MATCH REPORT: Shrewsbury 1-0 Blackpool

Jon Nolan’s 54th minute goal proved to be enough to separate the two sides in what was a scrappy affair at the New Meadow.

Just two minutes before Shrewsbury had broken the deadlock, Blackpool were denied a spot kick when Kelvin Mellor was clearly tripped inside the box.

But the Seasiders’ appeals were waved away and the home side took full advantage to pick up a three points that keeps them in second place.

In Kyle Vassell’s absence, Blackpool kept faith with Nathan Delfouneso in attack despite his recent troubles in front of goal. The forward did, however, take it in turns with Viv Solomon-Otabor to lead the line.

Ollie Turton also missed out with a muscle tear but there was better news for Blackpool with the return of Curtis Tilt to the centre of their defence.

Callum Cooke also returned to the starting line-up in place of Andy Taylor, a move which saw Colin Daniel drop back to left back.

The home side started the game in the ascendancy as they pressed Blackpool high up the pitch to stop them from playing their normal passing game.

But the first opportunity of the game came Blackpool’s way, as goalkeeper Dean Henderson did well to backtrack and tip Jay Spearing’s deflected free kick away from his top corner.

Solomon-Otabor then found himself in some space with just two defenders to beat but he failed to test Henderson with his side footed effort.

The hosts had a chance to put Blackpool on the back foot towards the end of the first half as they broke forward in numbers, but Gary Bowyer’s men recovered to clear their lines to round off what had been a disappointing and scrappy 45 minutes of football.

Nathan Delfouneso was presented with a huge chance to give Blackpool the lead with the first action of the second half but he could only fire wastefully wide when found in space by Sean Longstaff.

Controversy soon followed as Blackpool were denied what appeared to be a blatant penalty when Kelvin Mellor was tripped inside the Shrewsbury box.

The right-back nipped the ball past his marker who could only bring him to the ground but Blackpool’s appeals fell on deaf ears.

A couple of minutes later, the home side capitalised on their good fortune by taking the lead through Jon Nolan’s well-taken shot on his weak foot.

The midfielder broke forward into the Blackpool box and sent his effort beyond Ryan Allsop, who could only get a hand onto the shot.

The goal came completely against the run of play as the Seasiders have been the side doing all the early running at the start of the second half.

With just 20 minutes remaining, Blackpool boss Gary Bowyer brought on Danny Philliskirk and Armand Gnanduillet to try and get something from the game.

Gnanduillet was straight into the action as he met Jay Spearing’s corner but he could only direct it wide of goal.

The home side were presented with a golden opportunity to put the game to bed when Alex Rodman was left unmarked inside the Blackpool box but he sent his header wide.

Blackpool’s final opportunity came the way of Kelvin Mellor who tried his luck with an ambitious overhead kick, but Shrewsbury ‘keeper Dean Henderson was able to collect.

The final action of the game saw Nolan’s wayward cross almost catch out Allsop in the Blackpool goal but he recovered to tip over the bar.

Shrewsbury: Henderson, Sadler, Beckles, Nsiala, Whalley, Ogogo, C. Morris (John-Lewis), Bolton, B. Morris (Godfrey), Nolan, Rodman (Payne)

Subs not used: MacGillivray, Riley, Dodds, Gnahoua

Blackpool: Allsop, Mellor, Tilt, Robertson, Daniel, Ryan (Gnanduillet), Spearing, Cooke, Longstaff (Philliskirk), Solomon-Otabor, Delfouneso (Quigley)

Subs not used: Williams, Taylor, Aimson, D'Almeida

Referee: Andy Woolmer

Attendance: 5,620