Blackpool come from behind to secure rare home win against Bristol Rovers

Posted Sunday, May 04, 2025 by PA

Blackpool came from behind to finish the season with a rare home win after thumping Bristol Rovers 4-1.

The visitors, relegated ahead of the final day, had taken the lead, but Blackpool’s Tom Bloxham drew them level before the break.

Second-half goals by Albie Morgan, Niall Ennis and Ryan Finnigan then gave the Seasiders only their seventh home victory of the campaign.

Rovers were gifted the opening goal by goalkeeper Harry Tyrer. He dallied far too long on the ball and forward Gatlin O’Donkor chased him down and knocked in from close range.

Blackpool drew level five minutes before half-time. A poor clearance by Gas goalkeeper Jed Ward saw the hosts play the ball wide to Niall Ennis. He cut in and shot and, although Ward made amends with a save, his parry fell straight to Bloxham for the easiest of finishes.

Blackpool took the lead 10 minutes into the second half when a ball into the box led to Ennis being thwarted by Sil Swinkels’ block, but Morgan pounced on the loose ball to finish emphatically.

Bloxham nearly doubled the advantage with a speculative effort from the centre circle, his ambitious shot narrowly off target.

After Tyrer kept a shot from Rovers substitute Michael Reindorf, a Blackpool counter-attack saw CJ Hamilton find Ennis for a deserved third goal.

With Rovers’ challenge fading in the final few minutes, Finnigan added insult to injury with a scrambled fourth goal.