Stoke City (p) 0-0 Blackpool: Seasiders cruelly knocked out of Carabao Cup on penalties despite impressive display

Blackpool have been cruelly knocked out of the Carabao Cup at the first round stage following a penalty shootout defeat to Stoke City.

It came after the game ended goalless during normal time, despite Blackpool having the upperhand for the majority of the game and creating the better chances.

Michael Nottingham, Grant Ward, Keshi Anderson and CJ Hamilton all wasted glorious openings to give the Seasiders what would have been a deserved win in their first competitive action of the season.

But it was the Championship side who sealed their passage into the second round after Ollie Turton’s miss gave Michael O’Neill’s side a 5-4 win in sudden death.

Neil Critchley handed debuts to summer recruits Marvin Ekpiteta, Ethan Robson, Keshi Anderson, CJ Hamilton and Jerry Yates.

Alex Fojticek, Teddy Howe, MJ Williams, Ben Garrity, Jamie Devitt and Liam Feeney didn’t make the squad, while Joe Nuttall missed out with a knee injury.

Former Seasider Jordan Thompson, who made the move to Stoke in January, started for the home side while Tom Ince was named among the substitutes, as was former Fleetwood Town loanee Harry Souttar.

Blackpool, wearing their new away kit, made an encouraging start to proceedings with an early sight of goal within the opening three minutes.

CJ Hamilton was set free down the right but he was unable to pick out a Blackpool teammate with his pullback. Sullay Kaikai eventually picked up the loose ball but his shot from inside the Stoke area was blocked.

The Seasiders continued to play with calmness and composure on the ball and with a maturity that belied their League One status.

With Blackpool playing a high line, they were reliant on keeper Chris Maxwell, who wore the captain’s armband, to sweep up any long balls played over the top of the back four and that’s exactly what he did on two or three occasions during the opening exchanges.

Meanwhile, at the other end of the pitch, Hamilton remained a threat on the right, the winger going close on 13 minutes when he forced a good save out of keeper Adam Davies at his near post after cutting inside onto his weaker left foot.

Hamilton showed Bruno Martins Indi a clean pair of heels yet again on the right wing, but Jerry Yates couldn’t quite get his pullback under control - otherwise Pool would have had a promising opening to break the deadlock.

Critchley’s men were given a big let-off on 22 minutes when Lee Gregory was picked out in their box by a clever pass from Nick Powell, but thankfully for Pool the striker’s finish was a poor one as he dragged his effort wide of the far post.

Marvin Ekpiteta made a vital tackle to deny Stoke the lead near the half-hour mark as he cleared the ball away virtually on Pool’s own goalline.

It came after Maxwell and James Husband had challenged for the same cross, which resulted in the ball rolling towards Blackpool’s own goal with Stoke forward Gregory ready to pounce.

A chance went begging for Blackpool when Keshi Anderson, enjoying another strong outing, played in Sullay Kaikai down the left.

Jerry Yates was screaming for the ball to be squared across the six-yard box but Kaikai’s cross was poor, looping straight into the grateful arms of Stoke’s keeper.

Two minutes later, Pool came even closer as Michael Nottingham’s outstretched leg missed Ethan Robson’s inswinging free-kick by centimetres - with the slightest of touches all that was required to give the men in white and tangerine the lead.

Blackpool continued to cause the hosts problems, as Anderson headed over from Kaikai’s centre before all havoc broke loose in the Stoke box a few moments later.

Kaikai's dangerous cross was palmed away by the keeper into his own defender before the ball was partially cleared to Yates, who cushioned a header down to Hamilton who was denied from close range.

The overriding concern was that Pool would be made to pay for these misses and that’s what almost happened on 40 minutes when James McClean somehow transpired to shoot wide after being set up by Benik Afobe.

At the start of the second half, Nottingham did well to remain alert and clear Sam Clucas’ dangerous cross with Afobe waiting behind him ready to pounce.

Pool were given a shooting opportunity in a dangerous area when Kaikai was brought down by Thompson 30 yards from goal, but Anderson could only curl wide.

On the hour mark, another good opportunity went begging for the Seasiders when the unmarked Grant Ward headed over from James Husband’s pinpoint cross.

Stoke reminded Pool of their attacking threats when Ekpiteta was forced to make a crucial last-ditch block to clear Gregory’s pullback before Danny Batth headed over from the resulting corner.

The two sides continued to exchange good openings, as the unmarked James Chester failed to find the target with his header from 10 yards out.

With the Seasiders appearing to tire, Critchley acted swiftly by making a double change, replacing Nottingham and Ward with Jordan Thorniley and Matty Virtue.

Stoke meanwhile, originally reinvigorated by their three changes, continued to huff and puff without ever looking wholly convincing.

Blackpool looked the more likely to grab a late winner but, try as they might, they couldn’t quite make the breakthrough.

And with no extra time it was left to penalty kicks to decide the cup tie and it was Turton’s miss that eventually proved decisive after Anderson and Oliver Sarkic had also been denied from 12 yards.

TEAMS

Stoke City: Davies, Batth, Chester, Smith, Martins Indi, McClean, Clucas, Thompson, Powell (Oakley-Boothe), Gregory (Fletcher), Afobe (Campbell)

Subs not used: Nna Noukeu, Souttar, Fox, Ince

Blackpool: Maxwell, Turton, Ekpiteta, Nottingham, Husband, Robson, Ward, Anderson, Hamilton, Kaikai, Yates

Subs not used: Sims, Cameron Antwi, Nathan Shaw, Gary Madine