Blackpool are taught a lesson by Stoke City as the Potters earn a much deserved victory at Bloomfield Road

The talk before the game was of Blackpool’s ability to compete against physical sides in a back three and so it told as Stoke City took the three points at Bloomfield Road.

In the first half, the hosts seemed to be in relative control of proceedings when out of possession, content to allow Stoke the bulk of possession in order to force turnovers in dangerous positions to spring counter-attacks.

The Potters received five first half bookings, one of which so easily could have been a red card for goalscorer Steven Fletcher after he appeared to kick out at Jordan Gabriel. This highlighted the visitors’ deficiencies in dealing with the press from Blackpool as they committed cynical fouls on various occasions.

However, one man’s foul is another man’s street-smarts and Stoke began the second half taking the game to Blackpool as the intensity of the hosts began to fade.

Blackpool needed an out ball and turned to Gary Madine to provide it, he performed that role well as ever and with Josh Bowler’s arrival, the hosts began to pick up that intensity they lost in the second half but ultimately they did not threaten and the visitors deserved the points.

It raises a question about Blackpool’s ability to deal with a more physical outfit who are experienced in knowing when to foul and with their 3-5-2 system, able to control possession in the central areas, but sometimes you can just lose to a better side.

The money in this Stoke squad is far beyond anything Blackpool have reached in years. When you have players who can provide a spark and break an opposition press like Jacob Brown did as well as Tyrese Campbell when he came on, it is hard to compete for 90 minutes.

Of course, Blackpool fans should dream and this defeat is not the end of the world but it has to be remembered the Tangerines, their manager and the majority of their squad are new to this level and are developing and learning all the time.

Richard Keogh was an evident loss in the second half with his organisation skills paramount to everything Blackpool do both in and out of possession.

He can feed balls through the initial press with relative ease and having that commanding presence at the back, alongside another in Marvin Ekpiteta who worked wonders to stem a number of attacks that left him one-on-one at the back, is something Blackpool have to rely on at times.

What can be said is that the Seasiders have struggled to create chances in their past two matches with a combined xG of 0.71 which is not the type of run you can cover the cracks of for long with moments of magic like Keshi Anderson provided.

Blackpool were 17th in the xG table before the encounter against the Potters and this performance will only sink them further. It shows that they have a higher calibre of quality available to provide goals from difficult areas nowadays in order to stem the tide but across a season you have to create more often to keep up with the top end of the table.

Anything other than sheer survival in the Championship is a bonus for the Seasiders but if ambitions are high, as they should be given most of the other performances this season, then they have to be consistent in creating enough chances so that strikers can pick up goals at a rate that will match those at the top level.

Dan Grimshaw’s distribution seemed quite languid at times and there was not the quick thinking or pace at which Chris Maxwell sets when he is in goal. Whilst Grimshaw has been a solid performer providing vital saves, what Maxwell provides just cannot be matched by anyone else in the squad.

Shayne Lavery would have loved that first half game plan and Blackpool at their lively best would have created opportunities for him with his movement, especially had he played alongside Jerry Yates.

Sometimes you need that something extra in a tight affair and Stoke were able to provide that and the hosts couldn’t and maybe those who are out at the moment could’ve been the ones to provide it.

This analysis is that of a side that are expecting a top-half finish and it speaks of the expectation levels Neil Critchley is creating that there are points to pick at with that performance when any other promoted side would just quickly move on.

Blackpool will have learned a lot from this and will be better off for it heading into another tough test at the weekend against Queens Park Rangers.

As a newly promoted side, sometimes the Seasiders will not be able to compete but if they continue to learn from defeats as they have throughout the season so far, following them up with convincing victories against a high calibre of opposition, then there is no reason why the dream shouldn’t be alive for Tangerine fans.

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