Shrewsbury 2-0 Blackpool: Akpa Akpro stars for Shrews

Jean-Louis Akpa Akpro struck twice in five second-half minutes as Shrewsbury collected their first points of the season at home with a 2-0 win against bottom club Blackpool.

It was just the boost Shrewsbury manager Micky Mellon was looking for after his side opened the season with four straight home defeats in Sky Bet League One.

Shrewsbury made much of the early running and Blackpool goalkeeper Colin Doyle had to be alert to make a sharp save low to his left to deny Tyrone Barnett's well-struck shot.

Barnett then powered a header from Mat Sadler's left-wing cross over the bar before Jordan Clark drove just off target from the edge of the box after a strong run.

Blackpool carried little threat going forward although home goalkeeper Mark Halstead, starting his first league game for the club, did well to cut out a dangerous cross from Mark Cullen which was intended for strike partner Kwame Thomas.

Doyle came to Blackpool's rescue again just after the restart, saving a Clark effort with his legs, but eventually Shrewsbury's pressure paid off with a 73rd-minute breakthrough.

Larnell Cole ran at the Blackpool defence and played in Akpa Akpro who drilled a low shot past the advancing Doyle.

Five minutes later and it was the same combination serving Shrewsbury so well with another fine pass from Cole expertly lifted over the keeper by a classy finish from Akpa Akpro.