Blackpool 1-4 Ipswich Town: Seasiders' worrying early season form continues with heavy home defeat

Blackpool’s worrying start to the new season continued with a miserable defeat to high-flying Ipswich Town.
Blackpool have now lost four of their opening five league gamesBlackpool have now lost four of their opening five league games
Blackpool have now lost four of their opening five league games
Read More
Blackpool v Ipswich Town as it happened

The damage was done in a disastrous first-half, when Ipswich ran in three unanswered goals with some clinical finishing from Luke Chambers, Gwion Edwards and Teddy Bishop.

Blackpool did at least restore some pride in the second-half, Gary Madine pulling a goal back on the hourmark.

Hide Ad
Hide Ad

But any slim hopes of a comeback were banished when Edwards scored for the second time on 80 minutes, condemning the Seasiders to their fourth defeat in just five league games.

Neil Critchley opted to make three changes to his Blackpool side from last weekend’s 3-2 defeat to Lincoln City.

James Husband missed out through suspension following his straight red card against the Imps, while Demetri Mitchell and Bez Lubala were dropped down to the bench.

Jordan Gabriel came into the side to make his first league start since joining on loan from Nottingham Forest, while Ollie Turton moved alongside Marvin Ekpiteta at centre-back.

Hide Ad
Hide Ad

In Husband’s absence, Luke Garbutt was handed a first league start at left-back against his former side, joining Grant Ward in featuring against his old employers.

In attack, Gary Madine made his first league start of the campaign in the number nine position, pushing Jerry Yates out onto the left wing.

New signing Daniel Gretarsson wasn’t involved, while fellow new arrival Dan Ballard is away on international duty with Northern Ireland.

Matty Virtue, Sullay Kaikai and Oliver Sarkic all remain sidelined through injury.

Hide Ad
Hide Ad

Ipswich, meanwhile, who picked up 10 points from their opening four games of the season, made three changes to the side that drew at MK Dons last time out.

Blackpool made a bright start to proceedings, enjoying the lion’s share of possession and territory in the early exchanges.

The Seasiders’ pressing led to an early opening, too, Madine seeing a shot well blocked on the turn after being teed up by Ethan Robson.

Garbutt, who spent last season on loan with the Tractor Boys, saw his eyes light up when the ball fell to him on the angle from 20 yards, but his fierce drive was always rising and never troubled Tomas Holy in the Ipswich goal.

Hide Ad
Hide Ad

All of Pool’s promising early work counted for nothing on 16 minutes when the away side took the lead with their first opening of the afternoon.

Gabriel was beaten far too easily down the left by Gwion Edwards, whose cross fell to the unmarked Luke Chambers at the back post who lashed home an impressive first-time volley into the top corner of Chris Maxwell’s net.

The Seasiders looked to produce an instant response, the hosts countering at break-neck speed from an Ipswich corner, Robson feeding Keshi Anderson down the right whose cross was just taken away from Yates at the all-important moment.

A minute later, CJ Hamilton made a threatening run from right to left, latching onto a long ball over the top before volleying well over.

Hide Ad
Hide Ad

Following the setback, Blackpool huffed and puffed without ever looking wholly convincing. Ipswich, meanwhile, were happy to sit back and soak up any pressure.

Pool did create a couple of half chances though, Anderson volleying over from the edge of the box before Ward was crowded out after having the ball pulled back to him by Hamilton.

Things went from bad to worse for Blackpool when, nine minutes before half-time, Ipswich doubled their lead with just their second shot of the game.

It came from Blackpool’s right again, Gabriel being forced out of position creating space for Edwards, who cut inside before beating Maxwell at his near post with a low effort.

Hide Ad
Hide Ad

Ipswich almost added a third three minutes later, Oli Hawkins firing over after Blackpool were undone in the full-back position once again, only this time on their left.

The Ipswich players appealed desperately for a penalty with Hawkins being nudged off the ball by Marvin Ekpiteta, but their appeals fell on deaf ears.

Blackpool’s misery was compounded on the stroke of half-time when Paul Lambert’s men found their third.

Anderson was dispossessed of the ball near the halfway line after appearing to be fouled by Teddy Bishop.

Hide Ad
Hide Ad

But Pool’s defending from this point onwards was inexcusable, with Bishop given the time and freedom to waltz towards goal under no real pressure before picking out the bottom corner with a tidy curling effort - yet another clinical finish.

After emerging early for the start of the second-half, Blackpool had some pretty desperate penalty appeals waved away when Madine went to ground in the penalty area under minimal pressure.

After a quiet start to the second period, the Seasiders did eventually pull one back just before the hour mark.

Madine was the man to steer home from close range, the striker finding the back of the net after Ipswich had failed to deal with Gabriel’s dangerous cross.

Hide Ad
Hide Ad

Ipswich almost immediately restored their three-goal lead, Edwards shooting just wide of the upright from 20 yards after Blackpool’s defence had been unpicked once again.

Gabriel, who was beginning to become increasingly influential in an attacking manner, almost got on the end of Garbutt’s inswinging corner ahead of the unsure Holy, who just managed to punch clear.

Blackpool needed a second to reduce the deficit to just one goal to set up an intriguing finale, and that goal nearly came 17 minutes from time.

That man Madine was involved again, letting the ball bounce on the turn 20 yards from goal before lashing a volley towards the bottom corner which Holy palmed away from the danger area.

Hide Ad
Hide Ad

Blackpool had to be careful though, because the more gung-ho they went, the greater the gaps that appeared behind their back four.

Substitute Kayden Jackson almost capitalised, taking the ball past the onrushing Maxwell only to concede possession with an attempted pass back to teammate Keanan Bennetts.

A couple of moments later, the game was put to bed for once and for all following another defensive horror show.

Gabriel was caught out by Luke Chambers’ long diagonal which sailed over his head to the feet of Edwards, who raced through on goal before slotting past Maxwell for his second of the game.

Hide Ad
Hide Ad

Critchley’s side were unable to muster much of a response other than having two late penalty appeals waved away.

It left the Seasiders to reflect on yet another humbling defeat in a game littered with defensive errors.

TEAMS

Blackpool: Maxwell, Gabriel, Ekpiteta, Turton, Garbutt, Robson, Ward, Anderson (Williams), Hamilton, Yates, Madine

Subs not used: Sims, Thorniley, Mitchell, Antwi, Kemp, Lubala

Hide Ad
Hide Ad

Ipswich: Holy, Chambers, Nsiala, Wilson, Kenlock, Dozzell, Huws, Bishop (Bennetts), Judge, Edwards, Hawkins (Jackson)

Subs not used: Cornell, McGuiness, Woolfenden, Lankester, Sears

Referee: Christopher Sarginson