Blackpool 0-1 Swansea City: Late Olivier Ntcham goal earns Swans win

Blackpool's Jerry Yates reacts after his penalty miss costs him a first goal of the season

Swansea City claimed a first win of the season as Olivier Ntcham struck with a late breakaway goal at Blackpool.

Swansea had the better of a goalless first half, with Ben Cabango missing the best of their many chances.

Blackpool were awarded a penalty when Harry Darling fouled Kenny Dougall, but Andy Fisher saved from Jerry Yates.

Swansea's Michael Obafemi wasted a glorious chance as he blazed over from six yards but made amends by setting up Ntcham for an 87th-minute tap-in.

Despite Blackpool's penalty miss, Swansea created enough chances to win two games so, when substitute Ntcham finally converted one, the overriding emotion for the Welsh side would have been one of relief after a much-improved performance.

It has been a testing start to Russell Martin's second season in charge, with the Swans' head coach speaking of his anger after Tuesday's EFL Cup defeat at League One Oxford made it three matches without a win.

While Blackpool had an opening victory over Reading to show for their early-season efforts, they also lost to lower-league opposition in midweek as they were beaten by Barrow of League Two.

Back in Championship action on this occasion, the home side had the first chance as Swansea midfielder Jay Fulton gifted them possession before Josh Bowler jinked past the visitors' defenders only to see his shot saved by Fisher.

As ever, the Swans enjoyed long spells of possession but, unlike recent outings, they moved the ball quicker and attacked more directly at Bloomfield Road, fashioning half-openings for Obafemi and Matt Grimes, who threatened with long-range efforts.

The visitors started to take control of the game and squandered a fine opportunity when Cabango headed wide from a corner.

Grimes went close again early in the second half as his deflected shot was superbly kept out by Blackpool keeper Daniel Grimshaw.

The Seasiders were then handed a golden chance to take the lead when they were awarded a penalty after Dougall was tripped by Darling, but Fisher saved Yates' low spot-kick with his feet.

Perhaps the most inviting chance of all was wasted by Obafemi, who volleyed over from just six yards after being set up by Cabango's header across goal from a corner.

Swansea looked the likelier side to score a late winner but Blackpool kept probing as well, with Bowler's firm shot tipped over by Fisher.

Then with three minutes left, Obafemi wriggled free from Blackpool's last defender on the halfway line, surged towards the penalty area and squared the ball for Ntcham to fire in the decisive goal from close range.

Blackpool head coach Michael Appleton:

"It feels like not much more can go against us at this moment in time.

"Looking back, we probably showed them a little bit too much respect in the first half. We weren't brave enough and aggressive enough and I thought when we turned the ball over, we weren't clinical enough and were a little bit messy.

"I thought we were fantastic in the second half. I think we could have been two or three up, given the chances we created, so to come away with nothing and lose the match in the way we did was a killer blow."

Swansea head coach Russell Martin told BBC Radio Wales: "We were so good in the first half. There was some criticism last week about being slow, which was right, and I take responsibility for that.

"But today I loved our aggression, the intensity, how many times we put the ball in their box. We looked really threatening.

"We made the game a bit more messy in the final third, which I loved. They [Blackpool] looked uncomfortable defending against it.

"The penalty, he [Dougall] dives and Blackpool had a good spell but it was a great save from Fish [Fisher]. We got a bit flustered but our fans responded brilliantly and we were the team who looked most likely to score."