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Late Winner From Gnanduillet Secures All Three Points
Armand Gnanduillet stepped off the bench to score in added time and give Blackpool a 1-0 victory away at Doncaster Rovers.
The Frenchman made it six goals for the campaign with a header in the 93rd minute to get the team back to winning ways in Sky Bet League One and end the hosts’ unbeaten start.
Manager Simon Grayson opted to make two changes to his side for the fixture, handing first league starts of the season to Matty Virtue and Ryan Hardie.
It was a positive start from the Seasiders, knocking the ball about with confidence, despite opportunities being at a premium. A 20-yard strike from Joe Nuttall was the only effort of the note in the opening 15 minutes, though that fell wide of the target.
The hosts were then forced into an early substitution, with Matty Blair unable to continue after picking up a knock. Alfie May was the man to replace him.
Blackpool continued to dictate possession and came close to scoring through Hardie. The former Rangers man wriggled himself some space on the edge of the box and saw his curling effort pushed away from the top corner by Ian Lawlor.
At the other end, a decisive block from Matty Virtue denied Niall Ennis from finding the net for Doncaster Rovers.
Half-Time: Doncaster Rovers 0 Blackpool 0
After watching Curtis Tilt head over from a free-kick, Blackpool had Jak Alnwick to thank for keeping the scores level. The ‘keeper got a decisive touch to the ball to turn a strike from Ben Whiteman round the post, even though a goal kick ended up being given.
Minutes later, Whiteman tried his luck again, fizzing a 22-yard strike just wide of the far post. Jordan Thompson then did likewise for Blackpool, having followed up a charged down effort from Ryan Hardie.
Hardie then had a glorious opportunity to break the deadlock for Blackpool, having been presented with the ball by the Doncaster ‘keeper. He raced forward but ended up seeing his shot saved.
A great bit of defending from Curtis Tilt then ensured that the Seasiders didn’t fall behind. Niall Ennis rounded Jak Alnwick but watched his strike headed off the line by the centre-back.
With 16 minutes remaining, Blackpool opted to freshen things up in attack. Sullay Kaikai and Armand Gnanduillet stepped off the bench to replace Joe Nuttall and Ryan Hardie.
Despite that, it was the hosts who threatened, with Alnwick forced to push away another strike from distance, this time from Jon Taylor, while the defence quickly scrambled to charge down another effort.
As a stalemate appeared to loom, Blackpool won the contest in stoppage time. Armand Gnanduillet started off a counter attack and, having played the ball to Feeney, continued his run into the box to meet the delivery and nod in a winner.
Doncaster Rovers 0 Blackpool 1 - Rovers caught out late on as Darren Moore’s unbeaten start ends
Darren Moore suffered his first league defeat as Doncaster Rovers manager as an injury-time sucker-punch from Blackpool brought an end to Rovers’ unbeaten start to the season.
Armand Gnanduillet came off the bench to bundle in a 92nd-minute winner for visitors Blackpool.
It was harsh on a Rovers side that had enjoyed the better of the attacking play yet struggled for the creative spark which has driven them on early in this campaign.
As demonstrated by some of the sublime football they played against Ipswich Town at the weekend, Rovers are a side that relishes the opportunity to play between the lines.
To do that, there needs to be space between those lines in which to operate and Blackpool were simply in no mood to afford Rovers such a luxury.
Well-organised, their back three quickly became a back five whenever Rovers were in possession. And the three central midfielders shifted into a buffer, with each taking turns to charge out and press as Rovers brought the ball into the Blackpool half.
Ben Whiteman and Ben Sheaf in particular were targeted by the opposition and were pressed immediately when in possession, denying them the chance to start attacks.
It led to a frustrating time for Rovers — reflected when they looked to go a little more direct on occasion with Blackpool’s towering back line only too happy to nod lofted balls away.
Patience was required. And to Rovers’ credit, they showed it.
It became all about finding a bit of magic to unlock some space with the search largely fruitless.
Blackpool’s threat came early in the first half. Joe Nuttall scuffed an early effort wide after a marauding run.
Rovers suffered an early blow with Matty Blair forced off after just 17 minutes due to injury with Alfie May replacing him.
The moments of magic were scarce but Jon Taylor was released into space after a neat one-two with Reece James. He then found Niall Ennis in the middle but the Wolves loanee saw his shot deflected wide. The pattern of the game continued into the second half as Rovers were able to push higher into Blackpool territory.
One such move saw Brad Halliday slide a pass into the box for Ben Whiteman, who saw his low strike tipped wide.
Rovers then began to look at little nervy as Blackpool’s Jordan Thompson drilled wide.
Rovers’ best opportunity came when Ennis latched onto a ball over the top, touched it past Alnwick and hooked towards goal only for Curtis Tilt to block.
The hosts looked the more likely to win it with Alfie May and Taylor both seeing strikes pushed wide.
Rovers were caught out at the death when substitute Sully Kaikai burst out from his own half before clipping a ball into the box where Gnanduillet headed home from close range.
Rovers suffered their first league defeat of the season as late sucker punch from Armaud Gnanduillet in injury time sealed a 1-0 win for visitors Blackpool at the Keepmoat Stadium.
After a scrappy but balanced opening 45 minutes, Rovers had most the second half's best chances. Niall Ennis had one cleared off the line and both Ben Whiteman and Jon Taylor forced good saves from Seasiders stopper Jan Alnwick. However, in the dying seconds Rovers were hit on the break and substitute Gnanduillet was there to head past Ian Lawlor.
Darren Moore made just one change to his side that drew with Ipswich Town just four days earlier with Kieran Sadlier coming in to replace James Coppinger. Simon Grayson made two changes to his side that were beaten 3-0 on the weekend with Ryan Hardie and Matty Virtue coming into the starting XI.
Blackpool forced the first half chance within seconds of kick-off - a big looping ball dropped awkwardly onto Ian Lawlor’s goal line, but Lawlor got a good fist to punch it away before being fouled by the oncoming striker
Rovers tried to play their way into the game — as they had done in all their previous matches — but Blackpool were quick to shut down and restricted Rovers to passing around the middle of the park.
Blackpool were not fairing much better with neat quick passing but not really going anywhere. Joe Nuttall’s effort which skewed well wide from 20 yards summed up the opening exchanges.
A few late challenges from the visitors let Rovers know they were in for a game, none more so that Matty Blair who — after being fouled twice in quick succession - was forced off the pitch to be replaced by Alfie May.
The change seemed to affect the visitors more than the home team and sparked a dominant passage of play for the men in red and white. Crosses from both Sadlier and Reece James went begging and May’s ball into the penalty spot would have been inviting but for the figure of Curtis Tilt who read it well and cleared easily.
Hardie proved a handful for the Rovers defence. A big ball over the top found the run of the striker who had expertly evaded the offside trap outpacing the Rovers centre backs — the visiting no.9’s first touch took him too wide to trouble Lawlor on that occasion. He did trouble Lawlor with his next effort.
After wriggling free of Tom Anderson, he fired from the edge of the box and Lawlor pulled off a great save at full stretch to deny him.
At the other end a trademark run from wide saw space open up for Sadlier - his left footed effort had Jak Alnwick in the Seasiders’ goal worried but ultimately went the wrong side of the post. Ben Whiteman then attempted to dink the keeper with a chip to the far post — it was over Alnwick but also over the crossbar.
A one-two between Jon Taylor and James down the left-hand side left three Blackpool players stranded — Taylor’s cross found Ennis but one too many touches for the Wolves loanee allowed to Virtue to make a block and divert the ball wide. Whiteman’s half-volley off the resulting corner was hit with some venom but was blocked en route.
As with the first half, the first half-chance of the second 45 went the visitor’s way within seconds of the start. Nuttall probably should have done better with his header.
Some good passing play around the box set Whiteman up for his best chance of the evening — his shot looked destined to nestle inside the post but for a superb save by Alnwick down to his right. The skipper went close again soon after, this time pulling his shot just wide. At the other end, Jordan Thompson fired wide from distance for Blackpool.
Rovers caused their own problems when Lawlor’s ball out of the back found the feet of Hardie leaving him one-on-one with the keeper. The Irishman redeemed himself making a great stop to deny the striker - who probably should have ensured his side took the lead. Anderson was there to tidy up the follow-up effort.
This sparked a chaotic five minutes for the home side - they were forced to block shots from Thompson and defend a dangerous cutback from Liam Feeney.
Arguably Rovers’ biggest chance of the night fell to Ennis with twenty minutes of the game remaining, Whiteman’s chipped forward pass was played perfectly into the path of the striker. His first touch was excellent, he rode a reckless challenge from Alnwick who had come flying off his line, and did well to dig a shot out with his right foot. Tilt was there to head off the line.
Ben Sheaf’s clever touch found May unmarked at the edge of the box, quick feet took him beyond his marker, but an extra touch gave the defenders chance to get back and deflect the wide. Taylor’s effort from distance then required a good stop from Alnwick down to his left, and a desperate block by the Blackpool defence was all that denied Ennis from close range.
With the home side pressing higher up the pitch, they were hit on the break in the dying seconds of injury time when Blackpool broke in numbers. Feeney’s cross was headed home by Gnauduillet from close range to seal Rovers first defeat of the season.
Learning to read clusters is not something your eyes do naturally. It takes constant practice.
Armand Gnanduillet's added-time header ended Blackpool's winless run and inflicted a first league defeat of the season on Doncaster Rovers.
The substitute bundled in Sully Kaikai's cross from close range to snatch the three points on a slog of an evening at the Keepmoat Stadium.
Blackpool, who had gone five games without a victory prior to the game, were superbly well-organised, denying Doncaster the space they craved.
The ball was closed down quickly each time Rovers carried the ball into opposition territory and it made for a frustrating evening with few chances for either side.
Blackpool's Ryan Hardie drew a fine save from Ian Lawlor from the edge of the box while, at the other end, Niall Ennis saw a shot deflected narrowly wide.
After the break, Ben Whiteman was denied by Jak Alwick with a good reaction save and Blackpool's Ryan Hardie failed to take advantage after intercepting Lawlor's pass out from the back.
Curtis Tilt denied Ennis on the line, paving the way for Gnanduillet's late heroics.
Learning to read clusters is not something your eyes do naturally. It takes constant practice.
Simon Grayson was pleased to see Blackpool bounce back with a solid performance last night, as the team recorded a late 1-0 victory at Doncaster Rovers.
A 93rd minute header from Armand Gnanduillet secured a valuable three points and ended a run of consecutive defeats in Sky Bet League One.
“We lost one a few weeks ago at Coventry in the last minute, so to win it is really pleasing for us. If we’d have lost three games on the trot, then it obviously puts a lot of pressure on the players and everybody with it,” the manager said.
“I thought we were far better than we have been recently away from home, and even at home on the weekend. The shape and the compactness of us didn’t really allow Doncaster too many free opportunities. I thought from the first whistle in the first-half we were pretty much in control.
“You know that they’re going to ask questions of you and when they did, we stood up to be counted and nicked the winner at the end.”
The winning goal once again came from that connection between Liam Feeney and Armand Gnanduillet, with the latter stepping off the bench to score his sixth of the season.
“We were under pressure in the last five or 10 minutes of the game, but the defenders did what they needed to do and Liam took us up the pitch and put a fantastic ball in. Armand made the run to get up there and it was great for everybody to see it hit the back of the net. It sent the supporters home happy and the players were delighted in the dressing room.”
Learning to read clusters is not something your eyes do naturally. It takes constant practice.
💭 "Armand made the run to get up there and it was great for everybody to see it hit the back of the net. It sent the supporters home happy and the players were delighted in the dressing room.”
"I said to Simon (Grayson), credit to your players because they stayed resolute, they put their bodies on the line and in the end they got their rewards for their defensive display"
Doncaster boss Darren Moore on his side's defeat to Blackpool last nighthttps://t.co/rlII5QZbD3
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