Blackpool 1-2 Portsmouth: Ronan Curtis double earns win for Pompey

By PA Sport

Blackpool 1-2 Portsmouth

Ronan Curtis scored twice as Portsmouth made it back-to-back wins to start the season with a 2-1 victory at Blackpool.

The Seasiders almost stunned the visitors inside the opening 20 seconds as Joe Dodoo swivelled on a low cross into the box and his shot cannoned back off the near post.

But it was Portsmouth who took the lead in the ninth minute. Oli Hawkins flicked a header on and Curtis wriggled away from the Blackpool defence before slotting the ball under goalkeeper Mark Howard.

Curtis carried the biggest first-half threat, seeing a goalbound shot blocked by Ben Heneghan on the half-hour mark before his 25-yard strike hit the inside of a post.

And he grabbed his and Portsmouth's second on the hour. It was a carbon copy of the first as Hawkins flicked on and Curtis broke clear to smash a shot through Howard's legs.

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The Seasiders sparked a potential comeback eight minutes from time as a long ball forward was lifted over goalkeeper Craig MacGillivray and in via a combination of Mark Cullen and defender Matt Clarke.

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Cullen had the ball in the net in added time, but an equaliser was ruled out for offside.

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