Blackpool 1-1 Rotherham United
- Published
Substitute Dom Telford scored an equaliser on his home debut to give bottom Championship club Blackpool a point at home to Rotherham.
Lee Clark's side needed a Joe Lewis penalty save from Tom Lawrence to keep them level at half-time.
They looked set for a 15th league defeat of the season when Emmanuel Ledesma scored in the 57th minute.
But 18-year-old Telford nudged in his first senior goal from close range with six minutes left.
But despite the draw, the Seasiders are nine points adrift of safety and look destined for the drop to League One.
Blackpool, who have managed two league wins all season, were outclassed in the opening 45 minutes, with keeper Lewis pushing an early free-kick around the post from Ledesma - on loan from Middlesbrough - then diving to deny Lawrence.
The keeper then palmed away a curling shot from Lee Frecklington before getting down low to his left to save a 17th-minute penalty from Leicester loanee Lawrence, who had been tripped in the box by Seasiders captain Tony McMahon.
Former Aston Villa striker Jordan Bowery hit the post for Rotherham towards the end of the first half, with Lewis parrying Richard Smallwood's follow-up.
Nathan Delfouneso had a goal ruled out for offside early in the second half for a much-improved Blackpool.
The home side hit the post themselves through Andrea Orlandi, who had waltzed past three defenders on a run in to the penalty area before shooting.
Ledesma picked up his first Rotherham goal shortly afterwards, twisting and turning on the edge of the Blackpool box before slotting the ball into the bottom corner.
But a long ball forward by Lewis caused mayhem in the Rotherham defence and Telford prodded in - leaving Steve Evans' side six points above the relegation zone.
Rotherham manager Steve Evans: "It's as low as I've been all season. One of my central defenders [Kari Arnason] didn't make a basic header as the ball's come straight down the pitch.
"Lee Clark said to me at the end that if it had been 6-0 at half-time, he couldn't have complained - and if it had been six, they'd have got away lightly. We totally dominated.
"If it had been 8-0 or 9-0, the Blackpool fans would not have complained. There are no positives from that game. We should've beaten them. We passed the ball on a horrible pitch that shouldn't be in the Championship."
Blackpool manager Lee Clark on goalkeeper Joe Lewis: "In the first half, Joe kept us in the game, no doubt about it. I've known Joe for a long time. When I was assistant manager at Norwich he was there and that's when we sold him to Peterborough for a big fee.
"There's nowhere to hide as a keeper. In the last two games, he's been terrific for us."
- Published20 June 2016
- Published7 June 2019