Blackpool 1-0 Wigan Athletic: Sullay Kaikai's strike secures Neil Critchley's men their first back-to-back wins of the season

Sullay Kaikai’s second goal in four games handed Blackpool a hard-earned win against Wigan Athletic.
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Blackpool v Wigan Athletic as it happened

Sullay Kaikai’s second goal in four games handed Blackpool a hard-earned win against Wigan Athletic.

The Seasiders were made to work hard for the three points that saw Neil Critchley’s side record their first back-to-back victories of the season.

Sullay Kaikai's strike at the start of the second-half was the difference between the two teamsSullay Kaikai's strike at the start of the second-half was the difference between the two teams
Sullay Kaikai's strike at the start of the second-half was the difference between the two teams
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Kaikai was in the right place at the right time to latch onto Jerry Yates’ pullback right at the start of the second-half before squeezing home his first-time shot.

Just like at Burton on Saturday, Blackpool weren’t at their best against the struggling Latics, but it’s the results that matter and this victory takes them into the comfort of mid-table.

Critchley opted to make two changes to the side that battled their way to a much-needed 2-1 win at Burton Albion on Saturday.

In came Jordan Gabriel for his first start since the 4-1 defeat against Ipswich Town, replacing Ollie Turton at right-back.

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MJ Williams, meanwhile, was an enforced change, the midfielder missing out with an injury and joining Luke Garbutt, Matty Virtue and Keshi Anderson in the physio room. Grant Ward was the man to take Williams’ place.

Elsewhere, Dan Ballard and Ethan Robson missed out for the second game in their three-match suspensions, while Ben Woodburn continues to self-isolate following his positive Covid-19 test.

Former Seasiders Curtis Tilt and Viv Solomon-Otabor both missed out through injury for Wigan, who came into the game on the back of a dismal run of six defeats in seven games in all competitions.

Blackpool took just 90 seconds to record their first attempt on goal, the returning Ward testing keeper Jamie Jones with a first-time volley that Wigan’s number one claimed well.

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Jones was kept busy in the early stages, the shot stopper being called into action once again on six minutes as he turned behind Gary Madine’s header from Jordan Gabriel’s pinpoint cross from the right.

The Seasiders were noticeably keen to get the ball into the Wigan box as often as possible in the early stages, swarming the visitors with cross after cross.

It was Critchley’s side who continued to look the more likely in the opening stages, CJ Hamilton dragging a shot wide after doing superbly to create some space for himself with a clever touch from Kenny Dougall’s clipped ball over the top.

Wigan threatened for the first time on 20 minutes, Dan Gardner seeing a shot blocked at the far post after Daniel Gretarsson had failed to adequately clear a long ball forward.

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Former Preston North End striker Joe Garner was the next man to go close for the Latics, seeing his header well claimed by Chris Maxwell.

The away side’s youngsters were growing in confidence while the Seasiders were looking a little nervous defensively.

Gretarsson continued to struggle against the wiley and experienced Garner, the forward outmuscling Pool’s centre-back before spotting Maxwell off his line, audaciously firing over the bar from all of 40 yards.

Blackpool raced up the other end of the pitch and wasted a glorious chance to break the deadlock, Hamilton the guilty party.

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It came after Sullay Kaikai’s blocked shot fell perfectly for the winger 10 yards out from goal, but he somehow managed to blaze his effort over the bar with the keeper stranded on the floor.

Four minutes before the interval, the impressive Kenny Dougall did well to race onto a loose ball before seeing his rising effort well held by Jones.

The visitors came inches away from taking the lead on the stroke of half-time when Kyle Joseph rolled his marker before firing just wide of Maxwell’s near post.

Blackpool needed to step it up in the second-half if they were to claim a second consecutive victory and thankfully they heeded that advice.

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Just two minutes into the second period, Kaikai met Jerry Yates’ cutback to side-foot home a first-time effort that squirmed through Jones and into the back of the net.

In giving Blackpool the lead, Kaikai also found the back of the net for the second time in four games since returning from injury.

Blackpool were reliant on an important save from Maxwell just before the hour-mark to maintain their one-goal lead.

It came after Gretarsson’s poor clearance fell to Joseph, who twisted past Marvin Ekpiteta before seeing his rising shot tipped over the bar.

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Blackpool were denied a second in impressive fashion midway through the second-half as Jones thwarted Madine from six yards out.

It came following a superb, flowing move involving both Kaikai and Hamilton, the latter putting it on a plate for Madine who was unable to capitalise.

Only holding a slender lead, Blackpool had to do plenty of defending in the final stages with Wigan again coming on strong.

Garner saw a shot deflect just wide before Maxwell flapped at the resulting corner, but thankfully Pool were able to scramble clear.

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What the Seasiders desperately craved was a second goal and they went close to getting one 14 minutes from time as Ekpiteta hooked a volley over the bar after the hosts had worked the ball back into a box.

Another chance went begging on 80 minutes as Gretarsson headed Kaikai’s free-kick back towards goal only to see his effort drop agonisingly wide of the far post.

Pool came under increasing pressure in the dying stages, but they still remained a threat on the counter and Madine saw a low shot well saved after the striker switched the ball onto his stronger right foot on the edge of the Wigan box.

It proved to be the last action of the game, with Blackpool holding on to claim another hard-earned victory.

TEAMS

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Blackpool: Maxwell, Gabriel, Ekpiteta, Gretarsson, Husband, Dougall, Ward, Hamilton, Kaikai (Kemp), Yates (Lubala), Madine

Subs not used: Sims, Thorniley, Turton, Mitchell, Antwi

Wigan: Jones, James, Obi, Long, Pearce, Gardner, Perry, Palmer, Merrie (Aasgaard), Joseph (Crankshaw), Garner

Subs not used: Evans, Robinson, Baningime, McHugh, Jolley

Referee: Ben Toner