'This mustn't be a false dawn': Matt Scrafton's verdict on Blackpool's long-overdue return to winning ways with hard-fought victory against Southend

Given Blackpool’s 10-game, two-month run without one, chances were the next win probably wouldn’t be all that pretty.

But aesthetics were the last thing on anyone’s mind at Bloomfield Road on Saturday, for three points were the order of the day. How Blackpool got them was irrelevant.

In the end, Blackpool’s slender margin of victory doesn’t paint the whole story. They were deserved victors and would have eased home had it not been for a Stephen McLaughlin wonder-strike right out of the top drawer.

As it was, they were forced to deal with Southend’s increasingly desperate tactics late on, the League Two-bound Shrimpers even resorting to sending their goalkeeper forward for a 94th-minute corner.

Finally, after what felt like an age, the referee blew for the final whistle and the relief was etched across the players’ faces.

But one man who was more relieved than most was manager Simon Grayson, for this was a must-win encounter for the 50-year-old.

The under-pressure boss joked about going for a lie down in the tunnel after full-time, a sign that he appreciates just how significant this result is.

Had it gone the other way, it doesn’t bear thinking about what that would have meant for Grayson’s future with owner Simon Sadler due back in the country for Tuesday night’s game against Gillingham.

While Armand Gnanduillet will inevitably get most of the headlines for his third brace of the campaign, Saturday’s victory owed much to the six newcomers in Blackpool’s starting XI.

This being Pool’s first home league outing since Boxing Day, this was a chance for many to get their first glimpse of the likes of Chris Maxwell, Taylor Moore, Connor Ronan, Kiernan Dewsbury-Hall and Gary Madine.

Marc Bola was the other player making his second home debut, but Pool fans will know all about his talents already.

But it was Ronan and Dewsbury-Hall who stole the show in midfield, bringing quality and guile the Seasiders have been crying out for all season.

Ronan especially performed superbly given he was played out of position over on the left, linking up with Bola impressively time and time again.

Taylor Moore, meanwhile, justified the glowing references he’s received from supporters of his parent club Bristol City, delivering a commanding display in the centre of defence against his former side.

Given Pool’s recent woes, it was imperative they came firing out of the blocks early on and, to their credit, that’s exactly what they did.

Southend were camped inside their own half for the opening 15 to 20 minutes and, for a while, it seemed just a matter of time until Pool would get that opening goal.

Gnanduillet almost did exactly that three minutes in, seeing a close-ranger header cleared off the line by Tom Clifford after a Liam Feeney corner had caused confusion in the Southend box.

Mark Milligan then flashed a sliced effort agonisingly wide of his own goal as Blackpool continued to set the early pace.

But failing to capitalise on promising starts has been a running theme of Blackpool’s season and it appeared as though it could be their undoing once again.

While belief gradually began to sap out of the Seasiders, Southend - with just three wins to their name all season - began to grow in confidence.

Milligan was involved in the thick of the action yet again, but this time at the right end for Southend, volleying narrowly over from range.

Stephen McLaughlin then squandered two gilt-edged chances, the Irishman fizzing one narrowly wide of the far post before somehow transpiring to chip wide after capitalising on a costly Ollie Turton error.

Just as it appeared Pool were beginning to run out of ideas and the fans were starting to air their first murmurings of discontent, Grayson’s side finally made that breakthrough.

It was that old trusty combination that paid off once again, Feeney providing a pinpoint cross into Southend’s six-yard box that Gnanduillet gobbled up with glee, heading home his first league goal since New Year’s Day.

As the old saying about London buses goes, one soon became two as Gnanduillet doubled Blackpool’s lead just after the hour mark.

It didn’t come without its controversy and talking points, the Frenchman drilling home emphatically from 12 yards after substitute Nathan Delfouneso - who made a notable impact off the bench with his pace in behind - was scythed down by goalkeeper Mark Oxley.

Of course the last time Gnanduillet took a penalty he was left red faced, chipping a ‘Panenka’ onto the crossbar in the FA Cup draw at Reading last month.

Skipper Jay Spearing, only too well aware of Gnanduillet’s transgression the last time he picked up the ball, went over to argue his case why he should take the spot kick instead.

But Gnanduillet wasn’t to be persuaded and thankfully the 27-year-old made no mistake with his effort, sending the goalkeeper the wrong way and picking out the bottom corner.

At this stage in proceedings it just seemed a matter of how many goals Blackpool would go on to get, but McLaughlin - the culprit of Southend’s misses in the first half - had other ideas.

The midfielder slammed home an unstoppable 30-yard effort which keeper Maxwell did well to even get near on his home debut.

It was a goal out of nothing and yet it ensured a nervy final 20 minutes or so for the Seasiders. Thankfully they came through it unscathed.

Grayson’s side must now do whatever it takes to make it back-to-back wins against Gillingham on Tuesday night, this mustn’t be a false dawn.