Skip to content
Full Time After Extra Time This is a live match. Extra Time Half Time

Blackpool vs Leicester City. Sky Bet Championship.

Bloomfield RoadAttendance8,484.

Blackpool 1

  • S Dobbie (89th minute)

Leicester City 2

  • D N'Guessan (15th minute)
  • L Dyer (78th minute)

Foxes remain in play-off hunt

Image: Pearson: Important win

Leicester boosted their play-off credentials at the expense of promotion rivals Blackpool with a 2-1 win.

N'Guessan and Dyer score the goals for Pearson's men

Leicester boosted their Championship play-off credentials at the expense of promotion rivals Blackpool with a 2-1 win at Bloomfield Road. Dany N'Guessan and Lloyd Dyer scored the goals for Nigel Pearson's Foxes, while Stephen Dobbie could only score a late consolation for the home side. Ian Holloway's men had lost 3-2 at home to West Brom in midweek and the Blackpool boss was desperately seeking a response against the club that showed him the door in May 2008. Holloway took charge at Leicester in November 2007 but managed just nine wins in 32 games and was unable to prevent relegation to League One. Holloway sprang a surprise with his team selection, making five changes, which included replacing goalkeeper Paul Rachubka with Matt Gilks. Neal Eardley, Gary Taylor-Fletcher, Alex Baptiste and Dobbie were also handed recalls to the starting line-up. Leicester made one change to the team that started against Newcastle last weekend as N'Guessan came in for the suspended Richie Wellens.

Threat

The Foxes threatened first when Matty Fryatt saw his right-footed shot blocked by Matthew Gilks and moments later striker Paul Gallagher hit a shot just wide. Blackpool fashioned their first clear-cut opening in the ninth minute when Dobbie hit a right-footed shot from 12 yards which forced a smart stop from Chris Weale. After a lively opening, Leicester drew first blood in the 15th minute when N'Guessan collected Martyn Waghorn's pass and rifled the ball into the net with a crisp low finish. Blackpool had chances to draw level but midfielder David Vaughan and on-loan Aston Villa youngster Barry Bannan both fired wide. Dobbie also had a shot blocked as a physically-imposing Leicester side stood firm against everything Blackpool threw at them. And the Foxes could have doubled their advantage in the 34th minute when Andy King engineered the space to hit a shot from 25 yards that Gilks did well to tip around a post. Blackpool fashioned another decent opening in the 38th minute when Bannan flighted in a teasing cross and Keith Southern headed wide from 12 yards.
Injury
Six minutes before the break, Vaughan's inswinging corner was headed over the bar by Ian Evatt. Blackpool lost Bannan to injury in the 44th minute and he was replaced by Ben Burgess. Leicester then saw Waghorn depart to injury shortly before the hour mark and moments later the Seasiders went desperately close to an equaliser. Southern came from nowhere to power a header goalwards but Leicester goalkeeper Chris Weale did superbly to tip the ball around the post. Weale produced another fine stop to deny Keith Southern from distance but, having weathered the storm, Leicester hit back to seal the win. They claimed their second in the 78th minute when Fryatt's right-wing delivery was met by Dyer and he fired into the top corner with a left-footed shot from six yards. Dobbie ensured a tense finish when he blasted home a shot from 20 yards in the 89th minute but Blackpool could not find an equaliser.

Around Sky