Blackpool 2 Sunderland 3: Story of the day as Aiden O'Brien hat-trick sees Lee Johnson's side progress in dramatic Carabao Cup tie
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The Black Cats forward netted the winning goal in stoppage time after Blackpool substitute Josh Bowler had equalised two minutes from the end.
Sunderland boss Lee Johnson made seven changes to his starting XI following Saturday’s 1-0 win over AFC Wimbledon, with new signings Frederik Alves and Niall Huggins making their debuts.
Here’s how it played out.
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RECAP: Blackpool 2 (Lavery, 9) (Bowler, 88) Sunderland 3 (O’Brien, 12, 57, 90)
Key Events
- Sunderland XI: Patterson, Huggins, Alves (Doyle, 76), Wright, Cirkin, Winchester, Neil, Diamond, Pritchard (Embleton, 74), O’Brien, Broadhead (Stewart, 74)
- Subs: Bond, Doyle, Taylor, Hawkes, Gooch, Embleton, Stewart
- Blackpool XI: Grimshaw, James, Carey, Casey, Keogh, Hamilton (Anderson, 78), Garbutt, Gretarsson, Antwi (Bowler, 69), John-Jules, Lavery (Yates, 78)
- Subs: Moore, Husband, Anderson, Bowler, Ekpiteta, Holmes, Yates
How the hosts will start
Blackpool make nine changes from their last league game.
Former Sunderland man Reece James starts at right-back.
Seven changes for Sunderland
Seven changes for Sunderland from the weekend as Patterson, Winchester, Neil and Pritchard keep their places.
Alves and Huggins will make their debuts, with Broadhead set to make his first Sunderland start.
Looks like Winchester will move into midfield.
One to watch: Jerry Yates
If he starts, Blackpool striker Yates is certainly the Tangerines’ dangerman.
The 24-year-old forward scored 20 goals in League One last season to help his side win promotion via the play-offs.
How Sunderland could start
Here’s the Sunderland side we think could start against Blackpool this evening.
Potential SAFC XI: Patterson, Huggins, Alves, Wright, Cirkin, Neil, Winchester, Hawkes, O’Brien, Pritchard, Broadhead.
Critchley on Sunderland
Here’s what else the Blackpool boss said about tonight’s match.
“We will come up against certain individuals we know but the Sunderland team and squad will be different from last season.
“We had two very good games against them, and although we won both, they could easily have gone the other way.
“I’m sure their ambition is to win promotion and I’m sure Lee Johnson will take the opportunity against us to look at other players.
“But they have quality throughout their squad and we know it will be a tough task.”
How the hosts are shaping up
Since their promotion from League One via the play-offs, Blackpool have taken two points from their first four Championship games.
Neil Critchley’s side did come from two goals down to draw 2-2 at Bournemouth on Saturday after a Jerry Yates penalty and equaliser from defender James Husband.
Midfielder Grant Ward is an injury doubt for the match, while Demetri Mitchell, Matty Virtue and Kevin Stewart are all sidelined.
Blackpool boss Neil Critchley said: “There will be changes after a busy schedule because we’ve played every midweek.
“I expect Sunderland will do the same, but we know that whatever team we select will be one we think is good enough to win.”
Johnson on Blackpool team selection
Here’s what the Sunderland boss said after Saturday’s 1-0 win over AFC Wimbledon.
“I’m going to try and find the balance between blooding a few new players, a few young players as well, but also having that strong spine that we need to go and be competitive in the game.
“Bailey will start as well as Frederik and it will be nice to see how that partnership works.”
Team news
Johnson confirmed on Saturday that new signing Frederik Alves and Bailey Wright will start at centre-back for tonight’s game.
Alves will be making his debut for the Black Cats after signing for the club on loan from West Ham.
Niall Huggins, another new signing could, also make his first appearance for Sunderland following his permanent move from Leeds.
Lee Burge (hip flexor) and Luke O’Nien (shoulder) are unlikely to start.
