Carter goes head first but winning run is ended
BREWERS CALL SHOTS IN FIRST HALF BUT SEASIDERS HIT BACK FOR POINT
BURTON Albion’s winning run was halted as Blackpool fought back for a 1-1 draw at Bloomfield Road last night.
The Brewers were aiming to make it seven wins on the trot in this League One encounter and Hayden Carter’s 24th-minute header gave them a fully deserved lead as they dominated the first half.
However, the Seasiders hit back through Luke Garbutt in the 64th minute and Jimmy Floyd Hasselbaink’s Albion were left holding on for a point in the second half.
Hasselbaink made one change to the starting line-up that cruised past Crewe Alexandra 3-0 at the weekend, Danny Rowe coming into the midfield in place of Terry Taylor.
This game against the Seasiders finally went ahead after two previous postponements and the Brewers were in charge from the first minute, Rowe sending Kane Hemmings through to shoot only for the offside flag to go up as his effort clipped the post.
Lucas Akins had a shot blocked before Rowe’s evening came to a premature end as he appeared to grab his hamstring following a cross, Joe Powell replacing him in the 14th minute.
Blackpool then had their first attempt of the game, Carter blocking a dangerous drive from Demetri Mitchell.
Hemmings then saw his shot saved by keeper Chris Maxwell at the near post before one of Tom Hamer’s long throws was nodded on to Carter, who headed wide as the Brewers took control
In the 22nd minute, a delivery found Hemmings unchallenged in the Seasiders’ penalty area with his back to goal but his shot on the turn dropped tamely into Maxwell’s hands.
Jonny Smith then had a curling effort tipped wide as the Brewers continued to push forward.
Burton’s pressure finally told in the 24th minute, Powell’s ball from the left finding Carter at the far post to nod past Maxwell for his third goal of the season.
Hamer headed over from a corner shortly after the half hour but the home side were growing into the game as the interval approached.
They sparked a scramble in the Brewers’ penalty area in the 35th minute before Matty Virtue-Thick had an effort deflected over shortly before half-time.
Blackpool continued to improve after the break, Mitchell thumping an effort across goal in the 50th minute.
John Brayford headed narrowly wide from a corner at the other end before substitute Elliot Embleton
fired well off target for the Seasiders.
But the home side did find an equaliser in the 64th minute.
A poor clearance by Brayford bounced into the path of Garbutt, who fired low across Brewers keeper Ben Garratt into the far corner.
Two minutes later, Blackpool almost had a second, Embleton crossing for Sullay Kaikai, who struck a fierce drive narrowly wide.
Jerry Yates and Oliver Turton then both saw shots hit the side-netting before Kenny Dougall’s close-range effort from a corner was denied by the feet of Garratt.
Burton had been largely out of the game after the interval but with six minutes remaining a mistake by the Blackpool defence allowed Powell to charge towards goal, only to see his strike parried away by Maxwell.
But Blackpool went close to grabbing a late winner as Yates and Embleton both had efforts blocked.
The Brewers return to the Pirelli Stadium on Saturday when MK Dons visit.