Disappointing night at the DW for Latics.

Report | Latics 0 – 5 Blackpool
Goals from Marvin Ekpiteta, Jerry Yates, Matty Virtue and Ellis Simms (2) secure comprehensive win for the Seasiders
Latics suffer first defeat in 2021 and five game unbeaten run ended

LATICS 0

BLACKPOOL 5

Ekpiteta 40
Yates 42
Virtue 53
Simms 88, 90

It was a disappointing evening for Latics as they were defeated 5-0 by Blackpool at the DW Stadium.

Goals from Marvin Ekpiteta, Jerry Yates, Matty Virtue and Ellis Simms (2) secured a comprehensive win for the Seasiders in a game that was evenly matched up until the visitors’ two late first-half goals.

Latics welcomed back Will Keane after his period of self-isolation, with Dan Gardner dropping to the bench one change from Saturday's draw with Fleetwood Town.

Neither gained the initiative in a tight opening half hour, with Kyle Joseph going closest with a header that flew off target from a Tom Pearce cross.

At the other end, Latics were restricting the visitors and it looked as if the match would be heading into a half-time stalemate before Leam Richardson’s side were punished for lapses in concentration just before half-time.

First, Jamie Jones denied Gary Madine’s header after a Blackpool corner found the frontman, but Ekpiteta was on hand to fire home the rebound.

Soon after, a ball from deep was headed back across goal and Yates finished at close range to stun Latics at half-time.

After the restart, another Pearce cross found Joseph, though his accuracy let him down as he fired wide when well-placed on the right side of the area.

Latics were punished further soon after as a neat Blackpool move saw the ball cut back for Virtue to lash home from just inside the area.

To their credit, Latics continued to fight and a Pearce delivery from the right was crying out for a final touch to give Latics a lifeline before Callum Lang drove 30 yards with the ball and almost finished off a fine individual effort before being denied by Chris Maxwell.

Jamie Jones made a save to deny substitute Simms a fourth for Blackpool in the latter stages but the striker wasn’t to be denied deep into the 90 as he headed in at close range when Latics’ goalkeeper came to claim a ball into the area.

Simms then added a fifth in stoppage time, heading home simply from a Blackpool corner.

A frustrating night for Latics, who suffered their first defeat of 2021, whilst also seeing their five-game winless run ended.

Latics: Jones (Capt), Darikwa, Johnston, Whelan, Pearce; Merrie, Perry; Keane, Lang, Clough; Joseph.
Subs: Evans, Obi, Crankshaw, Robinson, Aasgaard, Gardner.

Blackpool: Maxwell (Capt), Gabriel, Husband, Thorniley, Williams, Robson, Yates, Madine, Virtue, Ekpiteta, Lubala.
Subs: Fojtíček, Sarkic, Kaikai, Simms, Apter, Mariette, Stewart.

Report | Latics 0 – 5 Blackpool