Blackpool 1 Wigan 3: Tangerine dream turns into relegation nightmare

16 April 2011 16:23
Wigan moved out of the Barclays Premier League relegation zone and pushed Blackpool into it with a comfortable victory at Bloomfield Road. [LNB]Hugo Rodallega put the visitors ahead early on by nutmegging Matt Gilks and Charles N'Zogbia made it 2-0 in first-half stoppage time. [LNB]Mohamed Diame sent in the third via a deflection off Neal Eardley midway through the second period, rendering DJ Campbell's late reply for the Seasiders a mere consolation. [LNB] Crisp finish: Mohamed Diame makes it 3-0 at Bloomfield Road[LNB] [LNB] [LNB] The result means the Latics, who started the day bottom of the table, leapfrogged Blackpool into 17th place. [LNB]Roared on by their vociferous fans, it was Wigan who looked more up for the battle from the off and within three minutes they had taken the lead. [LNB]Blackpool defender Craig Cathcart slipped as N'Zogbia fed the ball through to Rodallega, who coolly slotted it through Gilks' legs and into the net for his eighth goal of the season. [LNB]Rodallega then headed a long ball over the bar, before a cross-cum-shot from Eardley brought a save out ofAli Al Habsi at the other end. Gilks - back in the side for the first time since breaking his kneecap in November - punched away a ball into the box from Ben Watson as the visitors continued to press. [LNB]On the rise: Charles N'Zogbia (second left) doubled Wigan's lead just before the break[LNB] [LNB] The Seasiders tried to hit back and won a series of corners, but struggled to fashion a real effort on goal.Wigan were soon back on the front foot with N'Zogbia proving a particular threat, and the Frenchman struck into the side netting towards the end of the first half. [LNB]Moments later he doubled the Latics' advantage, collecting the ball after Charlie Adam had been dispossessed by Diame, breaking into the box and finishing past Gilks. [LNB]Wigan picked up where they left off after the restart, with Watson sending a low drive wide and Rodallega flashing an effort across the face of goal. [LNB]After seeing Adam strike a free-kick into the Latics wall, Blackpool boss Ian Holloway needed no further prompting and made a triple substitution, bringing on Matt Phillips, James Beattie and Jason Puncheon for Elliot Grandin, Gary Taylor-Fletcher and Luke Varney. N'Zogbia was on the attack again soon after, though, and produced a shot that stung Gilks' palms. [LNB]Off to a flyer: Hugo Rodallega (left) gave Wigan the lead after three minutes[LNB] [LNB] Diame was next to try his luck with an effort that Gilks collected comfortably, but moments later the outcome was different. Diame received the ball from Rodallega, turned and hit a shot that deceived Gilks by deflecting off Eardley on its way towards goal. [LNB]The game seemed up for the Seasiders and Wigan manager Roberto Martinez brought off N'Zogbia and Diame - bothto great applause from the Wigan faithful - for Conor Sammon and Jordi Gomez. [LNB]Contrasting fortunes: Roberto Martinez's (left) Wigan leapt out of the drop zone, while Ian Holloway saw his Blackpool side slump to their third straight league defeat[LNB] [LNB]But there was still life in the hostsand with seven minutes remaining, Campbell made it 3-1, sliding in to convert Phillips' cross after a free-kick had come off the wall. [LNB]Soon after, Phillips struck a low effort, but Al Habsi smothered it before the final whistle went to confirm a vital win for the Latics.[LNB] Six of the best: The pick of the crunch games in the Premier League run-inEXCLUSIVE: Clubs snub flashy footwear by giving colour the bootAll the latest Blackpool FC news, features and opinionAll the latest Wigan Athletic FC news, features and opinion[LNB] [LNB]  Explore more:People: Luke Varney, James Beattie, Ben Watson, Ian Holloway, Jordi Gomez, Roberto Martinez, Charlie Adam

Source: Daily_Mail