Match ends, Blackpool 2, Sunderland 3.
BlackpoolBlackpool2SunderlandSunderland3
Aiden O'Brien scored a hat-trick as Sunderland beat Blackpool to reach the Carabao Cup third round.
Shayne Lavery sent the hosts ahead when he poked home inside the box after good work from Tyreece John-Jules.
Sunderland levelled moments later when O'Brien fired in low following a neat through ball from Dan Neil.
The visitors led when O'Brien's shot deflected in off Daniel Gretarsson before Josh Bowler's late equaliser, but O'Brien slotted in to win the tie.
It was the perfect start for the hosts as Lavery found the net with an impressive finish from a tight angle, however their lead did not last long.
The Black Cats carved open the Blackpool defence with a flowing move that saw O'Brien get behind two defenders and he unleashed a cool low shot that deservedly got them back on level terms.
However there was drama late on when Bowler found the net with three minutes of normal time to play after he played a neat one-two with John-Jules in the build up.
But the action did not finish there, as O'Brien cheekily slotted home from close range to send the League One side through.
Blackpool boss Neil Critchley told BBC Radio Lancashire:
"I thought it was a really good game of football. I'm honest enough that if we don't play well and we get beaten by the better team, I'll say.
"I think the best team lost tonight. I think we were the better team, created the better chance but we're not getting that luck at both ends of the pitch.
"I don't know how we conceded three goals because the goalkeeper has not had much to do."
Sunderland boss Lee Johnson said:
"I'm really delighted for Aiden O'Brien. I thought maybe he didn't get the credit he deserved last season. Charlie (Wyke) finished the chances but he often played better.
"He deserved more of the credit for Charlie's (25 league) goals. We gave him that internally, he's a really good player.
"Every win is important, it really is. We're trying to win the trust of the supporters all the time and that can be really powerful.
"It buys you the odd bad performance because they see that the lads are putting their all in and they see that we're trusting youth."
Line-ups
Blackpool
Formation 4-2-3-1
- 32Grimshaw
- 20Casey
- 26Keogh
- 23Grétarsson
- 29Garbutt
- 5James
- 25AntwiSubstituted forBowlerat 69'minutes
- 22HamiltonSubstituted forAndersonat 78'minutes
- 16Carey
- 28John-Jules
- 19LaverySubstituted forYatesat 78'minutes
Substitutes
- 3Husband
- 9Yates
- 10Anderson
- 11Bowler
- 13Moore
- 21Ekpiteta
- 38Holmes
Sunderland
Formation 4-2-3-1
- 20Patterson
- 2Huggins
- 5AlvesSubstituted forDoyleat 77'minutes
- 26Wright
- 17Cirkin
- 15Winchester
- 24Neil
- 23Diamond
- 21PritchardSubstituted forEmbletonat 73'minutes
- 10O'Brien
- 9BroadheadSubstituted forStewartat 74'minutes
Substitutes
- 6Doyle
- 8Embleton
- 11Gooch
- 14Stewart
- 18Taylor
- 27Hawkes
- 35Bond
- Referee:
- Peter Wright
- Attendance:
- 5,756
Match Stats
Home TeamBlackpoolAway TeamSunderland
- Possession
- Home48%
- Away52%
- Shots
- Home16
- Away7
- Shots on Target
- Home7
- Away5
- Corners
- Home5
- Away3
- Fouls
- Home9
- Away8
Live Text
Post update
Full Time
Second Half ends, Blackpool 2, Sunderland 3.
Post update
Offside, Blackpool. Sonny Carey tries a through ball, but Jerry Yates is caught offside.
Post update
Attempt saved. Richard Keogh (Blackpool) header from the centre of the box is saved in the bottom left corner. Assisted by Josh Bowler.
Post update
Foul by Dennis Cirkin (Sunderland).
Post update
Josh Bowler (Blackpool) wins a free kick on the right wing.
Post update
Foul by Ross Stewart (Sunderland).
Post update
Daníel Grétarsson (Blackpool) wins a free kick in the defensive half.
Goal!
Goal! Blackpool 2, Sunderland 3. Aiden O'Brien (Sunderland) right footed shot from the centre of the box to the centre of the goal. Assisted by Jack Diamond.
Post update
Foul by Bailey Wright (Sunderland).
Post update
Jerry Yates (Blackpool) wins a free kick on the left wing.
Post update
Attempt saved. Richard Keogh (Blackpool) header from the centre of the box is saved in the bottom right corner. Assisted by Luke Garbutt with a cross.
Post update
Corner, Blackpool. Conceded by Dennis Cirkin.
Goal!
Goal! Blackpool 2, Sunderland 2. Josh Bowler (Blackpool) left footed shot from the centre of the box to the bottom left corner. Assisted by Tyreece John-Jules.
Post update
Bailey Wright (Sunderland) wins a free kick in the defensive half.
Post update
Foul by Richard Keogh (Blackpool).
Post update
Corner, Blackpool. Conceded by Bailey Wright.
Post update
Attempt blocked. Jerry Yates (Blackpool) right footed shot from outside the box is blocked. Assisted by Josh Bowler.
Post update
Attempt saved. Jack Diamond (Sunderland) left footed shot from the right side of the box is saved in the bottom right corner.
Post update
Attempt missed. Richard Keogh (Blackpool) header from the centre of the box is close, but misses to the right. Assisted by Luke Garbutt with a cross following a corner.
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Comments
Join the conversation
Haway the lads
KatRyan won’t be happy - spitting nails and bike tonite
Great to see
Blackpool are so soft through the middle. It will prove fatal this season unless Critchley can fix it.