Blackpool rock QPR as stunning Spearing strike seals cup upset

League One Blackpool delivered a Carabao Cup upset at Bloomfield Road with a 2-0 win over Championship side QPR.

Frenchman Armand Gnanduillet delivered the opening goal after 28 minutes, turning home a knockdown from Ben Heneghan with a neat volley.

QPR’s Jordan Cousins was sent off for a second yellow midway through the second half, before captain Jay Spearing put the final nail in QPR’s coffin with a rocket of a strike in the last minute.

Steve McClaren’s visiting side – featuring nine changes – were totally dominated early on, with visiting keeper Matt Ingram forced to turn away Spearing’s free-kick and later keep out Heneghan’s header.

Gnanduillet’s well-taken goal separated the sides at the break and it took until the hour mark for QPR to create a chance but Pawel Wszolek could not make solid contact with a teasing cross from Sean Goss.

QPR were reduced to 10 men after 70 minutes when Cousins was sent off for a second yellow card, and Spearing delivered the night’s real moment of quality late on from the edge of the box.