Learning to bounce back from adversity: Matt Scrafton's verdict on Blackpool's magnificent late victory against league leaders Hull City

On the face of it, that’s hard to believe given the Seasiders found themselves second from bottom at one point, having lost an alarming number of games in a relatively short period of time. But, given what’s transpired since then, it now makes a great deal more sense.

Blackpool have suffered disappointment before, after all. It began early on, on the opening day in fact, when they somehow managed to lose at Plymouth Argyle when a draw wouldn’t have even done their dominance justice.

It continued with the home game against Lincoln, which was turned on its head late on when Blackpool went from a goal in front, to a man down and a goal down in fewer than four minutes.

There’s also the Ipswich game, when Paul Lambert’s men scored with all four shots on target, the Charlton debacle when James Husband was sent off inside 60 seconds and the utterly bizarre AFC Wimbledon defeat, when Pool still ought to have drawn despite ending the game with nine men.

Week after week, it seemed like events were conspiring against Critchley and his players.

But to achieve anything in life, more often than not you have to come through adversity. Blackpool have certainly done that and more.

Even the most optimistic of Blackpool supporters couldn’t have seen a run of 10 wins in 14 games come after the defeat to Charlton in October. But in many ways, we shouldn’t be surprised either.

Even when things were going wrong, I wrote over and over again how Pool were continuing to do so much right.

Clearly, the belief among the players never wavered and out of adversity has emerged a strong group who are able to peel themselves off the canvas and bounce back from disappointment time and time again.

The proof of that was in the pudding on Tuesday night, when the Seasiders fought back from two potentially damaging setbacks to claim a dramatic, last-gasp victory against the league leaders.

Having been the better side in the opening 45 minutes, Pool found themselves going a goal down on 38 minutes in fairly innocuous fashion when Mallik Wilks hooked home after controlling Callum Elder’s left-wing cross inside the box.

But the hosts remained undeterred and took just six minutes to battle back, Jerry Yates the man to level – continuing his impressive recent scoring form with a sixth goal in 10.

It was a typical poacher’s goal, Yates sliding in unmarked at the back post to steer Luke Garbutt’s powerful cross high into the roof of the Hull net.

Prior to kick-off Hull had won 11 of their opening 16 league games, an impressive feat given the horrendous run of results that led to their relegation from the Championship last time out, having won just one of their final 20 games.

Grant McCann’s side were always going to enjoy a spell of pressure at some point and that’s exactly what happened at the start of the second period.

They had Blackpool camped in their own half for a good 15 to 20-minute spell, but for all their possession and territory, Hull struggled to convert their dominance into clear-cut openings, although Chris Maxwell did save smartly from James Scott’s curling effort.

On the hour-mark, Critchley brought Gary Madine off the bench – a change that helped swing the game in Blackpool’s favour.

The striker was in superb form, playing as if he had something to prove having been dropped to the bench. He was a battering ram, barging everything out of his way, winning his flick-ons and holding the ball up brilliantly.

The 30-year-old was instrumental in the build-up to the goal that saw Blackpool edge their noses in front.

Maxwell, showing quick thinking to punt the ball high up the pitch, picked out Madine as Hull retreated desperately after a failed attack.

Instead of holding the ball up or flicking it on, Madine simply opted to roll his marker and allow the ball to bounce past them both, giving Keshi Anderson the freedom to surge through on goal where he picked out the bottom corner with aplomb.

Blackpool were joyous and, thanks to some smart game management, looked to be coasting to a deserved three points to make it five wins from their last seven league games.

Those hopes were dashed in the 89th minute though, when Blackpool were undone from a corner and not for the first time this season. Reece Burke was the man to rise highest, nodding into the top corner beyond Maxwell’s despairing dive.

The Seasiders could have been forgiven for slumping their shoulders and staring blankly into the ground responding to their late setback. But that isn’t Blackpool’s style.

Instead, they quickly forced some late pressure, going close through CJ Hamilton who ought to have done better having been picked out in space at the back post.

But Hamilton was the last-gasp hero just seconds later, as he drilled home after a well-worked move involving substitute Ben Woodburn and yes, that man Madine. From dejection to elation in a matter of moments.

The celebrations that followed were rightfully exuberant, Maxwell even sprinting from his goal to join the pile-in. All that was lacking was a rammed Bloomfield Road to pierce your eardrum as the ball hit the back of the net.

While Blackpool fans can’t be there at the moment to witness their side’s transformation, they will know all too well what a good side the Seasiders have become.

Hull, who were surprisingly beaten by lowly Shrewsbury Town at the weekend, had always bounced back with a win in their next game when they had previously suffered disappointment. That wasn’t the case on this occasion though.

But then again, this is no ordinary side they were up against.

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