AFC Wimbledon 1 Blackpool 0: Smith's strike enough to sink Seasiders
Blackpool fell to defeat at AFC Wimbledon as they were defeated by a first-half Alistair Smith effort at Plough Lane.
Defeat in the capital came on the back of a pre-match illness in the Blackpool camp.
With a sickness bug playing havoc with pre-game preparation, five changes were made from the FA Cup fixture at Hornchurch – Luke Southwood, Leighton Clarkson, Tom Bloxham, Hayden Coulson and Dale Taylor all starting.
The hosts themselves needed to make a late change – first-choice keeper Joe Bursik was absent, but his immediate replacement Joe McDonnell was replaced before the start with out-of-favour Nathan Bishop.
And it was the Dons’ shot-stopper who was involved in action when Taylor drove his effort into the ground after two minutes, but James Tilley was called upon to scramble away in a congested penalty area.
Indeed, Blackpool showed few early signs of illness, as they were on the front foot and looking confident.
Coulsen made Bishop turn away his header on 12 minutes at full stretch after a fine cross from Albie Morgan from the right.
However, Blackpool were then stunned a minute later – Smith picked up the ball 20 yards out and unleashed a piledriver of an effort that was too strong for Southwood, as it nestled in the top corner.
The effort appeared to knock the confidence of the visitors, as Wimbledon looked stronger after just their 10th goal of the campaign so far.
Goalscorer Smith almost repeated his earlier feat on 26 minutes, from practically the same spot, but this time his low drive went wide of the post.
Dale Taylor curled an effort wide of the upright on 32 minutes, and a penalty was called for six minutes before the break – but referee Oliver Mackey did not think Andy Yiadom handled the ball.
The second half started in a similar fashion to the first, with Blackpool having slightly more of the early play – Ilmari Niskanen in particular finding space on the right flank.
A superb cross from Niskasen on 71 minutes found substitute CJ Hamilton, who saw his header deflected over the bar.
Blackpool were in the ascendancy, forcing corners and free-kicks in difficult positions for the hosts.
However, Albie Morgan almost gifted Jayden Stockley a free run on goal with a lazy backpass, but the home striker found himself unable to get his shot in after Olly Casey held firm.
Wimbledon and their supporters were clearly nervous in the latter stages of the game.
After almost being the villain, Morgan was close to being the hero but Bishop turned away his 86th-minute free-kick.
With four minutes of injury time announced, Blackpool continued to press – and almost got their reward when Bishop made a double save from a Morgan corner, only for sub Niall Ennis to shoot wide from close range.
It was too little, too late as Blackpool suffered defeat, but tensions ran high after the whistle as Zac Ashworth squared up to Stockley, who was shown a red card for a second bookable offence.