DJ Campbell struck two second-half goals as Blackpool held out to earn a 2-0 win against Sunderland.
Campbell strikes twice to earn win at Stadium of Light
DJ Campbell struck two second-half goals as Blackpool held out to earn a 2-0 away win against misfiring Sunderland in the Premier League.
The Tangerines had not played since 11th December following a number of postponements due to the bad weather, but they continued to show the fantastic resolve which has been a hallmark of their top-flight campaign so far.
Steve Bruce's Black Cats missed a hatful of chances as Darren Bent, Danny Welbeck and Asamoah Gyan could not find a way past Richard Kingson in the Blackpool goal.
Campbell punished Sunderland for their profligacy at the other end and Blackpool took the lead in the 50th minute when he volleyed home a cross in from the right.
The away side then weathered a barrage of pressure and in the 90th minute Matt Phillips beat two men to cross for the striker who tapped in off the bar.
Blackpool arrived on Wearside having not kicked a ball in anger for more than two weeks and with the home fans wondering whether that would have left them rusty or rested.
Strengthened
Sunderland were significantly strengthened in the wake of a 2-0 Boxing Day defeat at Manchester United which was far more comprehensive than the scoreline suggested.
Skipper Lee Cattermole and in-form striker Welbeck returned from suspension and ineligibility respectively, while there was also a start for David Meyler following his latest return from injury.
Bruce had hoped the changes would give his team fresh legs and fresh impetus, and while the trio certainly did that, the Black Cats simply could not make the pressure tell.
They dominated the early stages of the game as the Seasiders came to terms with their belated return to action and created at least six good opportunities during the opening 45 minutes.
However, £23million strike-force Bent and Gyan, as well as Welbeck, who had gone into the game with five goals in his last six appearances, had left their shooting boots at home.
Bent shot across the face of goal after 11 and 32 minutes and Gyan, who had earlier driven the ball into the side-netting from a tight angle, wastefully scuffed wide from Ahmed Elmohamady's injury-time cross with the goal at his mercy.
Indeed, only midfielder Jordan Henderson, whose inviting cross Welbeck had earlier failed to convert, troubled Kingson unduly when he forced him into an ungainly 40th-minute save after Bent had set him up to side-foot firmly towards goal.
Blackpool, without inspirational captain Charlie Adam through suspension, found themselves on the back foot for lengthy periods, but gradually worked their way into the game and had chances of their own.
The best of them fell to striker Campbell, and if he should have done better with the first of them, he was unfortunate not to convert the second.
Substitute Phillips, on for the injured Elliot Grandin, left Welbeck and Phil Bardsley for dead down the left on the half-hour and crossed for Campbell, who made space for himself, but could not hit the target.
But he went much closer seven minutes before the break when he worked himself into a good position and fired a low 20-yard drive inches wide with keeper Craig Gordon scrambling anxiously across his line.
Flurry
Sunderland resumed with a flurry as Gyan headed across the face of goal and Welbeck shot straight at Kingson.
However, it was Blackpool who took the lead with 50 minutes gone after the home side went to sleep at a corner.
Neil Eardley was given time and space to collect David Vaughan's short pass and clip in a left-foot cross which Ian Evatt flicked on for Campbell to volley home from close range.
Phillips blasted a long-range effort just wide a minute later, sparking Sunderland back into life, although Gyan could not keep his 58th-minute shot down as he slid in to meet Henderson's driven cross at the near post.
Bruce replaced Meyler with Kieran Richardson seconds later, but Blackpool were growing in confidence as the game wore on and looked capable of adding to their tally.
Indeed, they might have done just that with 64 minutes gone when defender Craig Cathcart headed Ludovic Sylvestre's corner into the side-netting.
Sunderland mounted an onslaught as the clock ran down and Kingson had to pull off a series of saves, denying substitute Steed Malbranque 10 minutes from time and then getting Evatt out of jail after his slip allowed Bent in four minutes later.
Bent's afternoon was summed up when his 86th-minute free-kick came back off the bar, and Campbell completed a miserable afternoon for the home side when he added a second from the impressive Phillips' inch-perfect cross with just seconds to play.
| Sunderland |
Team Statistics |
Blackpool |
| 0 |
Goals |
2 |
| 0 |
1st Half Goals |
0 |
| 11 |
Shots on Target |
4 |
| 15 |
Shots off Target |
5 |
| 5 |
Blocked Shots |
0 |
| 9 |
Corners |
2 |
| 7 |
Fouls |
5 |
| 6 |
Offsides |
1 |
| 2 |
Yellow Cards |
0 |
| 0 |
Red Cards |
0 |
| 79.9 |
Passing Success |
76.4 |
| 19 |
Tackles |
26 |
| 63.2 |
Tackles Success |
65.4 |
| 54.3 |
Possession |
45.7 |
| 61.5 |
Territorial Advantage |
38.5 |
|
