Burton Albion 1-2 Blackpool: Jerry Yates scores his first goals for the Seasiders in much-needed and long-overdue away win

Jerry Yates’ first goals for the club gave Blackpool a much-needed and long-overdue away win against bottom side Burton Albion.

The summer signing scored in either half to help the Seasiders on their way to their third win of the season and their first away win in 410 days.

The former Rotherham United and Swindon Town man broke the deadlock with a calm finish after 21 minutes, finding the back of the net for the first time in 12 appearances.

Neil Critchley’s side were largely in control of the game but the struggling hosts pulled themselves level with a goal out of nothing midway through the second-half when debutant Daniel Gretarsson scored an unfortunate own goal.

Thankfully it wasn’t to matter, as Yates notched the winning goal from the penalty spot with his and his side’s second of the game to help Pool pull away from the relegation zone.

Critchley opted to mix it up with his team selection, making five changes to the side that lost 1-0 at AFC Wimbledon on Tuesday night.

Dan Ballard and Ethan Robson were both suspended, missing the first of their three-game bans after the club lost their appeal.

Demetri Mitchell, Oliver Sarkic and Dan Kemp all dropped down to the bench.

Daniel Gretarsson and Kenny Dougall were handed debuts, while James Husband returned from his second suspension of the season.

CJ Hamilton and Jerry Yates were also brought back into the side as the Seasiders lined up in a 4-4-2 formation for the first time this term.

Also missing was Ben Woodburn, beginning a period of self-isolation after testing positive for Covid-19.

Luke Garbutt, Matty Virtue and Keshi Anderson all remain sidelined through injury.

As for Burton, Jake Buxton named an unchanged side from Tuesday night’s 2-2 draw with Peterborough United, keeping former Seasider Colin Daniel in the side. Two other former Pool men, Neal Eardley and Luke Varney, were named among the substitutes.

After an uneventful start, the first attempt on goal came from the home side as Steven Lawless screwed an effort wide of Chris Maxwell’s upright from 20 yards out.

A minute later, Pool were given a big let-off as Kane Hemmings, with four goals to his name in his last four games, shot over on the turn after having the ball pulled back to him by Niall Ennis.

The winger had dispossessed the returning Husband on the byline, although Critchley claimed on the touchline that the ball had already gone out of play.

Blackpool’s first shot in anger came from CJ Hamilton, as the winger cut in from the right, stalled a couple of times before firing well over.

At the other end, Burton’s bench were desperately appealing for a penalty - and possibly another red card - when Ennis went to ground under pressure from Husband, but thankfully the referee remained unmoved.

Just moments later, the Seasiders were given another major let-off when Hemmings fired over after playing a quick one-two with Ciaran Gilligan after the hosts had carved through Blackpool’s defence far too easily.

Critchley’s men desperately needed something to settle them down and, with 21 minutes on the clock, they got it in the form of a goal.

Jerry Yates was the man to claim it, scoring his first goal for the club in clinical style as he slipped the ball past the onrushing Kieran O’Hara after being played through by Sullay Kaikai.

Yates almost turned provider two minutes later as CJ Hamilton squandered the chance to double Pool’s lead, firing just wide of the far post after latching onto Yates’ through-ball.

Ennis and Hemmings almost combined once again for the hosts when the winger found the striker in the box, only for Hemmings’ touch to let him down allowing Maxwell to claim.

Yates, now full of confidence, was inches away from getting his and his side’s second of the game when he rattled the foot of the post.

The striker did well to get the ball out of his feet from Hamilton’s pullback following a speedy counter, but saw his low shot crash back off the woodwork.

Shouts for a Blackpool penalty at the start of the second-half fell on deaf ears when Kaikai’s goalbound effort appeared to hit the hand of a Burton defender.

He awarded a corner instead, which fell to Kenny Dougall following Gary Madine’s knockdown but the debutant’s shot was well blocked.

Yates and Madine continued to link-up well, the former opting to pull the ball back to his strike partner rather than shoot only to overhit his pass.

Blackpool were made to pay for that miss when the Brewers hauled themselves level with a goal that came completely out of nowhere.

Seconds after Burton had wrongly been given a goal kick, rather than a corner in Pool’s direction, substitute Charles Vernam delivered a cross that was turned into his own net by the unfortunate Gretarsson on his debut.

Despite the setback, Critchley’s side almost instantly restored their lead as Yates combined with Madine once again, the latter firing just wide after being played through.

Pool soon began to come under a bit of pressure, Ryan Edwards poking just wide of the far post from Hemmings’ dangerous ball in from the left.

But the game turned on its head once again 15 minutes from time, when the Seasiders finally had a bit of luck out of the officials.

Pool were rightfully awarded a penalty when Marvin Ekpiteta was pulled to the ground following Madine’s knockdown, the referee pointing to the spot with no hesitation.

Yates was the man to step up, making no mistake from 12 yards as he sent the goalkeeper the wrong way.

Burton threw the kitchen sink at Blackpool in the dying stages in search of a late equaliser, but thankfully the Seasiders held on to make it a happy halloween.

TEAMS

Burton: O’Hara, Daniel, Vassilev (Vernam), Gilligan (Powell), Hughes, O’Toole, Lawless, Ennis (Edwards), Quinn, Akins, Hemmings

Subs not used: Sharman-Lowe, Eardley, Fox, Varney

Blackpool: Maxwell, Turton, Ekpiteta, Gretarsson, Husband, Williams, Dougall, Kaikai (Ward), Hamilton, Yates (Sarkic), Madine

Subs not used: Sims, Gabriel, Mitchell, Thorniley, Kemp

Referee: Declan Bourne