Gillingham 2-0 Blackpool: Dominic Samuel double condemns Seasiders to another disappointing defeat on their travels

Blackpool were made to pay for some costly defensive mistakes as Dominic Samuel’s double condemned Neil Critchley’s men to another disappointing defeat on their travels.

The former Blackburn Rovers forward netted in either half as the Seasiders went down to their second defeat from their three league games to date.

Michael Nottingham made mistakes in the lead-up to both strikes and was subsequently hauled off by head coach Neil Critchley at the start of the second half.

Just as they did at Plymouth on the opening day, the Seasiders got off to the worst start possible, conceding after just four minutes.

While Pool enjoyed much of the possession from this point onwards, they looked short of ideas and devoid of cutting edge in the final third as their hopes of securing back-to-back wins vanished.

Their disappointment was compounded at the start of the second half when Samuel beat Chris Maxwell for a second time, ensuring a miserable long trip back to the North West.

Neil Critchley named the same side that beat Swindon Town 2-0 last week thanks to CJ Hamilton’s double.

James Husband and Sullay Kaikai returned from injury to take their spot on the bench, with Jordan Thorniley and Nathan Shaw dropping out.

New signing Luke Garbutt wasn’t fit enough to be involved while Matty Virtue remained sidelined with a knock. Alex Fojticek, Teddy Howe and Cameron Antwi were all left out.

Gillingham, meanwhile, made two changes to the side that beat troubled Wigan Athletic 3-2 last week.

The last time Pool were on their travels in the league, they suffered a nightmare start conceding after just three minutes.

The same fate befell them at the Priestfield Stadium, as debutant Dominic Samuel had the simple task of heading home from on the goalline.

It left Critchley furious at the cheap manner in which they conceded the corner that led to the goal, with Michael Nottingham slashing the ball waywardly behind under no real pressure.

The resulting delivery was flicked onto the crossbar by Connor Ogilvie before Jack Tucker headed it back into the crowded six-yard box, where Samuel forced the ball over the line.

Pool almost managed to hit back on nine minutes in somewhat bizarre circumstances when Keshi Anderson’s attempted through-ball to Jerry Yates took a wicked deflection off a defender, wrongfooting the goalkeeper only to bounce agonisingly wide of the post.

The Gills continued to look a threat in attack, the home side coming close once again as Jordan Graham’s vicious long-range shot is headed clear by Marvin Ekpiteta.

Going down to an early goal is the last thing you want to do against a Steve Evans side, who make things as awkward as possible.

The Seasiders, as a result, found it difficult to break down their opponents despite playing some promising football in the middle part of the pitch.

Jacob Mellis, who had a brief spell with Blackpool in the 2014/15 season, was thwarted by the onrushing Chris Maxwell after Ekpiteta, the only defender to remain deep, had played him onside.

At the other end, Anderson rifled a pass into Bez Lubala but his first touch let him down, otherwise he would have been through on goal.

Pool were given another let-off 10 minutes before the break when Samuel, eager to add his second, produced an air shot when well placed in front of goal.

Lubala ought to have shown more endeavour for the Seasiders to attack Ollie Turton’s dangerous cross on his weaker foot, but the winger was instead caught napping.

The Seasiders enjoyed a period of dominance before the interval, but were just lacking that final touch.

Jerry Yates tried his luck from range, seeing his dipping effort palmed away by goalkeeper Jack Bonham.

What Blackpool needed was a leveller at the start of the second half and they almost got it through Hamilton, who was thwarted by a Gills defender just as he readied himself to pull the trigger following Yates’ set-up.

Unfortunately for Pool, they were given a mountain to climb when moments later Samuel doubled his side’s lead with his second of the game.

Nottingham was involved again, pulling out of a challenge allowing Vadaine Oliver to set up Samuel who drilled the ball beyond Maxwell and into the bottom corner.

The defender was instantly hauled off, with Critchley replacing him with the returning James Husband.

The goal put the wind in Gillingham’s sails, the home side - buoyed by Evans’ constant ranting from the sidelines - now showing impressive hunger and desire to press and chase down every loose ball.

Ekpiteta was the next Pool player to concede possession, gifting the ball to Oliver whose effort was fortunately blocked.

Blackpool were in need of drastic improvements as the game went on, as they were slowly but surely beginning to run out of ideas.

With 20 minutes remaining, Demetri Mitchell fizzed a dangerous ball across the face of the six-yard box which was just begging for the slightest of touches, but no-one was there to capitalise.

The Seasiders finally made keeper Bonham work 14 minutes from time when substitute Kaikai forced a good save out of the shot stopper, who palmed the winger’s curling effort away from goal.

Bonham had his palms stung late on by Ethan Robson, whose long-range shot was comfortably held by the Gills number one.

Pool continued to push in the six minutes of stoppage time, despite the fourth official initially indicating there would be eight.

Mitchell almost pulled a goal back, clipping the foot of the post with a curling 25-yard free-kick.

But even if it had gone in, it would have proved too little, too late for the Seasiders in what was a disappointing day at the office.

TEAMS

Gillingham: Bonham, Ogilvie, Tucker, Jackson, Medley, Mellis, Robertson (McKenzie), Eccles, Graham, Oliver (Akinde), Samuel (MacDonald)

Subs not used: Walsh, Woods, Coyle

Blackpool: Maxwell, Turton, Ekpiteta, Nottingham (Husband), Mitchell, Robson, Ward, Anderson (Madine), Lubala (Kaikai), Hamilton, Yates

Subs not used: Sims, Williams, Sarkic, Kemp

Referee: Lee Swabey