Blackpool 0-1 Stoke City: Josh Bowler nets birthday winner

Birthday boy Josh Bowler snatched a late winner with his third goal in as many games to earn Blackpool victory at Stoke.

It was a rare moment of magic in a dour game, with Josh Maja hitting the post for Stoke in the first half.

But the Potters, who have now failed to win in their past five Championship games, were unable to find a way through.

Blackpool had the better opportunities in the first half, with Gary Madine going close on several occasions and also setting up Bowler for a chance that was kept out by Bonham.

Nick Powell scuffed a shot wide for the Potters, while Maja almost opened the scoring just before the break when his attempt rebounded off the post.

That was as close as Stoke came to beating Dan Grimshaw, with Mario Vrancic trying his luck from distance and substitute Tyrese Campbell putting his effort wide of the target.

But Bowler belatedly broke the deadlock late on when Yates latched onto Madine’s flick and released the midfielder to score – sealing the Tangerines’ first away league win in nine attempts.

Both sides’ league positions remain unchanged, with Blackpool in 14th and Stoke one place behind them.

Stoke manager Michael O’Neill told BBC Radio Stoke:

“Despite what we perceive as a lot of good performances, it hasn’t translated into points and results.

“So naturally I feel the pressure but I’ve been in this position before. I managed a very difficult situation with Northern Ireland and turned that around.

“I still believe I’ll make this club better and I’ll go about my job and try to do that as best I can.”

Blackpool head coach Neil Critchley told BBC Radio Lancashire:

“I think over the course of the 90 minutes, we were the team that deserved to win the game. We were really comfortable.

“First half we were on the front foot, with our organisation and pressing and then some of the moves we put together – the only thing that was missing was a goal.

“We had some good opportunities to score and we didn’t take them. The longer it’s 0-0 and you think you should be winning the game, you don’t want to have that feeling of ‘what if?’

“Thankfully we’ve not got it. The second half was more even, but we always carried a threat and we won it with a terrific goal late on.”