Off-colour Cobblers are swept aside by impressive Seasiders at Sixfields

The first 45 minutes at Sixfields was Town’s worst half of football in some time and the fact they reached half-time still in the game, trailing only to Ashley Fletcher’s well-taken header, was about the only positive for Nolan.

But the second half offered barely any improvement and Niall Ennis finished well to make the points safe and ensure Cobblers remain 19th in League One, six points above the drop zone with eight games to play.

Tyler Roberts, available again after missing last week’s draw with parent club Birmingham City, was straight back in as Akin Odimayo dropped out of the squad altogether, while Luke Mbete and Nesta Guinness-Walker both made the bench after recovering from injury.

Roberts’ return meant Sam Hoskins started at wing-back on his 413th appearance for the club, which took him outright third on the all-time list of Cobblers appearance makers, surpassing Peter Gleasure.

While the first 15 minutes were devoid of any goalmouth action, Blackpool showed early promise and looked lively in attack, particularly down the right side, and one scare saw Lee Burge save from Sonny Carey, although the offside flag was already up.

The first clear chance of the game fell to Carey again when he was well found inside the box and had time to pick his spot but dragged into the side-netting.

That was a mere warning though, one Cobblers did not heed, and on 20 minutes the visitors moved into the lead.

Rob Apter was too quick for Mitch Pinnock on the right and his cross was met by Fletcher who planted an excellent header well out of Burge’s reach.

Hoskins dragged wide from the edge of the box in Town’s first sight of goal but in truth they were struggling to sustain attacks and the visitors continued to look dangerous with their pace on the counter-attack.

Too much of Town’s possession fell to the back three and any time they went forward it was wayward and easily defended, with the front three of Dara Costelloe, Cameron McGeehan and Roberts barely featuring throughout the first half.

Roberts blazed well over with the last act of the opening period, and there was a let off for Cobblers straight after the restart when Burge headed against Ennis after coming out of his box and the ball ricocheted towards goal, with Aaron McGowan racing back to clear off the line.

Nolan had seen enough and turned to his bench, sending on Mbete and TJ Eyoma for McGowan and Tyler Magloire, and that was followed by the best moment of the game for Town when Ben Perry, Mbete, Costelloe and Roberts all combined for the latter to take aim, but it was straight at Harry Tyrer.

Blackpool were a constant threat, however, and would have doubled their lead if not for Eyoma’s goal-line clearance from Fletcher, although the visitors wouldn’t have to wait long for a second goal.

Just 90 seconds after Guinness-Walker replaced Pinnock, Max Dyche and Eyoma both failed to deal with a relatively simple long ball and that allowed Ennis to race through on goal and finish confidently off the post.

That further deflated an already flat Sixfields and any chance of a comeback now felt extremely remote, especially with Blackpool happy to slow things dow and manage the game.

McGeehan did curl a fine shot narrowly wide and Costelloe skewed one off target but the game had gone and Cobblers suffered their first defeat in five.

Match facts

Cobblers: Burge, Magloire (Eyoma 51), Dyche, McGowan © (Mbete 51), Hoskins, Pinnock (Guinness-Walker 60), Perry, Taylor, McGeehan, Roberts, Costelloe. Subs not used: Tzanev, Willis, Eyoma, Mbete, Hondermarck, Wilson

Blackpool: Tyrer, Baggott, Coulson (Husband 63), Casey, Evans ©, Morgan, Offiah, Carey (CJ Hamilton 69), Ennis (Gabriel 80), Apter (Bloxham 69), Fletcher (Onomah 80). Subs not used: O’Donnell, Beesley

Referee: Scott Jackson

Attendance: 6,714

Blackpool fans: 511