MX23RW : Monday, April 29 16:35:47| >> :600:264751:264751:
[monks data]
Blackpool
League One
May 30, 2021 at 3pm UK
Wembley Stadium
Lincoln City

Blackpool
2 - 1
Lincoln

Dougall (34', 54')
Garbutt (8'), Ballard (48'), Husband (84'), Dougall (90+2')
FT(HT: 1-1)
Turton (1' og.)
Bridcutt (66')

Blackpool 2-1 Lincoln City: Tangerines secure Championship return

Blackpool 2-1 Lincoln City: Tangerines secure Championship return
© Reuters
The Australian scored in both halves to ensure the Seasiders recovered from conceding the earliest ever goal in the third-tier play-off final.

Kenny Dougall sent Blackpool back to the Sky Bet Championship for the first time since 2015 with both goals in a 2-1 win over Lincoln in the League One play-off final at Wembley.

The Australian scored either side of half-time to ensure the Seasiders recovered from conceding the earliest ever goal in the third-tier play-off final when Ollie Turton put through his own net after just 48 seconds.

Neil Critchley's men were worthy of their win and are back in the second tier after a six-year absence, where they also dropped down to League Two.

It comes after a strong end to the regular campaign, finishing third after being in the bottom four following a disappointing start to the season.

Lincoln, whose manager Michael Appleton used to manage Blackpool, were dreaming of a third promotion in six seasons but they could not build on their excellent start and never really threatened to get back into the game.

They could not have dreamed for a better helping hand, going ahead with less than a minute on the clock as Turton had a moment he will not want to remember.

Brennan Johnson made headway down the right and fizzed in a dangerous ball across goal that made it through to the back post, where Turton got his feet in a muddle and sliced his clearance into his own net from a yard out.

The early lead gave the Imps a platform to control the game and they could have been further in front seven minutes later but Joe Walsh put a free header over from eight yards.

Top scorer Jorge Grant came within inches of doubling the lead in the 24th minute as his curling shot from 20 yards clipped the top of the crossbar.

That acted as a wake-up call to Blackpool, who began to take a foothold in the game.

Demetri Mitchell tested Alex Palmer's handling with a stinging drive soon before the equaliser came 11 minutes before the break.

Grant was dispossessed in a dangerous area by Jerry Yates and the ball ended up with Dougall, who struck a low shot into the bottom corner from the edge of the area.

Blackpool turned it around eight minutes after the restart as Dougall stepped up again.

Yates took control of a ball into the box and rolled it back to the Australian, who again found the bottom corner from 20 yards with a low drive.

The Seasiders were in control and could have killed the game off when Gary Madine played in Yates, but the striker could not direct his dinked finish goalwards with Palmer rushing out at his feet.

There was not much by way of a Lincoln onslaught as they aimed to send the game to extra-time.

Substitute Callum Morton put a good chance wide, heading an inviting cross off target, while Morgan Rogers curled an effort wide of the post.

Their best moment came deep into time added on, but fell to the wrong man as defender Regan Poole blazed wastefully over when the ball arrived to him in a great position at the far post.

ID:449624: cacheID:449624:1false2false3false:QQ:: from db desktop :LenBod:restore:4114:No Data Analysis info
Restore Data
Share this article now:
Aiden McGeady in action for Sunderland on April 22, 2019
Read Next:
Sunderland resolve Aiden McGeady contract issue ahead of Lincoln clash
>
rhs 2.0
Today's games header
Tables header RHS
TeamPWDLFAGDPTS
2Leeds UnitedLeeds45279980413990
3Ipswich TownIpswich442612688563290
4Southampton452591185622384
5Norwich CityNorwich4521101479631673
6West Bromwich AlbionWest Brom4520121367472072
7Hull City451913136859970
8Middlesbrough45199176861766
9Coventry CityCoventry4417131468551364
10Preston North EndPreston44189175661-563
11Bristol City451711175347662
12Cardiff CityCardiff45195215165-1462
13Swansea CitySwansea451512185964-557
14Watford451317156058256
15Sunderland45168215252056
16Millwall451511194455-1156
17Queens Park RangersQPR451411204557-1253
18Stoke CityStoke451411204560-1553
19Blackburn RoversBlackburn451311215874-1650
20Sheffield WednesdaySheff Weds45148234268-2650
21Plymouth ArgylePlymouth451212215870-1248
22Birmingham CityBirmingham451211224965-1647
23Huddersfield TownHuddersfield45918184875-2745
RRotherham UnitedRotherham45412293287-5524


Sports Mole provides in-depth previews and predictions for every match from the biggest leagues and competitions in world football.
Argentina's Lionel Messi kisses the World Cup trophy after collecting the Golden Ball award on December 18, 2022Sign up for our FREE daily preview newsletter direct to your inbox!