REPORT: Peterborough United 1, Blackpool 2: Late heartbreak for Posh, but the final scoreline was a just one

On the surface Posh look unfortunate as Blackpool’s winning goal arrived in the 89th minute, but if the hosts had escaped with a point it would have been a gross miscarriage of justice.

Frankie Kent’s headed goal six minutes from time on his 25th birthday did look like securing a point, but Madine was left all alone in the six yard box to slot home CJ Hamilton’s right wing cross five minutes later to seal the win for +the Seasiders.

Blackpool had taken the lead in the 19th minute through Jerry Yates and dominated most of the game against a Posh side who passed the ball dreadfully and failed to make visiting goalkeeeper Chris Maxwell make a single save in 96 minutes.

Jonson Clarke-Harris headed against the top of the bar in the 94th minute, but it was the visitors who created the clearer chances throughout.

Darren Ferguson’s reaction to an abysmal performance at Crewe last weekend was to make just one change - the inevitable return of Jack Taylor for Louis Reed in midfield - and to start with a four-man defence.

Initially the hangover was intact. Posh started painfully slowly again, should have fallen behind in the fifth minute and did concede in the 19th minute. Yates was the Blackpool player involved on both occasions, missing badly from eight yards and then scoring after a similar trick from a poorly defended corner.

Speedy winger Hamilton had tested Posh ‘keeper Christy Pym in between the goals, while Madine and Hamilton also shot just wide from 20 yards.

Posh did wake up eventually. They started to keep the ball better, but created no obvious chances before the break once a deflected strike at goal from Clarke-Harris, who was sporting a shaven head, had been sent into the sidenetting by Joe Ward.

Sammie Szmodics sent one difficult pass just out of the reach of Clarke-Harris and Siriki Dembele did the same when Szmodics was the target.

Taylor sent a 30-yard shot over the cross bar and Butler fizzed over a couple of quality crosses which were defended for corners.

But any thoughts of a spirited second-half recovery were soon dashed.

Blackpool were far sharper and pressed Posh into numerous errors in possession.

Sullay Kaikai should have hit the target after a wayward pass out from goalkeeper Christy Pym and the same player sent a tame shot straight at Pym from 12 yards after Madine’s lay-off.

Posh offered nothing in reply. They also lost their discipline with Butler lucky not see red for a wild challenge on the breaking Hamilton and Clarke-Harris picking up a yellow for barging an opponent over the sideline. Dembele was cautioned by impressive referee Ollie Yates for diving in the Blackpool area.

Remarkably, given what had gone before, Kent nodded home Butler’s corner to give Posh late hope of an unlikely draw.

Unfortunately five minutes later Clarke-Harris failed to control a ball on halfway, Hamilton broke and Madine supplied a simple finish.

There was still time for Clarke-Harris to head a left-wing cross against the top of the crossbar, but no-one in the Posh camp could surely complain the final outcome wasn’t just.

Posh: Christy Pym, Dan Butler, Mark Beevers, Frankie Kent, Niall Mason (sub Frazer Blake-Tracy 64 mins), Joe Ward (sub Ryan Broom, 51 mins), Jack Taylor, Reece Brown (sub Ethan Hamilton, 78 mins), Siriki Dembele, Sammie Szmodics (sub Mo Eisa, 63 mins), Jonson Clarke-Harris.

Unused subs: Dan Gyollai, Louis Reed, Idris Kanu.

Blackpool: Chris Maxwell, Ollie Turton, Marvin Ekpiteta, Daniel Gretarsson, James Husband, Kenny Dougall, Grant Ward (sub Ethan Robson, 71 mins), CJ Hamilton (sub Jordan Gabriel, 90m mins), Sullay Kaikai (sub Ben Woodburn, 71 mins), Gary Madine, Jerry Yates (sub Keshi Anderson, 71 mins).

Unused subs: Jack Sims, KDemi Mitchell, Dan Ballard.

Goals: Posh - Kent (84 mins).

Blackpool - Yates (19 mins), Madine (89 mins).

Cautions: Posh - Butler (foul), Clarke-Harris (foul), Dembele (simulation).

Blackpool - Husband (foul), Dougall (foul).

Referee: Ollie Yates 8.