Coventry City were undone by two 2nd half goals, as the Sky Blues went down 2-0 at Bloomfield Road.
With the voices of the travelling fans ringing around the stadium, the energetic away support made Mark Robins’ side feel at home on the Lancashire coast in the opening stages.
Despite losing Max Biamou to injury early on, it was Tom Bayliss, alongside Jordan Shipley and Luke Thomas, both making their first league starts of the season, that applied pressure from the front, continually testing Blackpool’s defensive diligence.
In an opening 30 minutes sparse of chances, it was this youthful attack, spearheaded by the replacement Amadou Bakayoko, that looked the more intent on breaking the deadlock.
First, Thomas combined with Bayliss, occupying a more central role, to set the Derby loanee on a mazy run on the right-flank only for his shot to be blocked. Then, it was the turn of Bayliss, who raced to the byline after some fine interplay between Bakayoko and Shipley, though no City player could get on the end of his teasing delivery across the six-yard box.
Though City looked promising, their hosts did threaten, as Blackpool captain Jay Spearing had the standout chance of the 1st half. The Sky Blues fans behind the goal held their breath, as the former Liverpool man sent a stinging 25-yard drive towards Liam O’Brien on 33 minutes, but the City keeper proved equal to the shot, his outstretched left hand sending the ball away for a corner.
Following on from Saturday’s win over Plymouth Argyle, City looked to have a huge chance to take the lead just before the interval.
A foul on Luke Thomas on the edge of the Blackpool penalty area, as the game entered added time, saw the teenager step up and take the free-kick. A curling effort towards Mark Howard’s goal had the 31-year-old ‘keeper at full stretch, but Thomas’ effort flew narrowly wide of the top-left corner.
However, like the 1st half, disaster soon struck for City just moments after kick-off with Mark Cullen opening the scoring on 48 minutes. A floated delivery from Ollie Turton was met by Cullen at the back-post, whose header saw him score on his first league start of the new season.
Buoyed by the opening goal, Harry Pritchard looked to double the lead for Terry McPhillips’ side, but his free-kick from 20 yards was a comfortable test for O’Brien, who parried away to safety.
After a spell of consolidation, City took assertive steps to bring themselves back onto level terms. Luke Thomas, cutting inside on to his left foot, had several of the Blackpool defence back-pedalling before his shot was halted by a cluster of players in tangerine.
Seond-half substitutes Tony Andreu and Jordy Hiwula looked to inspire a late comeback as the pair combined with to send Hiwula flying in-behind the Blackpool backline. His shot from tight angle had the Tangerines on edge but was pushed out for a corner.
However, as City pushed to salvage something from their trip North, a long clearance to safety from Blackpool saw Joe Dodoo in a one-on-one race with O’Brien. The on-loan Rangers forward beat the City keeper to the ball to put the Seasiders 2-0 ahead on 80 minutes.
The Sky Blues continued to push forwards in the game’s final minutes in search of a consolation, but manager Mark Robins will be hoping for a more positive result when his side travel to Gillingham on Saturday.
Attendance: TBC
Goals: Mark Cullen, Joe Dodoo
Yellows: Mark Cullen
Reds:
Sky Blues XI: Liam O’Brien (GK), Dujon Sterling, Jordan Wills, Dominic Hyam, Junior Brown, Michael Doyle (C), Abu Ogogo, Luke Thomas, Tom Bayliss, Jordan Shipley (Andreu [74’]), Max Biamou (Bakayoko [5’]) (Hiwula [71’]).
Subs: Lee Burge (GK), Jack Grimmer, Brandon Mason, Jordy Hiwula, Amadou Bakayoko, Tony Andreu, Jordon Thompson.
Blackpool XI: Mark Howard (GK), Ollie Turton, Donervon Daniels (O’Connor [90’]), Curtis Tilt, Marc Bola, Michael Nottingham, Jay Spearing (C), Jordan Thompson, Harry Pritchard (O’Sullivan [90’]), Joe Dodoo, Mark Cullen (Delfouneso [72’]).
Subs: Christoffer Mafoumbi (GK), Paudie O’Connor, Ben Heneghan, Nathan Delfouneso, John O’Sullivan, Fin Sinclair-Smith, Joe Bunney.