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Blackpool became the first team to be relegated from the Sky Bet Championship this season despite equalising twice in a thrilling 3-2 defeat to play-off-chasing Millwall.
Stephen Dobbie’s Seasiders are now unable to finish above both Huddersfield and Reading, who play one another on the final day of the season.
Tom Bradshaw scored either side of a Jerry Yates penalty to put Millwall in control with half an hour to play, but Lewis Fiorini pulled a stunner out of the bag to give the plucky hosts fresh hope.
Blackpool have been relegated to Sky Bet League One after two seasons in the Championship
But Fiorini went from zero to hero in a matter of minutes, as he lunged in on Duncan Watmore in the box, conceding a penalty, which Zian Flemming converted to win the game for the Lions.
While Blackpool’s fate is sealed, Millwall climb back into the play-off places and up to fifth ahead of the remainder of this weekend’s action.
How Millwall’s battling cost Blackpool dear
Blackpool forced a corner within seconds of kick-off, after Millwall were caught playing out from the back, but no sooner had the game restarted, Millwall were ahead when Ryan Leonard collected a ball from Jamie Shackleton, drove on and crossed for Bradshaw, who tucked home his 16th of the season in nonchalant fashion.
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Tom Bradshaw gives Millwall an early lead at Bloomfield Road that sends the Lions towards the play-offs and opponents Blackpool to relegation from the Championship
The Lions then had multiple chances to increase their lead. Bradshaw fired an instinctive shot on the turn just wide and then lifted a shot over under pressure from James Husband, before Duncan Watmore struck the post. Callum Styles’ effort cleared the crossbar after a spell of pressure, too.
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Blackpool’s Jerry Yates converts a spot-kick for the Tangerines as his well-taken penalty makes it 1-1 against Millwall
It took 34 minutes for the hosts to muster their first shot, but moments after Morgan Rogers tested George Long, they equalised. CJ Hamilton was tripped by Shackleton in the box and Jerry Yates made no mistake from the penalty spot. A collective feeling of anxiety was immediately eased.
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Millwall’s Zian Flemming tucks away a penalty to put the Lions 3-2 up against Blackpool and with the Tangerines losing, their relegation to League One will be confirmed
Blackpool started the second half on the front foot, as they had ended the first, but they were dealt another blow when Bradshaw latched onto a smart ball through from Watmore and poked past the onrushing Daniel Grimshaw.
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Tom Bradshaw doubles his tally and gives Millwall a 2-1 lead against Blackpool as the Tangerines drop ever closer to League One
They did not let their heads drop, though, and, eight minutes later, it was 2-2 when Fiorini’s daisy-cutter from 25 yards or more nestled into the bottom left corner.
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Lewis Fiorini fires in a brilliant drive to bring Blackpool level to 2-2 against Millwall
But Fiorini went from hero to zero soon after when he naively brought down Watmore in the box, with referee Matthew Donohue pointing straight to the spot. And Zian Flemming didn’t need a second invitation to step up and fire in what proved to be the winner.
Player of the match – Tom Bradshaw
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Millwall goalscorers Tom Bradshaw and Zian Flemming share their thoughts after the Lions won a dramatic game 3-2 to relegate Blackpool and push themselves up to fifth in the Championship
The managers
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Millwall boss Gary Rowett believes his side deserved their win over Blackpool as they climbed to fifth in the Championship and have eyes on making and winning the play-offs
Millwall’s Gary Rowett:
“It was always going to be a difficult game. Blackpool had nothing to lose, they had to win the game. I thought their forwards were bright and their front four made the game have a bit of swing to it. We started really well, changed formation and took a bit of a gamble. I just felt I needed to change the team’s psychology; we’ve not been performing well and looked a bit edgy. I needed something to change their mentality.
“There were some moments of adversity in the game for us because I didn’t think it was a penalty; I thought it was two players coming together, not a clear penalty. In a game like this, I think you have to be certain. Then we looked a bit nervous for the rest of the half, but we managed to get it back together and score some very good goals. But it was never going to be an easy match.”
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Blackpool manager Stephen Dobbie believes the club will bounce back next season after being relegated to League One following their defeat to Millwall
Blackpool’s Stephen Dobbie:
“It was probably a little bit of a disappointing first half. We didn’t get to grips with the long balls and then the second balls. In the second half, we came out all guns blazing and the lads stuck to our gameplan, but we lost a poor second goal and that turned the tide a little bit.
“When we scored the second, as soon as the game restarted, I thought they took a little bit of control again, so it was a little bit naive from us, but the boys gave everything and the fans gave everything, so that’s all you can really ask for.”
What’s next?
There is just one more round of fixtures left of the Championship season, with all fixtures kicking off at 3pm on Monday May 8. Blackpool travel to Carrow Road to take on Norwich, with Millwall hosting Blackburn at The Den.
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