saw a missed penalty, red cards and six goals in a dramatic afternoon in South Yorkshire.
Going into the game, both sides opted to make three changes. For Sheffield United, George
Baldock, Billy Sharp and Ben Osborn all return to the starting XI in place of Kyron Gordon,
Rhian Brewster and Reda Khadra, with Khadra and Brewster dropping to the bench.
For Blackpool, Kenny Dougall, Shayne Lavery and Liam Bridcutt all return to the starting
lineup in place of Callum Wright, Sonny Carey and Theo Corbeanu, who all started the game on the bench.
The deadline was broken in just the ninth minute when Sheffield United’s James
McAtee scored his first professional goal after he bundled home a headed pass from Billy Sharp, following a superb cross by Doyle.
United’s lead was then doubled on the 23-minute mark when Iliman Ndiaye headed home
after Norwood’s cross was spilt following a corner.
Blackpool then clawed a goal back in the 29th minute of the game when Kenny
Dougall, returning to the side after a one-match suspension, crossed the ball into Jerry Yates, whose header looped into the far corner of Foderingham’s goal.
Following the Blackpool goal, United had a good spell of possession, creating a lot of chances but none can be converted into a goal.
The Tangerines then levelled the score through Yates’ second goal of the game, with a first-time finish into the bottom corner after a cross from Lavery.
Just four minutes into the second half, Blackpool took an unexpected lead in the
game after Kenny Dougall made no mistake 1v1 with Foderingham in the United goal.
63 minutes in, United made a triple change, with McBurnie, Brewster and
Ahmedhodzic coming on for Sharp, Osborn and McAtee in the search of an
equalising goal.
The game then changed at 78 minutes as Ekpiteta brought down Rhian Brewster to
receive his second yellow card resulting in Blackpool being a man down.
It went from bad to worse for the Seasiders as Thompson also received his second
yellow following a clash with Egan, meaning Blackpool had nine men with ten minutes left.
Not long after, the home side was handed a golden opportunity when a penalty was given after Yates had held back Egan.
Brewster stepped up to take it yet his attempt cannoned off the inside of the post and out for a throw-in.
In the eighth minute of added time, the Blades finally got their well-deserved equaliser through Oli Norwood, who struck a sweet volley in when Doyle’s corner wasn’t dealt with properly.
After full-time, both sets of players came together in a big group brawl that resulted
in United’s Foderingham and Blackpool’s Lavery on the floor and both were sent off
for their actions.
Full Time: Sheffield United – 3 Blackpool – 3
Sheffield United: Foderingham, Baldock(Khadra 84’), Basham, Egan,
Norrington-Davies, Osborn(McBurnie 64’), Doyle, Norwood, McAtee (Ahmedhodzic
64’), Ndiaye, Sharp (Brewster 64’)
Subs not used: Davies, Robinson, Arblaster
Blackpool: Maxwell, Connolly, Ekpiteta, Thorniley, Thompson, Dougall, Patino,
Bridcutt (Wright 75’), Lavery (Williams 82’), Madine (Hamilton 85’), Yates
Subs not used: Grimshaw, Carey, Corbeanu, Poveda