Fleetwood Town 0-1 Blackpool: Seasiders claim Fylde Coast bragging rights thanks to Gary Madine's early header

The striker headed home his fourth goal in his last six games after just 16 minutes, the goal proving to be enough to separate the teams in a tetchy, tight encounter.

The Seasiders, who also face Fleetwood at Highbury in the EFL Trophy in midweek, have now won eight of their last nine games in all competitions.

The win, Blackpool’s first league triumph at Highbury, sees them climb to within a point Joey Barton’s side.

Neil Critchley opted to make three changes from Tuesday night’s impressive 1-0 win against Portsmouth.

The surprise absentee was Dan Ballard, who was left out of the squad altogether with what we assume is an injury problem. Daniel Gretarsson came back into the side in his place.

Elsewhere, Ethan Robson and Keshi Anderson dropped down to the bench, with Grant Ward and Gary Madine returning to the starting line-up with the Seasiders reverting to a 4-4-2 formation.

MJ Williams (elbow) and Matty Virtue (hamstring tendon) remain sidelined through injury, although they’re expected to be back soon.

The likes of Teddy Howe, Jordan Thorniley, Demetri Mitchell, Oliver Sarkic and Bez Lubala weren’t named in the 18-man squad.

Fleetwood also made three changes, bringing Wes Burns, Jordan Rossiter, and Barry McKay into the side for Glenn Whelan, Paul Coutts, and Paddy Madden.

Fleetwood, like Blackpool, also made a slight tactical tweak, playing in a 3-4-3 system that ensured an attacking presence.

It was Fleetwood who made the brighter start, forcing some early pressure. Marvin Ekpiteta was required to make an important block to deny Callum Camps before Chris Maxwell got across his goal to claw away Charlie Mulgrew’s vicious free-kick, which was arrowing towards the top corner.

The Seasiders returned with some pressure of their own, Sullay Kaikai seeing his shot blocked on the turn after controlling James Husband’s pullback from the left.

The home side forced a host of early corners and, while their delivery was always dangerous, the Seasiders dealt with them well despite being without the aerial presence of Ballard.

Pool were given a set-piece of their own in a dangerous position on 16 minutes when CJ Hamilton was brought down on the edge of the box by Danny Andrew.

The free-kicked resulted in the first goal of the game as Sullay Kaikai lofted a chipped ball into the box where the unmarked Gary Madine headed home, the ball slipping underneath Fleetwood keeper Jayson Leutwiler.

The goal, Madine’s fourth in his last six games, saw the Seasiders gain the upper hand and momentum, as Critchley’s men continued to attack and look for a quick second.

Fleetwood remained undeterred though, Ched Evans poking wide after nipping ahead of Ekpiteta to meet Wes Burns’s right-wing cross.

Both sides continued to give absolutely everything, neither Fleetwood nor Blackpool willing to take a step back in what soon became a really edgy, physical encounter.

But as the sun began to set, the game entered into a quiet spell. Fleetwood were enjoying plenty of possession but weren’t doing a great deal with it to hurt the Seasiders.

The home side did have the ball in the back of the net in first-half stoppage time, but it was ruled out for offside as Wes Burns was a good two or three yards ahead of the Pool defenders in the six-yard box.

While the decision looked correct on first viewing, those watching at home via an internet stream commented how Ollie Turton was playing Burns well onside in a big let-off for Pool.

With his side trailing by the one goal, Barton changed it up at half-time, replacing Burns with Glenn Whelan to go 4-3-3.

Fleetwood’s passing became more zippy and incisive as they applied more pressure thanks to Whelan’s introduction, who was also tasked with man-marking the influential Madine.

McKay, who had been Fleetwood’s most dangerous player up to this point, fizzed one across the face of the Blackpool goal but no-one was there to capitalise.

Barton then introduced the attacking threat of Paddy Madden just after the hour-mark, the striker linking up with Evans.

The game became increasingly tense, with neither side capable of creating any clear-cut chances.

The Seasiders did create an opening of shorts for Madine, who saw a shot blocked after Hamilton had done well to pull the ball back to him.

Pool, who had done well to soak up some constant Fleetwood pressure, could have settled the game 15 minutes from time when Kaikai got into a promising position down the left.

The winger shifted the ball onto his right foot before directing a low shot that looked to be creeping into the far corner, but Leutwiler got down to make a superb save, tipping it around the post.

Pool showed some good game management in the final stages to wind the clock down and frustrate the hosts, who became increasingly impatient in their bid to level late on.

As you would expect, it was all Fleetwood in the dying moments, but the Seasiders held firm in the three minutes of stoppage time to claim another big win.

TEAMS

Fleetwood: Leutwiler, Edwards, Connolly, Mulgrew, Andrew, Finley (Duffy), Burns (Whelan), Camps, Rossiter (Madden), McKay (Morris), Evans

Subs not used: Cairns, Hill, Coutts

Blackpool: Maxwell, Turton, Ekpiteta, Gretarsson, Husband, Dougall, Ward, Hamilton, Kaikai (Garbutt), Yates (Anderson), Madine

Subs not used: Sims, Gabriel, Robson, Woodburn, Kemp

Referee: John Busby

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