Play-off kings Blackpool are Championship bound

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Kenny Dougall scored twice to earn Neil Critchley’s Blackpool a 2-1 win and promotion to the Championship.

Blackpool are England’s most successful play-off club, and given the seasonal holiday weather at Wembley, it was a glorious day to settle who will go up to the second-tier. Blackpool’s colourful fans massed in big numbers outside the stadium and seemed to be slightly less apprehensive and noisier than the contingent from Lincolnshire.

However, all that was to change when the Imps made a dream start. A full minute had not elapsed when Lincoln’s winger Brennan Johnson delivered a superb sliding cross into the ‘corridor of uncertainty’ inside the Seasiders’ six-yard area.

Poor Ollie Turton made every effort to avoid contact but with his weight on the wrong foot could only direct the ball into the net. His side were rocked and Lincoln attempted to feed Johnson at every attempt, forcing Luke Garbutt to earn an early yellow for a foul on the Welshman the next time he had the ball.

It could have become even worse. Jorge Grant unleashed a superb long-range strike that Chris Maxwell’s fingertips diverted onto the bar.

With one defender scoring an own goal and another on a very early yellow card, lesser sides may have wilted and panicked.

Not resolute Blackpool however, who grounded their way back into the game. They managed to cut off further supply to Johnson and began to dominate possession.

Neil Critchley told Radio Lancashire after the game:

“How not to start a play-off final – we did it. I have to say the response from that [own goal] was magnificent and it sums up the character and resilience of this group.

“We stayed calm and we played our way back into the game thanks to a fantastic strike from Kenny.

“The next five or 10 minutes [after the own goal], the team settled me down with the way they played and there was a calmness about us, there was no panic.”

Brisbane born Kenny Dougall saw a space to the right of Alex Palmer’s right and drove home a superb equaliser in the 34th minute. The Aussie had been without a club and even trained alone after Barnsley released him and his will and drive proved crucial in this match.

Although City emerged from the interval less flat, Blackpool’s belief that this was their day remained largely unaltered.

Dougall scored an even better goal from inside the D in the 54th minute and Critchley’s side did not really look too uncomfortable thereafter.

Lincoln did not let themselves down and should be just as potent in next year’s League One.

The Imps’ manager Michael Appleton was very accurate in his post-match comments:

“We’ve competed quite well, we’ve been in the game, we’ve played OK but OK doesn’t win you finals and ultimately that’s what it comes down to.

“The better side on the day won the game – they earned the right to win the game, I’m not sure if we did.”

The Seasiders now face the mouthwatering prospect of reacquainting themselves with local rivals Preston in league competition for the first time in 12 years.

They trail that series 46-30 mostly due to not winning any of the first 11 encounters. The last man to score a winner for Blackpool against Preston was Charlie Adam, also celebrating promotion this season.

Next year’s Championship looks to be very competitive already and don’t bank on Blackpool being relegation fodder with this fighting spirit.

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