'A near-perfect night for the depleted Seasiders': Matt Scrafton's verdict on Blackpool's five-star showing against Wigan Athletic

Elland Road was the venue and Simon Grayson’s Leeds United were the opponents as Jonjo Shelvey bagged a hat-trick on a night that will live long in the memory of Blackpool fans.

It was a shame then that no Seasiders were able to witness this mauling in person, as Neil Critchley’s side ran riot to claim their first league victory of 2021 in emphatic fashion.

Make no mistake, this is a fantastic result. To achieve it without as many as 10 first-team players makes it all the more remarkable.

Onlookers may point to the opposition and suggest this result had more to do with Wigan’s shortcomings than it was Blackpool’s quality.

But while the Latics remain very much in crisis off the pitch, Leam Richardson’s outfit had only lost one of their last eight league games heading into this fixture.

They had beaten promotion contenders Sunderland and Accrington Stanley during that run and drawn with Fleetwood Town twice in recent weeks. The latter of those draws came at the weekend when they were the better side and probably ought to have won.

While they remain in the bottom four, they’re only a win away from climbing up into mid-table. If they can get themselves out of administration and find a new buyer sooner rather than later, they have every chance of maintaining their third tier status.

Wigan proved early on they’re no mugs. They were arguably the better side in the first-half, up until the 40th minute anyway, and played some tidy stuff on their quagmire of a pitch.

But as soon as Marvin Ekpiteta broke the deadlock with his first goal in tangerine, this match was only ever going to end one way.

It certainly helped that one became two within 120 seconds, as Jerry Yates capitalised on some hesitant defending to bag his ninth goal from his last 16 games.

It was another poacher’s effort from the striker, who is now learning that he doesn’t necessarily need to be here, there and everywhere and chase down every lost cause, he just needs to continue sniffing out chances in and around the six-yard box.

With strike partner Gary Madine wreaking havoc on League One defences, Yates will certainly get plenty of opportunities to do exactly that as the season wears on.

Having squandered a two-goal half-time lead at Doncaster Rovers earlier in the campaign, the Seasiders couldn’t afford to repeat that mistake for a second time.

Wigan had one or two moments at the start of the second period, Kyle Joseph – recently linked with a move to Bloomfield Road – slicing one wide at the back post.

The same striker had earlier missed a fairly gilt-edged chance in the first-half, heading over having been left unmarked in the Blackpool box.

But while Wigan failed to make the most of their chances, the same certainly couldn’t be said for Blackpool.

They’ve threatened to produce a result like this on several occasions this season but failed to deliver. This five-star showing is only the second time they’ve scored three or more goals in League One this season.

The difference on this occasion was their clinical finishing in front of goal, scoring five times from their eight shots on target.

The most obvious proof of this came for Blackpool’s third goal, which was a joy to behold.

Matty Virtue was the man to finish it off in emphatic style, but both James Husband and Bez Lubala should also take the plaudits for a well-worked move in the build-up.

The duo exchanged a quick give and go, allowing Husband the time and space to pick out Virtue with a pinpoint pullback.

Press box etiquette normally dictates you don’t celebrate or show too much emotion, but I couldn’t help myself from applauding this superb bit of play from the Seasiders.

Roared on by the animated Blackpool boss on the touchline, there was little chance of complacency setting in.

Critchley made his displeasure clear as his side began to play with a bit of arrogance and cockiness, taking a few liberties rather than focusing on the task ahead.

That didn’t last for long though, as the Seasiders kept their foot on the gas and unleashed wave after wave of attack in the dying moments in search of further goals.

A great night became a near-perfect one late on when Ellis Simms, starting his first league game for the Seasiders, bagged two goals in just three minutes having come off the bench with 20 minutes to go.

The Everton loanee, who could have had a hat-trick was it not for a Jamie Jones save earlier on, nodded home from virtually on the goalline before heading home a second in stoppage time.

That goal came from a quality corner from youngster Rob Apter, who looked lively in what was also his first league appearance.

Kevin Stewart, meanwhile, was also handed his Blackpool debut. Despite playing a little earlier than anticipated, the midfielder – playing his first competitive game since July – looked confident and assured in the middle of the park.

This was a great night and a great result for the Seasiders, but they mustn’t get carried away.

It’s a step in the right direction and, given their depleted squad, Critchley will rightly be proud of what his players were able to produce at the DW Stadium.

But Blackpool simply must build on this. They now have two inviting fixtures coming up against relegation-threatened sides in the next week, both at home.

The Seasiders boast a strong record at Bloomfield Road, so they’ll need to be claiming at least four points, if not six, from their upcoming games against Burton Albion and Northampton Town.

Do that and it’s all to play for in the second half of the season...

Thanks for reading. If you value what we do and are able to support us, a digital subscription is just £1 for your first month. Try us today by clicking here