Rankine (20), M. Smith (42); Kerr (45+1), Aimson (90+2);

Attendance; 10,226

Teams; WIGAN— (4-2-3-1) Tickle; Ramsay, Kerr, Aimson, Sessegnon; M. Smith, Francois; Rankine, Aasgaard, Olakigbe; Taylor. Subs: --- Sibbick (for Ramsay), S. Smith (for Francois), Thomas (for Olakigbe), Watson, Hugill, J. Smith (for Rankine), Robinson (for Sessegnon);

BLACKPOOL --- (4-4-2) O’Donnell; Pennington, Offiah, Casey, Coulson, Apter, Evans, Carey, Embleton; Fletcher, Joseph; Subs: --- Rhodes (for Fletcher), Lawrence-Gabriel, Onomah (for Carey), Ballard (for Embleton), Ashworth, Finnigan, Tyrer;

Referee; Mr. Farai Hallam (London).