Blackpool found their form again to snatch victory at the Stadium of Light against Sunderland

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A switch in formation and a resurgence in performance saw Blackpool’s play-off push get back on track in stunning fashion.

Sullay Kaikai fired in a sensational strike from the edge of the box to give a resilient Tangerine side all three points and with results elsewhere in their favour, it gave them a major boost heading into their final three games.

Moving to a back three, you could see what the switch in formation and personnel brought to the match that had been missing in the two prior.

A back three allowed an extra pass at the back during the initial build-up phase which enabled Blackpool to be more comfortable in possession despite intense pressure from Sunderland.

An extra man in midfield gave the Seasiders confidence to play with the ball in tight areas and naturally sit higher up the park in order to impose the first phase of their press higher than it has been for a while now.

As much as the first-half was ultimately a non-event, it showcased that Blackpool looked calm and cool both in and out of possession and were more than happy to bide their time, remaining patient, whilst containing any flurry of Sunderland attack.

The frustration of the home side grew into the second-half as Blackpool began to establish themselves in the midfield, and Sullay Kaikai’s goal came at the perfect time.

Critchley’s side were clinical when it mattered through a superb half volley from Kaikai who just about burst the net with pure power.

That brought with it a return to confidence that flowed throughout the team as the minutes went on, they needed that boost, that reminder of how good a team they can be when in full flight.

Jerry Yates looked tired throughout but you cannot do anything to stop him chasing down lost causes up until the final whistle, that winning mentality was apparent within a number of players.

Grant Ward soaked up the battle and improved as the game went on, his intelligence off the ball sees him a second ahead of anyone else on the park and his ability to glide through the levels in a counter-attack makes him a well-balanced creative midfielder.

It has taken until his spell on the Fylde Coast to see that he is the perfect central midfield player is beyond anyone but he is thriving now.

Then comes Chris Maxwell. When Maxwell arrived from neighbours Preston, there were huge question marks about his ability to improve the makeup of the squad.

He was off the back of a poor spell at Hibernian, well out of favour at North End and unable to break into the number one spot on loan at Charlton.

His stats in Scotland in particular saw him down as one of the worst goalkeepers in terms of save success percentage in the SPFL, but sometimes a player is made for a club and a manager.

Chris Maxwell embodies everything that Neil Critchley is wanting to do with this club.

Maxwell’s distribution sets the tone throughout Blackpool’s play when it comes to counter-attacking at pace, vision and confidence on the ball and it makes everyone tick.

Alongside that his shot-stopping ability has come on tenfold since his arrival and you can see that game by game the confidence within himself to provide top performances only grows. What makes Maxwell so special is his concentration.

He is the most vocal player on the pitch at all times as captain and is constantly organising and encouraging teammates to ensure that they remain disciplined in the tactical structure, but when the time comes he is more than able to step up to the plate himself.

Maxwell’s performance at the Stadium of Light is one of the single greatest performances from a goalkeeper in a Blackpool shirt.

As Sunderland piled on the pressure towards the end as the Seasiders’ tired and jaded after a hard-working performance, Maxwell received an onslaught.

Nine out of 10 other goalkeepers would have been breached by a succession of close-range chances that looked bound for the net but Maxwell palmed them away with ease.

Come additional time you almost expected Maxwell to pull off any wonder save possible in order to maintain the three points.

People always say that you need players who have experienced winning on a consistent basis in order to instil that winning mentality in a squad, but Blackpool are proving otherwise.

From a team shot of confidence at the start of the season, the Tangerines have turned into a team of winners, as if it is their destiny to win the play-offs.

That confidence and mentality shone through at the Stadium of Light and there is not a single doubt in that squad right now about whether or not they are destined for promotion to the Championship.

You could say Wembley is calling the Seasiders right now but it is more like the Seasiders are calling Wembley.

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