Blackpool finish strongly against Peterborough to end wait for a win

Posted Sunday, December 19, 2021 by PA

Battling Blackpool completed a courageous comeback late on to beat Peterborough 3-1 at Bloomfield Road in the Sky Bet Championship.

Siriki Dembele rifled the visitors into the lead after only 11 minutes with a sweet left foot finish from a tight angle.

But winger Keshi Anderson levelled for the hosts just before the half-hour mark, lashing into the roof of the net from close range.

And then second-half substitute Sonny Carey bagged his first league goal to put the Seasiders ahead with just three minutes remaining.

There was even time for fellow sub Jerry Yates to score as well, tapping in at the second attempt in the last minute to end a seven-game winless run.

Blackpool boss Neil Critchley made five changes to his struggling side, with Dan Grimshaw replacing injured skipper Chris Maxwell in goal.

Joel Tomlinson and Jonson Clarke-Harris came into a Posh team looking to clinch only their second away win of the season and it was the visitors who started the brightest in one of just a handful of matches played in the Championship among a raft of Covid-19 enforced postponements.

Midfielder Harrison Burrows had a powerful left-foot shot charged down after six minutes and Posh had to wait just five more minutes to take the lead.

Dembele latched on to a fine through-ball from Josh Knight and fired home to stun the hosts.

Gary Madine powered a header wide two minutes later from Ryan Wintle’s inswinging cross as the home side came within a whisker of equalising.

Clarke-Harris smashed a left-foot shot high and wide as Darren Ferguson’s side looked to double their lead but it was Anderson who restored parity having moments earlier been thwarted by a smart save from keeper David Cornell.

The Welsh shot-stopper produced an excellent save to deny Anderson but the winger made no mistake at the second time of asking as he fired home from Josh Bowler’s pinpoint pass into the box.

Midfielder Jack Taylor had a goalbound shot blocked five minutes after the restart before Bowler went close with a curling shot which was deflected wide for a corner.

Burrows saw a shot blocked on the edge of the box as Posh kept pushing, while Shane Lavery’s strike was charged down as the Seasiders also looked for the pivotal next goal.

Carey missed a great chance to put the home side ahead with 13 minutes remaining, shooting over from Reece James’ perfect cutback.

But he had a second bite of the cherry late on and fired his side in front with a clinical strike, before Yates was on hand at the end to cement a fine fightback.

Carey also blasted wide in added-time but the hosts had done enough and deserved their welcome win.