A SLAM DUNK BY CHEY ENDS THE SEASIDERS’ HOME STREAK
IT WAS quite the afternoon for Wigan defender Chey Dunkley, moving swiftly from the villain who gifted Blackpool the lead to the double-scoring hero who dragged his side to all three points.
His eighth-minute error, that resulted in Kyle Vassell prodding in the opener was rectified with goals either side of half-time.
David Perkins then popped up with his first goal for Wigan to clinch the victory that ends Blackpool’s ten-match unbeaten league run at home stretching back to last season.
Wigan, meanwhile are now unbeaten in six league games, winning five of those, and assistant manager Leam Richardson was delighted with their response to going behind.
“Certainly with the first half and the weather, plus going a goal down, to then come back and ultimately win 3-1, it’s been a good day,” Richardson said.
“We need to stop going behind, that’s a bad habit. It’s disappointing to go behind so early. We are a team who like to build from a solid base, but fair play to the lads they galvanised each other and came through to win.
“It’s brilliant for Chey Dunkley. He’s taken the ball home saying that he’s scored a hat-trick even though one may have been at the wrong end!
“It’s great for a young player to respond so I’m pleased for him.
“Credit to all 22 players. There was endeavour and some good football and they were all giving it everything even though the conditions weren’t good.”
For his part, Seasiders boss Gary Bowyer was left frustrated with the goals they conceded but insists Wigan are title favourites.
“They’ve not had to work hard for their goals and that’s the disappointing emotion we’re feeling at the moment,” Bowyer said.
“It was a tough afternoon, we came up against a very good team but there’s a massive disappointment from us in terms of the goals that we’ve given them.
“The manner of all three goals
wasn’t like us. Football teaches you lessons and hopefully some of our lads have learned a sharp lesson.
“We knew it would be a tough afternoon so to go ahead was good. They are a good team and anyone that finishes above them will win the league in my opinion.
“The good thing about us is when we’ve had a setback we’ve always bounced back. I won’t tolerate anyone not keeping their chin up and fortunately we saw that they didn’t do that.”
Blackpool were gifted an eighthminute lead after a defensive mix-up as Dunkley tried to head the ball back to his keeper but put it over the advancing Jamie Jones and Vassell prodded in on the line.
Storm Brian was battering Bloomfield Road with the swirling wind and driving rain making life difficult for both sets of players in the first half.
Nick Powell almost hit back for Wigan after 16 minutes but fired straight at Ryan Allsop from the edge of the area.
But Wigan were level in first-half stoppage time, as Dunkley made amends by bundling the ball in from close range after Jay Spearing had made a goal-line block.
And Paul Cook’s side had the lead on 54 minutes, with Gavin Massey’s shot breaking to Dunkley again and the defender poked in from six yards.
Blackpool pushed for an equaliser with substitute Sean Longstaff coming closest with a deflected effort just over the bar after 71 minutes.
Massey had the chance to widen the margin on 78 minutes, but his low strike clipped the outside of the post.
But the Latics sealed victory ten minutes from time as Perkins calmly slotted in left-footed off the post from 12 yards against his former side.