sport

Brooker breaks Blackpool's resolve

Brooker: Hit the winner at Bloomfield Road

Brooker replaced Dele Adebola with 10 minutes remaining and found the net with a fierce left-foot shot that nestled in the net and got Gary Johnson's side off to the perfect start.

Seasiders boss Simon Grayson named four debutants in his starting line-up in Rob Edwards, Adam Hammill, Mo Camara and Jermaine Wright.

But they failed to find a way through against last season's beaten Championship play-off finalists and were largely toothless in attack.

City handed a debut to striker Nicky Maynard following his £2.25million move from Crewe, although Blackpool threatened first when Gary Taylor-Fletcher broke clear down the right wing and struck a fierce shot, which Jamie McAllister did well to block.

The hosts went close again a minute later when Claus Jorgensen hit a dipping left-foot volley from 20 yards that sailed narrowly wide.

But Maynard served notice of his threat in the 10th minute when he collected possession and mis-hit a shot straight at Seasiders goalkeeper Paul Rachubka.

City went even closer moments later when midfielder Michael McIndoe fired goalwards from 12 yards but Edwards did well to block his effort.

Midfielder Keith Southern then sought to find the breakthrough for Blackpool when he drilled in a left-footed shot from 20 yards and City goalkeeper Adriano Basso saved comfortably.

In the 19th minute, Cole Skuse was booked for unsporting behaviour and Blackpool carved out the clearest chance immediately after.

Left-back Camara - on loan from Derby - crossed well from the left flank and Ben Burgess greeted his delivery with a well-struck effort that flew over the crossbar.

Burgess went close again midway through the half when Hammill crossed and the striker headed over the bar from 12 yards.

In the 27th minute, the pendulum swung back towards the visitors when McIndoe volleyed right-footed and Edwards produced another fine block.

Maynard then went close on the stroke of half-time with a right-footed shot from 20 yards that Rachubka saved well.

City were forced to make a goalkeeping chance at half-time, replacing the injured Basso with Chris Weale.

But it was Blackpool stopper Rachubka who was called on first when the second half got under way, tipping over a vicious free-kick from McIndoe.

The lively McIndoe then blasted the ball over the crossbar in the 48th minute but Blackpool gradually hit back as the game wore on.

On-loan Liverpool winger Hammill hit a right-foot shot that Louis Carey did well to block.

But with time running out, Brooker had the final say with a shot from 12 yards that flew into the back of the net.