Real Gnand stand finish DOUBLE STRIKE FIRES TANGERINES’ DREAM
TWO- GOAL Armand Gnanduillet turned back the clock, in more ways than one, as Blackpool moved into the League One play-off spots.
On a day when Blackpool fans remembered Cyril Robinson, a hero of their 1953 “Stanley Matthews” FA Cup- winning team who died l ast week, the Tangerines look to be heading back to happier times.
And for their French striker, there was a scoring reunion with Wimbledon, the team against who he scored his first goal in English f ootball f or Chesterfield six years ago.
His first was a sweet finish, too, as Nathan Delfouneso won the ball in midfield and slipped through a perfectlyweighted pass which Gnanduillet buried off the inside of the post with a superb curling blast.
And Gnanduillet’s second, nine minutes from time, was a lot more routine, after a slip by Dons defender Terell Thomas allowed Liam Feeney to whip over a farpost cross that the striker converted for his 12th goal of the season.
Boss Simon Grayson said: “Armand was a real handful, and I’m not just talking about his goals. The last few weeks he’s been very good, very difficult to play against.
“We ’ve worked with him in training and another two goals shows the work he’s been doing on the training pitch.”
The hosts were unlucky not to take an eighthminute l ead after a 25-yarder from Sullay Kaikai thundered against the bar.
Delfouneso hurried the follow-up over the bar but Blackpool looked on course for a fourth straight home win since the start of the month.
Matty Virtue might have clinched that but steered a tame near-post shot straight at goalkeeper Nathan Trott.
Yet Wimbledon,
BLACKPOOL AFC WIMBLEDON 5 .........Shots on Target......... 3 6 ........Shots off Target......... 2 2 ................ Corners ................ 2 9 ...................Fouls .................. 12 6 ................Offsides ................. 1 73.4...Passing Success % .......61 376 ........Total Passes ....... 346 51.7...... Possession %..... 48.3 51.1 ....Territorial Adv % . 48.9 looking for their first win since caretaker Glyn Hodges was appointed permanently last month, had other ideas.
Max Sanders threatened the home goal for the first time 10 minutes before the break, from a wide free-kick Jak Alnwick punched clear.
And then the Pool keeper held Thomas’ long shot at the second attempt, smothering it before Marcus Forss reached the rebound.
Dons boss Hodges said: “I’m disappointed and a little bit angry. We caused our own downfall.”