A last-gasp Blackpool winner saw Exeter City leave the seaside empty-handed, despite scoring their first goal at Bloomfield Road since 1979.
The Grecians struggled to find their rhythm in the first half and went into the break deservedly 1-0 down. However, a triple substitution midway through the second half sparked a resurgence. One of those substitutes, Ed Francis, ignited the away end with a superb, pinpoint free-kick to equalize in the 88th minute. But Blackpool had the final say, snatching all three points with an even later goal from a corner.
After a two-week pause in league action due to the international break, Gary Caldwell opted for an unchanged starting lineup and bench from City’s win at Bolton. Leicester loanee Amani Richards kept his place among the substitutes after an impressive midweek performance in the Premier League Cup win against Norwich, while fellow loanee Kamari Doyle retained his starting role behind the strikers, fresh off his spectacular free-kick goal against the Trotters.
First half
Looking for a bright start under their new manager, Blackpool almost broke into City’s box within the opening ten seconds, but a combination of Tristan Crama and Pierce Sweeney cleared the early danger. Five minutes later, it was the third centre-half, Johnly Yfeko, who made another crucial block as the home side sought to attack the Grecians with pace.
City first came closest in the 17th minute, following some excellent short passing out from the back that released Ilmari Niskanen into space in midfield. The Fin drove forward, sliding the ball left fto Jack Aitchison, who fed Millenic Alli. Alli powered a low ball across the box, but it evaded everyone in blue and tangerine.
The Grecians were made to rue this chance as, immediately after that chance, Blackpool took the lead. A cross from their right was missed by City’s defence and fell to CJ Hamilton, who struck a fierce shot into the bottom corner.
Blackpool nearly doubled their advantage moments later with two close efforts. Joe Whitworth made a fine save to deny Dom Ballard’s shot, and Kyle Joseph then curled an effort just wide as the Tangerines looked to capitalize on their momentum.
A break in play allowed City to regroup, but Whitworth was called into action again, holding a free-kick from Lee Evans just past the half-hour mark, when the Pool man had looked more likely to cross.
Three minutes later, the Grecians registered their first shot on target. Josh Magennis did well to hold up a clearance on the halfway line before releasing Niskanen down the right. His low central pass found Aitchison, who laid the ball off to Doyle, but his shot was safely gathered by the Blackpool keeper.
The match then became an end-to-end affair, with Whitworth producing two more fantastic saves. He pushed away Ballard’s curling effort with his fingertips and was again equal to the forward’s shot moments later.
Second half
The game resumed with a series of inconsequential corners for the home side, the last of which was cleared up the field to Doyle. He played Alli in down the left, who showed great strength to hold off his defender before dinking a cross-cum-shot to the back post, which was held by the keeper.
Both sides then struggled to break down resilient defences in the early stages of the half, with few chances created at either end. To breathe some life into City’s game, Caldwell made a triple substitution on 65 minutes, replacing the entire forward line.
Immediately after the changes, City won a corner. Reece Cole’s ball was flicked up into the air by the Pool defenders before Crama nodded it goalwards, but the ball trickled just wide.
City began to grow into the game from there, and another good passing move forward found Aitchison on the edge of the box. His shot was blocked by two tangerine bodies but rebounded to Niskanen, however his curling effort went just over the bar.
More corners for City followed, each to no avail before another roll of the dice came from Caldwell with the attacking switch of Ed Francis on for Sweeney. With that sub came a tactical switch and, now on the left side, that gave Niskanen a different wing to attack.
Released for the first time on that side on the 82nd minute, the Fin drove to the byline before cutting the ball back to Cole, who dropped his shoulder to miss a defender before shooting low, only to see his effort palmed round the post.
City finally found their equaliser from another set-piece two minutes from time. Crama kept a corner alive on the right and won a free-kick, an angle that looked perfect for a cross. However, the midfielder had other ideas, and instead sent a shot perfectly into the top corner.
That woke the home side up though, and they went hunting for a winner as the referee signalled five additional minutes. Several corners were floated in, and with each the home side appeared to be getting closer. After two were cleared on the line, Blackpool finally made one count and netted a winner in the 94th minute, with James Husband heading a winner.
With no time remaining to react, City left the seaside without anything to show for it.
The Grecians are finally return to league action at SJP after almost a month next Saturday at home to Stevenage, back the boys and get your tickets here.
Blackpool: Tyrer, Husband ©, Gabriel, Norburn, Evans, Joseph, Ballard (Rhodes), Casey, Hamilton (Embleton), Offiah, Apter (Coulson).
Substitutes: O’Donnell (GK), Pennington, Carey, Embleton, Coulson, Rhodes, Beesley
Goals: Hamilton 19’, Husband 90+4’
Exeter City: Whitworth, Niskanen, Sweeney (Francis), Crama, Yfeko, McMillan, Woods, Doyle (Cole), Aitchison, Alli (A. Richards), Magennis (Cox).
Substitutes: MacDonald (GK), Purrington, Fitzwater, Francis, Cole, Cox, A. Richards.
Goals: Francis 88’
Attendance: 8813 (388 away)