Blackpool Surge into Carabao Cup Second Round with Second-Half Blitz

Blackpool secured their place in the Carabao Cup second round with a commanding 4-0 victory over 10-man Burton Albion at the Pirelli Stadium. The Seasiders’ decisive second-half performance was the key to overcoming a stubborn Burton side who played nearly the entire match with a numerical disadvantage.

The game took an early turn when Burton's Ryan Sweeney was shown a red card for a last-ditch handball on the line, denying Ashley Fletcher a certain goal. Despite the advantage, Fletcher’s penalty kick was thwarted by Burton goalkeeper Max Crocombe, who made a crucial save to keep his team in the game.

Blackpool’s frustration continued into the second half as Fletcher missed another opportunity, failing to convert a free-kick from Ollie Norburn. Rob Apter also spurned a good chance, misfiring from a promising position as the Seasiders struggled to break down the ten-man defense.

The breakthrough came through substitute Ryan Finnigan, who made an immediate impact by finishing off Zac Ashworth’s low cross with a confident strike into the corner of the net. The goal was a significant relief for Blackpool, who had been pressing without reward.

With the match approaching the final 15 minutes, Blackpool capitalized on their numerical advantage. Matthew Pennington doubled the lead in the 76th minute, poking home from close range after a scramble in the box following a corner. Pennington was again in the right place five minutes later, this time heading in from Apter’s corner to make it 3-0.

The scoring was rounded off in the 90th minute by Lee Evans, who drove a well-placed shot into the net, completing Blackpool’s comprehensive win.

Burton’s resistance was broken as Blackpool made full use of their extra man in the latter stages, ensuring a comfortable passage into the next round of the Carabao Cup. For Burton, the red card and missed penalty proved costly, leaving them to reflect on a game that promised more before their early setback.