Kyle Vassell marked his return with the decisive goal as Blackpool recorded a 1-0 victory at Peterborough United.



The striker, back from a four-match injury absence, found the net with his seventh of the season to end The Seasiders’ recent run of league defeats.

Leading from the front, Vassell summed up an industrious team performance at The ABAX Stadium that would no doubt have pleased manager Gary Bowyer.

Vassell was one of three changes to the side for the game, with Kelvin Mellor and Sean Longstaff joining him in the team. Captain Jimmy Ryan missed out due to injury.

The Seasiders made a strong start to the game and almost had the lead inside the first minute. A wonderfully floated corner was met by Will Aimson at the back post, however the defender’s looping header was cleared off the line.

That opportunity set the tone for the opening 15 minutes, as Blackpool dominated possession and offered plenty of variety and movement in the final third.

Despite that, the hosts almost went ahead against the run of play. Forward Jack Marriot latched on to a well-timed cut back, yet Ryan Allsop was alert to pull off the necessary save.

Blackpool took heed of the warning sign and made the breakthrough four minutes later. Sean Longstaff drove forward in space and slipped in Kyle Vassell to mark his comeback with a goal. The ex-Peterborough man’s strike took a deflection off a defender and looped into the back of the net.

Jack Marriott had two attempts to try and get Peterborough back on level terms, though both his strikes went wide of Allsop’s post.

The Blackpool ‘keeper was then called into action to tip over a strike from Michael Doughty just outside the area.

A fantastic counter attack just went without the finish at the other end, as Viv Solomon-Otabor was unable to direct Colin Daniel’s cross on target.

A bit of lovely link-up play between Sean Longstaff and Kyle Vassell almost resulted in the latter finding the net for a second time. Unfortunately the ball was just nicked away from him, though.

Allsop was called into action again to keep out Marriot just before the interval, while his opposite number did well to prevent Longstaff from scoring for Blackpool.

Half-Time: Peterborough United 0 Blackpool 1

The home side made a change for the second-half, with captain Jack Baldwin replaced by Gwion Edwards.

It was Blackpool who picked up where they left off however, as Solomon-Otabor burst into the box before being denied by O’Malley.

Two attacks down the right proved threatening for Peterborough and probably deserved better from an offensive point of view. A Leo Da Silva cross went without a connection, while a clipped ball to the back post from Marcus Maddison was headed over the bar by sub Edwards.

The home side continued to push forward in search of an equaliser, leaving Blackpool to set up for counter attacking opportunities.

Sean Longstaff had the chance to do just that when he sprinted forward from the half-way line but his 25-yard strike flew just wide.

Blackpool had to see out four minutes of added time to secure the three points, which they duly did after putting in a real shift.

Full-Time: Peterborough United 0 Blackpool 1