AJ Leitch-Smith earns Port Vale victory at Blackpool

AJ Leitch-Smith's second-half strike earned Port Vale a 1-0 win over struggling Blackpool at Bloomfield Road.

Blackpool missed a great chance to go ahead after five minutes when Andy Little broke through but clipped his effort wide from six yards.

But the visitors began to dominate, keeping Blackpool penned in their own area with a succession of corners and crosses without creating any clear-cut chances.

In fact the best opportunity fell to the hosts when Will Aimson nodded just wide from a Jim McAlister free kick after 42 minutes.

The match changed after 49 minutes when the referee dismissed Blackpool penalty claims before Vale struck on the counter.

Byron Moore's cross found Leitch-Smith, whose header was saved by Colin Doyle but the striker bundled home the rebound.

Blackpool are League One's lowest scorers and they created very few chances to equalise but with a minute remaining Danny Philliskirk's effort from six yards was smartly saved by Jak Alnwick.

Victory moves Vale into the top half while Blackpool's third successive defeat keeps them in the relegation zone.