Match ends, Blackpool 1, Wigan Athletic 0.
BlackpoolBlackpool1WiganWigan Athletic0
Tom Ince's penalty sealed three points for Blackpool on the day his manager and father, Paul, served the first match of a five-game stadium ban.
Ince's fifth goal of the season came after Wigan goalkeeper Scott Carson slid through Dan Gosling, with Ince converting the spot-kick.
Wigan's Grant Holt and Thomas Rogne both had second-half headers which hit the bar within a minute of each other.
The Latics' James McClean was shown a straight red card in stoppage time.
A clash between winger McClean and Blackpool defender Gary Mackenzie was brought to the attention of referee Mark Haywood by his assistant, after it appeared McClean had been stamped on.
With Paul Ince banned from the stadium, his assistant Alex Rae and former caretaker boss Steve Thompson took charge of the Seasiders - though the manager's presence was felt, with a local newspaper handing out 10,000 masks of his face.
The Football Association had given the Blackpool manager a five-match ban, ruling that he threatened to "knock out" an official after their 2-1 win at Bournemouth in September.
After winning five of the their first six league matches to sit top of the Championship, Blackpool's form has slipped away, with a loss and four successive draws.
Following two consecutive 0-0 draws, it took a penalty for Blackpool to finally hit the net, as Carson downed home debutant Gosling, with Tom Ince hammering home the spot-kick.
On-loan Manchester United forward Nick Powell missed Wigan's best chance of the first half, heading wide at the back post after Rogne flicked back.
Blackpool kept up the pressure after the break, with Ricardo Fuller creating an opportunity for himself, only for his shot to be blocked by Callum McManaman.
Wigan finally started to create chances as manager Owen Coyle made three substitutions with barely an hour gone.
McClean headed wide at the back post from Emmerson Boyce's cross, before Boyce missed his team's best chance as his follow-up shot was cleared off the line after Rogne's thumping header.
Substitute Holt hit the bar with another header a minute later, then Leon Barnett's snapshot was stopped by Matt Gilks's legs in the dying minutes.
At the other end, Carson kept out two shots from Ince, another from Steve Davies, and a point-blank Kirk Broadfoot header in a breakneck final five minutes.
Blackpool are now unbeaten in 10 games at Bloomfield Road.
Blackpool assistant manager Steve Thompson:
"The lads proved their worth and showed what characters they are.
"We'd done the hard work on Friday - we'd gone through how they play and the video analysis - but it's not ideal when your manager isn't here.
"We've watched the penalty decision again and the referee has called it right. It was a penalty and it was a good decision."
Wigan manager Owen Coyle:
"I'm astounded by the decision to send off James McClean.
"For Gary Mackenzie to stand on James McClean while he's laying on the ground - and then for James to get up and not touch him but get James sent off is hard to take.
"We've had it a few times on the road this season when decisions like that have gone against us and we'll definitely be appealing against that decision."
Line-ups
Blackpool
Formation 4-2-3-1
- 1Gilks
- 6Broadfoot
- 3Robinson
- 17Basham
- 5Mackenzie
- 20Cathcart
- 11Ince
- 4Gosling
- 19FullerSubstituted forDaviesat 82'minutes
- 15DobbieSubstituted forMartínez Cerveraat 76'minutes
- 12Bishop
Substitutes
- 2Orr
- 7Tyson
- 8Chopra
- 9Davies
- 21Halstead
- 27Barkhuizen
- 31Martínez Cervera
Wigan
Formation 4-4-1-1
- 1Carson
- 17Boyce
- 24Perch
- 16McArthur
- 6Rogne
- 25Barnett
- 15McManamanSubstituted forBeausejourat 65'minutes
- 8Watson
- 19PowellSubstituted forHoltat 58'minutes
- 14Gómez García-PencheSubstituted forFortunéat 58'minutes
- 11McCleanBooked at 90mins
Substitutes
- 4Shotton
- 7McCann
- 9Holt
- 13Nicholls
- 18Espinoza
- 22Beausejour
- 32Fortuné
- Referee:
- Mark Haywood
- Attendance:
- 15,721
Match Stats
Home TeamBlackpoolAway TeamWigan
- Possession
- Home46%
- Away54%
- Shots
- Home14
- Away22
- Shots on Target
- Home5
- Away2
- Corners
- Home5
- Away5
- Fouls
- Home13
- Away8
Live Text
Post update
Full Time
Second Half ends, Blackpool 1, Wigan Athletic 0.
Dismissal
James McClean (Wigan Athletic) is shown the red card.
Post update
Attempt missed. James McClean (Wigan Athletic) left footed shot from outside the box is too high. Assisted by Grant Holt.
Post update
Attempt missed. Ángel (Blackpool) right footed shot from outside the box is close, but misses the top right corner. Assisted by Steve Davies with a headed pass.
Post update
Foul by James McArthur (Wigan Athletic).
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Kirk Broadfoot (Blackpool) wins a free kick on the right wing.
Post update
Offside, Blackpool. Kirk Broadfoot tries a through ball, but Steve Davies is caught offside.
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Attempt saved. Kirk Broadfoot (Blackpool) header from very close range is saved in the bottom left corner. Assisted by Thomas Ince with a cross.
Post update
Corner, Blackpool. Conceded by Scott Carson.
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Attempt saved. Thomas Ince (Blackpool) left footed shot from the centre of the box is saved in the bottom right corner.
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Attempt saved. Steve Davies (Blackpool) right footed shot from the right side of the box is saved in the bottom left corner. Assisted by Gary Mackenzie.
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Corner, Blackpool. Conceded by Scott Carson.
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Attempt saved. Thomas Ince (Blackpool) left footed shot from the right side of the box is saved in the bottom left corner. Assisted by Dan Gosling.
Post update
Attempt saved. Leon Barnett (Wigan Athletic) left footed shot from the centre of the box is saved in the bottom left corner.
Post update
Attempt blocked. James McClean (Wigan Athletic) left footed shot from outside the box is blocked.
Post update
Grant Holt (Wigan Athletic) wins a free kick in the attacking half.
Post update
Foul by Dan Gosling (Blackpool).
Post update
Marc-Antoine Fortuné (Wigan Athletic) wins a free kick in the attacking half.
Post update
Foul by Dan Gosling (Blackpool).
