Blackpool rule Britannia as Stoke beaten

Blackpool tore up the Premier League form book once again to score yet another away win with a 1-0 victory over Stoke at the Britannia Stadium here Saturday.

A second-half goal from DJ Campbell handed the Tangerines their sixth win of the season and moved Ian Holloway’s men into the top half of the table with 22 points from 16 games.

The result was yet another statement of defiance to the widespread pre-season predictions that the newly promoted minnows would be sent hurtling straight back to the Championship this year.

An evenly matched encounter saw Stoke almost take the lead on 36 minutes when Ricardo Fuller smashed a long-range effort off the crossbar.

Yet Blackpool kept Stoke on edge and playmaker Charlie Adam created a gilt-edged opportunity for Elliot Grandin from six yards out only for the midfielder to fail to pounce.

Stoke kept pressing for a goal and Rory Delap should have done better with a headed effort from a Jermaine Pennant cross.

Delap thought he had given Stoke the lead shortly afterwards when he had the ball in the net, only for the goal to be disallowed for a shove by Robert Huth on Blackpool keeper Richard Kingson.

Stoke started the second half in similar fashion and Dean Whitehead’s shot from the edge of the area flew just over the bar.

Instead it was Blackpool who took the lead, with the in-form Adam at the heart of a swift counter-attack which resulted in a clinical finish from Campbell, the striker’s third league goal of the season.

Blackpool could have made it 2-0 midway through the half when Gary Taylor-Fletcher’s header cannoned off the woodwork.

Stoke launched a furious late rally in a bid to grab a share of the points, and Matthew Etherington hit the woodwork on 73 minutes with a sweetly struck free-kick.

Kingson then pulled off a reaction save to deny a certain goal from Huth and Stephen Crainey scrambled off the line.

Delap hit the post with a late shot to leave Blackpool hearts fluttering but the Seasiders managed to hold on for three points.