Blackpool 1-0 Swansea City: Early Gary Madine goal gives Seasiders win over Swans

Gary Madine (centre) watches his header sail into the net, taking his tally for the season to eight

Blackpool's impressive home form continued as a 1-0 victory over Swansea City boosted their slim Championship play-off hopes.

Gary Madine's early header proved decisive as Blackpool held on for a third successive win.

The Seasiders climb to 12th, six points short of sixth-placed Luton Town, with 10 league games to play.

Swansea, who have been dogged by inconsistency all season, stay 16th after a second straight defeat.

Russell Martin's team dominated possession for long periods at Bloomfield Road but rarely looked like finding an equaliser.

In fact Blackpool ought to have won by a wider margin, with Josh Bowler going close, but a second successive clean sheet ensured they claimed all three points.

A finish somewhere in mid-table looks the most likely outcome for both these teams this season, although Blackpool's recent form has raised hopes of a late push for the top six.

Chasing a fifth win in six home matches, Neil Critchley's team began in confident mood against opponents who were beaten heavily by Fulham in midweek.

Swansea conceded five second-half goals against the league leaders - albeit when down to 10 men - and they quickly had that sinking feeling again as Blackpool struck through the first chance of the game.

Charlie Kirk's deep corner reached Madine - who was all alone beyond the far post thanks to Marvin Ekpiteta's block on Cyrus Christie - and the one-time Cardiff City forward placed a header inside the opposite upright to put Blackpool ahead.

Swansea, as so often, then took charge of possession, but lacked the cutting edge to cause Critchley's defence any major concerns.

It was Blackpool who threatened again as the half wore on, with Kirk's low shot drawing a decent save from Andy Fisher before another Madine header was pushed over by Swansea's goalkeeper.

The hosts wasted a glorious chance to double their advantage just before the break as in-form winger Bowler strolled into a gap at heart of Swansea's back four only to skew his shot wide with the goal at his mercy.

Bowler threatened again after the restart, cutting in sharply from the right only to miss the target once more.

The pattern of the first half continued, with Swansea bossing the ball but toiling in the final third.

Swansea's Jamie Paterson hooks the ball away from Blackpool's Dujon Sterling

Christie saw their first shot of any note blocked, before Matt Grimes flashed the rebound wide from outside the area.

Swansea's best chance came late on when Jamie Paterson's cross found Christie, but his header was tipped to safety by Dan Grimshaw.

Bowler then wasted another opportunity at the other end, but his misses did not matter as Blackpool held on with relative comfort.

Blackpool head coach Neil Critchley:

"You know you are going to have to do certain things playing against Swansea. They are the best possession team in the Championship and they cause you a lot of problems.

"But in terms of chances created, the best chances fell to us. We scored early from a set-piece, which we felt was an area we could exploit.

"Josh has had a big chance before half-time, Kirky has had a chance, and [we had] a couple after half-time. Other than one save [from Grimshaw], we have been quite comfortable really.

"We always carried a threat on the counter-attack. They can make you suffer without the ball but our players are good at suffering."

Swansea head coach Russell Martin:

"We have let ourselves conceding a really poor early goal from someone we spoke about. We worked on avoiding a block and we have been blocked in the box, so it's unacceptable, the goal, really.

"But we were so dominant. The performance was really good. We had a couple of scary moments against a team who are very direct and have very good runners off Madine.

"I am proud of what the players have given us - I think the fans will know they have given everything.

"We didn't create enough. We had one massive chance with Cyrus, but when you are playing against a team built on defensive structure, it becomes difficult and because we have given them a one-goal start, it changes their mentality.

"We have a lot of young men playing. We just need to keep learning and growing. I would love to see us in a year's time, especially when we come back here."