Blackpool claim NINTH straight win by seeing off Oldham to set up League One play-off final showdown - on this day in 2007

A remarkable NINTH straight win took Blackpool a step closer to the Championship as they sealed their place in the League One play-off final.

Goals from Keith Southern, Andy Morrell and Keigan Parker clinched a comfortable 3-1 victory for Simon Grayson’s men, who progressed 5-2 on aggregate.

Trailing 2-1 from the first leg, Oldham’s task was made even harder when Southern smacked in an unstoppable 25-yard drive midway through the first half.

Pool’s place in the Wembley showpiece was all but assured when Morrell raced away from the Oldham defence to finish his one-on-one in clinical fashion.

The away side briefly threatened an unlikely comeback when Matt Wolfendon forced the ball home seven minutes from time.

But the game was put to bed for good when Parker curled home a third with virtually the last kick of the game.

Blackpool’s win set up a final showdown with Yeovil Town, where a tenth straight victory would lead the Seasiders back to the second tier.

Grayson, speaking after the game, said: "This club is steeped in history and tradition.

"You go back to the 1950s with Stanley Matthews and people like that and maybe we've lived in the past too long.

"Now we want to be part of a new era where the club goes forward, and hopefully by next weekend we'll be back in the Championship where we belong."

TEAMS

Blackpool: Rachubka, Barker, Jackson, Evatt, Williams, Forbes (Gillett), Southern (Fox), Jorgensen, Hoolahan (Burgess), Parker, Morrell

Oldham: Blayney, Lomax, Haining, Gregan, Edwards, Liddell (Wolfenden), Wellens, Rocastle (McDonald), Taylor, Porter, Warne (Glombard)

Attendance: 9,453