Newport 1-3 Blackpool: Five things we learned

Blackpool FC writer Matt Scrafton takes a look at the key talking points from the Seasiders' dramatic win in South Wales.
Osayi-Samuel calmly slots home Pool's third goalOsayi-Samuel calmly slots home Pool's third goal
Osayi-Samuel calmly slots home Pool's third goal

No place in the game for ugly scenes

It was a crying shame that Blackpool's pulsating win at Newport will be remembered for all the wrong reasons. The actions of a few mindless idiots who lobbed “missiles” including boiled sweets and bottles masked what was a crucial win for the Seasiders - who extended their unbeaten run to eight games with a battling display full of desire and resolve. The Blackpool players were well in their rights to celebrate their injury time goal that clinched the three points, especially when they had been forced to withstand a barrage of pressure from the hosts which saw the relegation-threatened side come a whisker away from drawing level. The players ran towards the direction of the home end but there was nothing untoward about their celebrations, but a group of fans housed near the away dugout reacted badly and commotion ensued - which is when the “objects” started to rain down on Bowyer, his staff and his players. The Pool boss demanded the FA investigate the incident and it will be interesting to see what action is taken.

Pool's backbone is rock solid

The Seasiders were made to work hard for their win which makes it all the more satisfying, especially with the clincher coming in the fifth and final minute of injury time. The ugly scenes came after Bright Osayi-Samuel had clinched the game for his side with a remarkable solo effort - which capped off a hard-earned three points for his side. Blackpool had to battle for the win and do the ugly stuff on what was an awful playing surface. If you think the Bloomfield Road pitch was bad, you’ve not seen anything judging by this. It certainly wasn't a pleasant game to watch but Newport threw the proverbial kitchen sink at Blackpool but Bowyer’s men have shown in recent weeks that they can stand up to this sort of challenge - and that’s exactly what they did once again. He wasn't the only one, but Tom Aldred played a key role in Pool's defensive display, as he put in a commanding display at the back which saw him win virtually every header that came near him.

Cullen on the spot once again

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There was nothing to choose between the two teams in the dull opening stages of the second half, but drama soon ensued. Firstly, Pool grabbed that all-important second goal with their third penalty in as many games, with Cullen taking advantage of a fairly generous penalty award for a foul on Osayi-Samuel to score from 12 yards for the second game running. Cullen opted to hit the same corner as he did against Stevenage on Tuesday and the goal continues his impressive run of goals, which has seen him score four in his last five games. It should have been the goal that killed the game for good but Newport were gifted a route back into the game as Alex Samuel took advantage of some lax defending to prod home from close range - with the referee playing advantage after almost blowing for a penalty. They almost came close to an equaliser but the game was put to bed at the death.

Match-winning display from Osayi-Samuel

The 19-year-old will go a long way in the game if he continues to have this sort of impact on games, which saw him score two and be the man who was fouled for Pool's penalty. His first was a fine curled finish which came at a time when Newport appeared to be winning the battle. He was unleashed down the left by Neil Danns before cutting inside and making the most of the vast amounts of space afforded to him by striking into the top corner, via a deflection and the underside of the crossbar. It was a fine run and finish from the youngster, but his second was even more extraordinary. With the Newport goalkeeper coming up for an injury time corner, Blackpool broke at speed through Osayi-Samuel and remarkably, the teenager sprinted to catch up with his own clearance before calmly slotting past the retreating Joe Day to secure the three points.

It's a squad game

As previously mentioned, Mark Cullen has enjoyed a scoring spree in recent weeks after taking advantage of Kyle Vassell's untimely injury to lock down his spot in the team. Speaking of taking advantage of opportunities, that's exactly what Bright Osayi-Samuel did after being brought into the starting line-up in place of the injured Brad Potts, who missed the game after suffering a slight hamstring strain during the 1-0 win against Stevenage in midweek. Neil Danns is another who has come straight into the team and delivered, as has Dean Lyness who produced a stunning save in injury time to cap yet another fine performance. There are others who are likely to be given an opportunity between now and the end of the season and it's imperative everyone plays their role in Blackpool's late bid to secure a play-off place.

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