Background
Blackpool had made six previous appearances in finals from eight play-offs, winning five of them, most recently the 2017 EFL League Two play-off final in which they defeated Exeter City 2–1 at Wembley. They had played in League One since that promotion and last played in the Championship in the 2014–15 season. [6] Lincoln City had featured in six play-offs, including five in succession between 2003 and 2007, but only progressed to the final twice, losing on both occasions. They had played in League One since gaining promotion as champions of League Two in the 2018–19 season and have not featured in the second tier of English football since the 1960–61 season. [7] In the matches between the sides during the regular season, Lincoln City won away at Bloomfield Road 3–2 in October 2020 while the return game at Sincil Bank the following April ended in a 2–2 draw. [8] Yates was Blackpool's top scorer during the regular season with 21 goals, while Grant led the scoring for Lincoln City with 13. [9]
Tony Harrington was the referee for the match, assisted by Ian Cooper and Wade Smith, while Jarred Gillett was the fourth official. [10] The final was played in sunny conditions, with Blackpool playing as a 4–4–2 formation while Lincoln City adopted a 4–3–3. [11] The Lincoln City starting lineup was unchanged from the side which ended their play-off semi-final victory over Sunderland. Blackpool were forced to make a change as Simms was injured in training, so Keshi Anderson started and Embleton joined Yates up front. [11] Lincoln City played in their change kit of black shirts, black shorts and black socks while Blackpool wore tangerine shirts, white shorts and tangerine socks. [12]
Summary
Lincoln City kicked off the match at around 3 p.m. on 30 May 2021 in front of 9,751 supporters, which was limited by the COVID-19 pandemic in the United Kingdom. [13] After less than a minute, Johnson made a run down the right wing and played in a low cross which Chris Maxwell, the Blackpool goalkeeper, missed, and Turton struck the ball into the net for an own goal. Blackpool's Luke Garbutt was shown the yellow card for a late tackle on Johnson. Grant's subsequent free kick was headed over the bar by Joe Walsh. [12] In the 21st minute, Anderson was fouled and Garbutt's free kick was gathered by Alex Palmer in the Lincoln City goal. Five minutes later, Grant's bending strike from the edge of the Blackpool penalty area struck the top of the crossbar. Demetri Mitchell then had two chances to score: his header landed the roof of the Lincoln goal followed by a powerful shot from inside the area which was saved by Palmer. In the 34th minute, Blackpool scored the equaliser. Embleton passed to Dougall whose low shot from just outside the box beat Palmer to make it 1–1. With seven minutes of the half remaining, Lincoln City's Tayo Edun struck from distance but his shot was off-target. Embleton then saw his shot kept out by Palmer before Mitchell header from Garbutt's free kick was also saved by the goalkeeper, and the half ended with the scores level. [14]
Neither side made any changes to their personnel during the interval and Lincoln City kicked off the second half. Three minutes in, Ballard was booked for a pull on Morgan Rogers. [14] In the 51st minute, Kevin Stewart's shot was sliced off-target from 20 yards (18 m). Three minutes later, Dougall scored his and Blackpool's second goal of the afternoon. Yates passed the ball to Dougall whose low shot from the edge of the area made it 2–1. Midway through the half, Lincoln City made their first substitution of the game with Callum Morton coming on in place of Hopper. Liam Bridcutt was then booked for a foul on Johnson before Blackpool's Gary Madine came on as a substitute for Mitchell. In the 74th minute, Yates's attempt to lob Palmer lacked power and was cleared. Three minutes later, Madine headed a Garbutt free kick over the crossbar. With ten minutes of the match remaining, Blackpool made a double-substitution with Grant Ward and CJ Hamilton coming on for Anderson and Embleton. In the 85th minute, Blackpool's James Husband was shown the yellow card for a foul on Morton, and from the resulting free kick, Morton headed the ball over the Lincoln City goal. Rogers's 89th minute strike from more than 20 yards (18 m) went wide of the Blackpool goal. [15] Heading into stoppage time, Blackpool replaced Yates with Jordan Thorniley and three minutes in, Dougall was booked for throwing the ball away to waste time. With seconds remaining, Regan Poole's shot for Lincoln City flew over the Blackpool crossbar and the match ended 2–1 with Blackpool gaining promotion to the Championship. [16]
