Blackpool boss Steve Bruce hailed his players after they gave their play-off hopes a major boost with a convincing 3-0 win over Reading in Sky Bet League One.
In-form Sonny Carey took his recent scoring streak to six goals in as many games with a brace, either side of Olly Casey’s effort, at Bloomfield Road.
Bruce’s Seasiders are three points off the coveted top six and are building a head of steam at just the right time after three straight wins.
And Bruce, who has earned promotions with Birmingham and Hull, said: “It gives us a chance, doesn’t it?
“I believe in our history and this club has a history of coming from afar when it matters and we’ve made up big ground in the last four or five weeks and have given ourselves a chance with six games to go. It’s all to play for.
“We’ll go to Rotherham. They had a good result as well. It’s never easy going there. We’ll go there and see what we can do.
“Fair play to the players. I contemplated freshening it up after the intensity of the derby on Saturday.
“The energy, the commitment and desire to get the result…I’m absolutely delighted for them.
“Second half we could have scored five or six. I’m absolutely delighted with what we’ve done in the past week.
“Since Christmas we’ve looked a threat at the top end of the pitch. You wouldn’t like to play us.
“We’ve got pace in wide areas. We’re a physical threat. I’m really pleased.
“Considering Sonny’s missed two or three months of the season it’s a great effort to get to double figures.
“He’s playing amazing at the minute. I’m delighted with him and he’s getting his rewards.”
Reading saw their play-off hopes dented and are sat a point behind Bolton Wanderers after being turned over by the Seasiders.
After seeing his side’s 11-game unbeaten run ended with a whimper, Noel Hunt said: “It was three minutes of madness and a couple of mistakes.
“At this level if you dwell on the ball you get punished.
“It is a learning curve for us. We came off a great run, 11 games unbeaten, and now we have to bounce back and show our character.
“We lost a bit of structure for a minute or two, they take a quick free-kick and you’re chasing the game then.
“I thought we controlled the first half. But when you concede two goals like we did you’re always chasing.
“They have Lee Evans, who won the league with me at Wigan and he’s won the league since that twice.
“They have boys in there with great experience and knowhow. Their front two are dangerous and a handful and showed that tonight.”
Luton boss Matt Bloomfield was lost for words after his side enjoyed a 90th-minute 1-0 victory against Coventry that kept their hopes of staying in the Championship alive.It looked like the Hatters were going to be held to a frustrating stalemate, as they had initially been playing against 10 men when Jay Dasilva was sent off on 12 minutes.Town midfielder Liam Walsh was also shown red midway throu...
Noel Hunt is excited for Reading’s last game of the Sky Bet League One season with the Royals remaining in the mix for a play-off place.Hunt’s team have lost only once in their last eight games on the road and they weathered a storm at the Memorial Stadium to eventually see off Bristol Rovers 2-0 and stay in the chase for the top six.Reading will try to leapfrog Leyton Orient in the ta...
Burnley boss Scott Parker never doubted his players would maintain their intensity despite promotion having already been achieved.The Clarets emphatically boosted their Sky Bet Championship title hopes by hammering QPR 5-0 in their penultimate match of the season.It moved them to the top of the table, three points ahead of Leeds, although the Yorkshire side, who are at home to Bristol City on Mond...
Darren Moore could not hide his pride at steering Port Vale back into League One following a 2-0 win over AFC Wimbledon.Two second-half goals from Jayden Stockley and Jaheim Headley sealed an immediate return to the third tier for the Vale Park outfit.As players and fans alike celebrated in the away end, Moore reflected on the achievement – and admitted his focus in this match was on gaining...
Richie Wellens felt the overall display from his Leyton Orient team was excellent in their 1-0 victory over Wycombe.Orient took another step towards the play-offs after Randell Williams’ second-half header proved the difference at Brisbane Road.It was Orient’s fifth successive win and they now travel to Huddersfield next Saturday knowing that, with their superior goal difference, they ...
Notts County all-but guaranteed their place in the League Two play-offs courtesy of a 3-1 victory at Harrogate.The Magpies ended their four-match winless run thanks to Conor Grant’s second-half brace, leaving them fifth in the table and six points clear of eighth-placed Colchester.County took the lead in the 33rd minute when George Abbott fired home after David McGoldrick’s initial eff...
Luton climbed out of the Championship bottom three for the first time since January thanks to Shandon Baptiste’s 90th-minute goal as they beat play-off chasing Coventry 1-0.The Hatters looked like they would go to West Brom next weekend with their destiny definitely out of their own hands, only for Baptiste, who had been on the field for just 11 minutes, to find the net and lift the roof off...
Leyton Orient remain on course for the Sky Bet League One play-offs after a 1-0 win which dented Wycombe’s hopes of automatic promotion.Randell Williams scored the only goal of the game and Orient’s victory, their fifth in succession, leaves them ahead of seventh-placed Reading on goal difference.Defeat for the Chairboys, though, has handed the initiative to Wrexham, who could seal the...
Doncaster clinched promotion to League One after goals from Rob Street and Billy Sharp secured a 2-1 win over 10-man Yorkshire rivals Bradford.In an incident-packed encounter in front of over 12,500 fans – the Eco-Power Stadium’s biggest crowd of the season – Doncaster hit the post through Jordan Gibson before on-loan Lincoln striker Street gave Rovers a 33rd-minute lead with his...
Reading’s hunt for a Sky Bet League One play-off spot will go to the final day of the season after the Royals beat Bristol Rovers 2-0 at the Memorial Stadium.Lewis Wing’s eighth league goal of the season after 67 minutes and Chem Campbell’s added-time effort leaves the Pirates staring at relegation after Noel Hunt’s side had to survive a first-half onslaught from the hosts....
- 1 Transfer news & rumours LIVE
- 2 Cole Palmer’s girlfriend Connie Grace dazzles in low-cut top and mini skirt
- 3 Man Utd & Man City join PSG in race for Akliouche
- 4 We always have a chance – Miron Muslic bullish as Plymouth boost survival hopes
- 5 Tottenham to compete with Man City for defender
- 6 Ten-man Falkirk beaten by Raith as late goals keep title race alive
- 7 Big Brother legend Chanelle Hayes flaunts weight loss in red bikini
- 8 Transfer news & rumours LIVE
- 9 Bournemouth boss Andoni Iraola fumes over point claimed at 10-man Crystal Palace
- 10 Daily Laugh - Totttenham 1-2 N Forest