Blackpool completed their fairytale ending with promotion to the Premier League after a 3-2 victory over Cardiff in the play-off final.
Seasiders secure top-flight spot with sizzling Wembley victory
Blackpool completed their fairytale ending by sealing promotion to the Premier League with a scorching 3-2 victory over Cardiff in the Championship play-off final at Wembley.
The Seasiders unleashed a blistering first-half display on what was the hottest day of the year so far to edge out the Bluebirds 3-2 and book their spot in the top flight, worth an estimated £90million, for the first time since 1971.
The blazing heat did nothing to stop a downpour of five goals in a nail-biting opening half, with Pool twice coming from behind before surging ahead on the stroke of half-time.
And Ian Holloway's men, thought of as favourites for relegation by many ahead of this campaign, were still dangerous in the tight second half, refusing to relinquish their advantage despite a strong and at times unlucky showing from their opponents.
Charlie Adam got Pool on the scoreboard with a sizzling free-kick in the 13th minute in response to Michael Chopra's opening strike four minutes earlier.
Cardiff then went back ahead towards the end of the first half as Joe Ledley produced a superb run to slot the ball past Matt Gilks, but Pool were swift to reply once again as Gary Taylor-Fletcher headed in the equaliser from close range three minutes later.
A scrappy effort through the legs of Cardiff keeper David Marshall from Brett Ormerod in the first minute of added time wrapped up the scoring for Blackpool, who doggedly defended that lead through a goalless second half to seal their happy ending.
Blackpool - whose average home crowd of 8,611 was the second-lowest in the Championship this season - will be the smallest club in the top flight since the formation of the Premier League.
They will rub shoulders with the likes of north-west neighbours Liverpool and Manchester United next season and will probably be tipped by most pundits to finish bottom.
Energy
Yet there is an energy about Blackpool that has been evident since Holloway, 47, arrived last summer and breathed life into the club.
When the charismatic Bristolian was appointed, Blackpool were tipped to drop into League One after struggling badly during the previous campaign but they deserved their victory after defending like demons in the second half.
Cardiff fashioned the first goalscoring opportunity inside the fourth minute. A fine left-wing cross from Peter Whittingham was fired on to the angle of post and bar by Chopra, though the respite for the Seasiders was to prove short-lived.
In the ninth minute, Whittingham collected possession midway inside the Blackpool half before finding Chopra with an excellent slide-rule pass that allowed the former Newcastle striker to beat the offside trap.
Chopra struck a fierce first-time right-foot shot into the bottom left corner to give Blackpool keeper Gilks no chance whatsoever.
Yet Holloway has fashioned a side with guts and his men drew level within four minutes of falling behind.
Cardiff midfielder Stephen McPhail clumsily handled the ball 25 yards from goal and Adam stepped up to curl a delightful free-kick past Marshall and into the top right corner.
The Bluebirds were dealt another heavy blow two minutes later when striker Jay Bothroyd succumbed to injury and was replaced by Kelvin Etuhu.
However, Cardiff were back in front seven minutes before the break and Whittingham was again the architect of the goal.
Outstanding
He showed outstanding vision to spot Ledley making tracks behind the Blackpool defence and another perfect pass was clipped home left-footed from a tight angle by the Wales international.
Remarkably, Blackpool were level again three minutes later after Taylor-Fletcher volleyed against the outside of a post from 18 yards.
Cardiff cleared the ball for a corner and after defender Ian Evatt saw his shot cleared off the line by a Bluebirds defender, Taylor-Fletcher headed home from just two yards out.
And they forged ahead for the first time in the first minute of added time when DJ Campbell caused havoc inside the Cardiff penalty area and Ormerod rifled home the loose ball from eight yards.
Cardiff defender Darcy Blake had an effort ruled out for offside on the stroke of half-time and the Bluebirds' luck was out again in the 57th minute when Chopra's 20-yard strike hit the crossbar.
Cardiff brought on Ross McCormack for the ineffectual Chris Burke moments later and Ledley then headed a corner from Whittingham wide at the far post.
The Bluebirds continued to probe and Etuhu burst clear in the 64th minute only to fire straight at Gilks.
With 14 minutes remaining, Chopra headed just wide and McCormack fired into the side netting moments later as Blackpool held on for a famous and profitable victory.
| Blackpool |
Team Statistics |
Cardiff City |
| 3 |
Goals |
2 |
| 3 |
1st Half Goals |
2 |
| 6 |
Shots on Target |
6 |
| 5 |
Shots off Target |
7 |
| 3 |
Blocked Shots |
0 |
| 5 |
Corners |
6 |
| 13 |
Fouls |
7 |
| 2 |
Offsides |
3 |
| 0 |
Yellow Cards |
0 |
| 0 |
Red Cards |
0 |
| 74.5 |
Passing Success |
67.9 |
| 21 |
Tackles |
21 |
| 81 |
Tackles Success |
81 |
| 56.1 |
Possession |
43.9 |
| 48.5 |
Territorial Advantage |
51.5 |
|
