Report: Portsmouth 0-4 Blackpool

Blackpool put in an incredible display to demolish league leaders Portsmouth at Fratton Park.

Goals from Owen Dale and Jake Beesley put the Seasiders in a commanding position before a Joe Morrell red card for the hosts made their task even more difficult. CJ Hamilton and Albie Morgan rubbed salt into the wounds as Pool came away with a 4-0 victory on the road.

Blackpool had an early sight of goal in the fifth minute as good build-up play eventually found Sonny Carey with space to drive into the area, before dragging his effort wide of the target. That early pressure from the Seasiders told as a prolonged spell of possession saw CJ Hamilton drive the ball across the area for Owen Dale who placed past Will Norris to open the scoring in the ninth minute at Fratton Park.

The hosts had a spell of their own with good interplay finding Joe Rafferty in the area, but Kenny Dougall was in the right place to make a vital interception before the midfielder could get a shot away. Marvin Ekpiteta was there moments later to clear for a corner as the pressure from Portsmouth started to build. 

Blackpool were able to stem that spell from Pompey and a quick counter-attack saw Karamoko Dembele glide past his marker into dangerous territory before feeding an expert ball into Jordan Rhodes who saw his strike blocked. Kenny Dougall was booked for a late challenge on the edge of the Pool area moments later in an open first 25 minutes of the game.

With both sides threatening, Dan Grimshaw was at full stretch to deny Marvin Ekpiteta's attempted clearance from inadvertantly going into his own goal. Jake Beesley was the latest to threaten, getting in behind the Portsmouth defence aiming for Jordan Rhodes in space in the area, but the ball was intercepted at the vital moment.

HT: Portsmouth 0-1 Blackpool

Sonny Carey had an early sight of goal five minutes into the second half, but the effort was high and wide as Blackpool continued to threaten to extend their advantage. Jake Beesley was next up to look to make the difference as he intercepted a loose build-up pass from Pompey, before firing just wide of the target after cutting in from the left wing.

And that early second half pressure told as Karamoko Dembele's driven effort was diverted into the bottom corner by the head of Jake Beesley past Will Norris to double the lead for the Seasiders in the 56th minute. Frustration for the hosts boiled over in the 65th minute as Joe Morrell made a late challenge on Karamoko Dembele, earning him a second yellow card and reducing Portsmouth to ten men.

Kyle Joseph replaced Jake Beesley in the 66th minute and his movement in the final third opened up space for Blackpool to continue to build in the final third before eventually finding CJ Hamilton to curl into the bottom corner for a third for the Seasiders. Karamoko Dembele earned a rest in the 76th minute as Callum Connolly replaced him.

Jordan Rhodes was replaced by Albie Morgan with six minutes of normal time remaining and the midfielder made an instant impact firing home a fourth from the edge of the area in the 87th minute. With seven minutes of added time indicated, the Seasiders wound down the minutes on an impressive afternoon.

FT: Portsmouth 0-4 Blackpool