Blackpool 2-3 Lincoln City: Seasiders inexplicably lose for third game in four matches after horror final five minutes

Blackpool inexplicably squandered the lead on two occasions before suffering a horror final five minutes to lose at home to Lincoln City.

The Seasiders thought they were heading for their second win of the campaign when Demetri Mitchell restored their lead just six minutes from time.

It came after Jorge Grant’s penalty had cancelled out CJ Hamilton’s opener in the opening half.

But when James Husband was shown a straight red card to hand Lincoln their second spot kick of the game, Grant levelled four minutes from time before Lewis Montsma claimed their winner just two minutes later.

It means Blackpool, who were full of pre-season optimism prior to the campaign getting underway, have lost three of their opening four games of the season.

Neil Critchley made one change to the side that lost so disappointing at Gillingham last week, replacing Michael Nottingham with James Husband at centre-back.

In fact, Nottingham was dropped from Blackpool’s squad altogether after being involved in both of Gillingham’s goals at the Priestfield Stadium.

Elsewhere, new signings Luke Garbutt and Jordan Gabriel were named among the substitutes, but both Matty Virtue and Sullay Kaikai remained sidelined with injuries.

Lincoln, meanwhile, made one change to the side that beat Charlton Athletic last week, handing a debut to Nottingham Forest loanee Brennan Johnson.

The Imps, who won their opening three games of the campaign, were clearly brimming with confidence in the early stages.

Indeed, it was Michael Appleton’s side who created the first opening of the game after just two minutes, Johnson failing to make the required contact at the back post after being picked out by Sean Roughan’s cross.

Thankfully Pool managed to survive the early exchanges without conceding, something they would have been wary of having fallen to defeats at both Plymouth and Gillingham after going a goal down early on.

They soon settled into their stride, creating a half chance of sorts when Ollie Turton swung a teasing ball into the six-yard box on his weak foot, but no Pool teammate was able to take advantage.

The Seasiders were so unfortunate not to break the deadlock on 12 minutes, only for Jerry Yates to be denied by the woodwork.

The striker, still yet to bag a competitive goal for the club, couldn’t have done much more as he sent a sublime first-time effort hurtling towards goal from CJ Hamilton’s lay-off, only to be denied by the foot of the post.

Yates was presented with another good chance soon after as Keshi Anderson pulled the ball back to him 12 yards from goal, but the striker couldn’t make a clean connection, his effort eventually bouncing wide.

Thankfully Blackpool weren’t made to rue that miss for too long as they forced the opening goal of the game just two minutes later.

It came after they pressed the visitors high up the pitch, dispossessing the Imps of the ball close to their own goal allowing Hamilton the chance to get a shot off at goal.

The winger finished with aplomb, too, picking out the bottom corner despite the best efforts of goalkeeper Alex Palmer for his third goal of the campaign already.

Husband, naturally a left-back, settled quickly into his new position of centre-back, making two or three vital interceptions and blocks in the early stages.

The 26-year-old did superbly to stretch out a leg and clear a dangerous cross ahead of Tom Hopper, who was ready to pounce behind him from close range.

The Imps would, however, draw level just moments later - their goal coming from the penalty spot after Demetri Mitchell had brought down Johnson in the box.

Jorge Grant stuck the spot kick away despite Chris Maxwell’s best efforts, Pool’s number one guessing the right way but just not able to reach the pinpoint strike.

Blackpool responded well to the setback and ought to have had a penalty of their own on the half-hour mark when Hamilton was brought down in the Lincoln box, only for the referee to wave away the boisterous appeals.

Mitchell had the opportunity to make amends for his foul for Lincoln’s penalty when he stood over a free-kick right on the edge of the penalty box, only to whack his set piece straight into the wall.

They maintained the pressure though, Anderson heading wide from Ethan Robson’s deep corner.

The chances continued to come their way, Bez Lubala heading Ollie Turton’s pinpoint cross back across the face of goal but wide.

Blackpool had to be wary at the other end though and they were given a huge let-off four minutes before the break, when Lincoln really ought to have taken the lead.

Mitchell was caught napping once again, allowing Johnson to run in behind him only for his rising shot to miss the top corner by a matter of centimetres.

Lincoln ended the half the stronger, almost capitalising on some woeful Blackpool defending from a corner on the stroke of half-time.

The away team carved the first opening of the second half, centre back Lewis Montsma - who already has four goals in seven games this season - glancing a header wide of goal at full stretch from Grant’s free-kick.

Blackpool instantly raced up the other end of the pitch and came inches away from taking the lead for the second time.

Hamilton was involved yet again, his pace beating defender Adam Jackson all ends up to allow him to surge through one-on-one with the keeper, only to shoot agonisingly wide of the upright.

Pool maintained the pressure, Yates curling just wide of the top corner after cleverly creating space for himself on the edge of the Lincoln box.

Critchley made his first change on 62 minutes, handing a debut to Garbutt who replaced Lubala, who was shown a yellow card just minutes before.

The change allowed Mitchell to move further up the pitch, having struggled to deal with the dangerous Johnson for much of the afternoon.

Oliver Sarkic was Blackpool’s second change, replacing Yates in attack to make his league debut for the Seasiders.

The hosts began to tire and came under real pressure from the Imps, with Pool almost coming undone on the break.

Maxwell made two important stops, first denying James Jones before thwarting Tom Hopper on the follow-up.

A crazy few minutes ensued, starting with Blackpool re-taking the lead very much against the run of play as Mitchell steered home from close range after Lincoln had failed to clear their lines from a corner.

Seconds barely passed before the Imps raced in behind Blackpool’s static defence, Johnson bearing down on goal only to be hauled down to the ground by Husband - who was shown a straight red card.

The referee swiftly awarded a second penalty of the game to the Imps, which was put away by Grant for his second of the game.

With a man down, it was an uphill challenge for the Seasiders from this point onwards and they weren’t unable to hold on.

Pool couldn’t deal with an 88th-minute corner, which fell to the feet of Montsma who took the ball down before poking home Lincoln’s winner.

TEAMS

Blackpool: Maxwell, Turton, Ekpiteta, Husband, Mitchell, Robson, Ward, Anderson (Williams), Lubala (Garbutt), Hamilton, Yates (Sarkic)

Subs not used: Sims, Gabriel, Kemp, Madine

Lincoln: Palmer, Eyoma, Montsma, Jackson, Roughan (Edun), Bridcutt, McGrandles (Anderson), Jones, Johnson, Grant, Hopper

Subs not used: Ross, Howarth, Archibald, Elbouzedi, Scully

Referee: Thomas Bramall