Blackpool 2-1 Charlton Athletic: Addicks slip to late defeat at Bloomfield Road

Charlton fell to a first defeat in five league games as Blackpool struck late at Bloomfield Road.

The home side had led through Armand Gnanduillet’s tap-in but were pegged back as the South Londoners improved after the break and Joe Aribo drew them level ten minutes into the second-half.

It was an end-to-end affair after that but Nathan Delfouneso struck the decisive blow for the Tangerines with just three minutes left to go to draw them onto level points with their visitors in the League One table.

The Addicks had the first opportunity of the contest as Lyle Taylor saw an effort tipped around the post by Mark Howard in the home goal, but it would be the hosts who soon wrestled control of the game.

Krystian Bielik and Joe Aribo had both already needed to desperately scramble loose balls away from inside the area but neither could do anything about the opening goal after 16 minutes.

Liam Feeney broke away down the Addicks left, before unleashing a low-ball in that Jed Steer could only palm into the path of Gnanduillet to poke home from six yards out.

The Seasiders continued to dominate and Steer did well to deny former Charlton-loanee Joe Dodoo from the edge of the area as Terry McPhillips’ side went in search of a second.

It took into the closing stages of the first-period for the Addicks to grow into the contest but they nearly stole an equaliser as George Lapslie was charged down from close-range, with Karlan Grant unable to make anything of the rebound.

It would have been 2-0 at the break but for a fine save from Steer as he clawed Curtis Tilt’s header out and kept his side in proceedings for the second-half.

The hosts once again gave the Addicks problems shortly after the interval, with Patrick Bauer required to block as Chris Taylor took aim from the edge of the area – but the visitors were level minutes later.

Grant, who had found space on the right-hand side of the area, drilled the ball into the six-yard box where Aribo nipped in ahead of Donervon Daniels to poke home in-front of the travelling supporters.

Blackpool had a big chance to edge back ahead as they broke three-on-two at the Charlton go, but a superb last-ditch challenge from George Lapslie snuffed out the danger.

Lee Bowyer introduced Mark Marshall from the bench with a quarter of the game to go and he was involved immediately as his low-cross ended in appeals for a penalty after possibly hitting an arm inside the Blackpool area.

Grant then came close to giving the Addicks a lead for the first-time in the contest. He cut-in from the left but his curler whipped inches past Howard’s far-post.

The game really opened up in the closing stages and Daniels saw a shot fizz just over the bar for the home side – but they would earn the three points with just three minutes left on the clock.

Fresh off the bench, Delfouneso got the wrong side of Jason Pearce and slipped the ball beyond Steer to seal a late victory for the Seasiders.