Blackpool 1-2 Tranmere Rovers: Neil Critchley tastes defeat in first home game in charge

A nightmare first-half was to blame, a half in which the Seasiders found themselves two goals down at the interval.

It came after two goals in quick succession towards the end of the half from Tranmere’s dangerous front two James Vaughan and Morgan Ferrier.

Pool had actually made a bright start to the game but they were made to pay once again for their lack of a cutting edge in the final third.

Critchley’s men dominated the second period but only had one goal for their efforts, as Kiernan Dewsbury-Hall rifled a long-range shot into the bottom corner.

Despite Pool's best efforts, Tranmere, who remain inside the bottom three, saw the game out thanks to their game management, which frustratingly went unpunished by the referee.

The result in this rearranged game saw Blackpool’s mini unbeaten run of four games come to an end ahead of Saturday’s home clash against Sunderland, as Tranmere clinched their third straight win.

Critchley made just one change to the side that drew at Fleetwood Town at the weekend, with Joe Nuttall replacing the injured Gary Madine.

The striker missed out after suffering a neck injury, while Ollie Turton was missing through illness for a second straight game.

Nuttall was favoured in attack to top goalscorer Armand Gnanduillet, who was only named among the substitutes.

Teddy Howe returned to the bench, but there was still no place for Mark Howard, Marc Bola, Jordan Thorniley or Sean Scannell.

Nuttall, starting a game for the first time since Wycombe Wanderers in January, had the chance to give Pool the breakthrough after just two minutes.

The striker did well to get across his man at the near post to reach Liam Feeney’s right-wing cross, but couldn’t quite make the required contact.

Two minutes later, the 23-year-old was in on goal again as he muscled his way past former Seasider Peter Clarke to latch onto Connor Ronan’s through-ball, only to shoot weakly at goalkeeper Scott Davies.

Tranmere immediately broke at speed, coming close themselves through Kieron Morris who drilled narrowly wide of Chris Maxwell’s upright.

The game continued to be played at some pace, with the visitors threatening again as former Seasider Peter Clarke pulled the ball across the face of goal, causing a goalmouth scramble which James Husband eventually cleared.

Pool countered, Feeney eventually playing Connor Ronan through on goal only for the midfielder’s touch to let him down, the chance eventually going begging.

After the briefest of lulls, the game sparked into life once again as the two sides exchanged good openings.

Morgan Ferrier, who terrorised the Seasiders in the first game between the two sides at Prenton Park, stabbed narrowly over after Pool had failed to clear their lines from a free kick.

Pool came even closer at the other end, Nathan Delfouneso seeing his glancing header graze the top of the Tranmere crossbar from Feeney’s ball in.

Feeney tried his luck with an ambitious long-range effort 10 minutes before the break, only to curl wide of the top corner from all of 25 yards.

The Seasiders continued to get sucked into the sort of game Tranmere wanted and it was the away side who were beginning to win the battle.

In fact, they made the breakthrough eight minutes before the interval with a well-taken header from Ferrier, scoring against the Seasiders for the second time this season.

The striker got across his marker to meet Calum Woods’ cross, guiding a header into the bottom corner with Maxwell at full stretch.

Pool, who could have no complaints at the scoreline, were fortunate not to be reduced to 10 men a few moments later when Virtue - already on a booking - clattered into Clarke.

The midfielder was given a lengthy talking-to by the referee but he escaped further punishment, much to the ire of Tranmere’s supporters.

They weren’t complaining for much longer though, with their side doubling their lead in first-half stoppage-time.

It came via their tricky front two, who combined well as Ferrier laid the ball into the path of James Vaughan who picked out the back of the net with a side-footed effort off the inside of the post.

The half-time whistle was met with boos from the home supporters in what was a nightmare opening 45 minutes on home turf for Critchley.

Pool’s new head coach acted swiftly by making a double change at the break, bringing Jay Spearing and Gnanduillet on for Virtue and Nuttall.

Critchley’s men enjoyed the lion’s share of possession at the start of the second half but they continued to be kept at arm’s length by the away side.

But that all changed just before the hour mark when Kiernan Dewsbury-Hall produced a goal out of absolutely nothing.

The midfielder, looking left and right, saw that nothing was on so instead opted to go himself, picking out the bottom corner with a thunderbolt from 25 yards - his third goal in four games.

With Bloomfield Road now rocking, the Seasiders came inches away from producing an instant equaliser as Ronan hit the woodwork.

The on-loan Wolves man, much like his midfield partner, saw that nothing was on so tried an ambitious long-range effort, this time from all of 30 yards.

His swerving shot seemed to deceive Davies, who could only parry the low effort onto the post.

Pool kept plugging away in search of that all-important equaliser, Taylor Moore seeing a back-post header plucked out of the air by Davies.

To Pool’s frustration, Tranmere began to slow the game down, resulting in the Seasiders losing their momentum.

Critchley’s last roll of the dice was to bring on Grant Ward for Delfouneso, who had endured a frustrating evening.

Try as they might, Pool weren’t unable to produce any late drama in the five minutes of stoppage time, as Moore headed harmlessly over the bar with their final opening of the game.

TEAMS

Blackpool: Maxwell, Moore, Heneghan, Husband, Macdonald, Feeney, Virtue (Spearing), Ronan, Dewsbury-Hall, Delfouneso (Ward), Nuttall (Gnanduillet)

Subs not used: Sims, Howe, Edwards, Garrity

Tranmere: Davies, Woods (Blackett-Taylor, Monthe, Morris, Ellis, Woodyard, Perkins, Wilson, Clarke, Vaughan (Jennings), Ferrier

Subs not used: Pilling, Ridehalgh, McCullough, Banks, Cook

Referee: Seb Stockbridge

Attendance: 8,235 (936 Tranmere)