Rotherham United 0-3 Blackpool: Millers’ run ended by struggling Seasiders

Rotherham United suffered their first league defeat since September as Blackpool pulled off a surprise 3-0 victory in South Yorkshire.

The Millers had gone nine games unbeaten in League One, but struggling Blackpool picked up the points to help them move to within a point of Exeter in 20th.

Danny Imray, Tom Bloxham and Ashley Fletcher struck for the Tangerines and Pools boss Ian Evatt said: “I am so proud of the players. They have executed the game plan brilliantly.

“We have shown a different side to us. My teams are associated with possession, but we’ve shown that we are okay without the ball as well.

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Proud

“We can transition, we can counter-attack, we can press at the right times and we can defend the box.

“You have to do that in this league and this is a place that is always challenging, but I am so proud of the players. They have put in so much.

“They are learning every day and taking on board exactly what we want. The first goal, in particular, is something we work on. The detail of it is coached.

“I am very grateful to have this role and opportunity and the players are giving me everything. We spoke about where we are in the league not defining us.

“What will define us is if we can perform under pressure and the players have shown exactly what they can do.”

Match action

Blackpool raced into the lead in only the second minute when Danny Imray was slipped in by Josh Bowler and finished low beyond Cameron Dawson.

They went two up after 18 minutes when Kian Spence’s wayward pass was seized upon by Tom Bloxham, who then got on the end of Ashley Fletcher’s cross to prod home.

Rotherham tried to get their way back into the game before and after the break but the woodwork twice saved Blackpool.

Hamish Douglas saw his powerful effort cannon back off a post and Marvin Kaleta’s strike from the edge of the box also dinked off the upright.

Fletcher put the result beyond doubt when he turned in from CJ Hamilton’s pass in the 85th minute.

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