Match Report: Blackpool 0 Boro 3

Classy Boro picked up another three important points on the road after dismantling Blackpool at Bloomfield Road.

Isaiah Jones, Marcus Forss, and Chuba Akpom were the men on target as Michael Carrick’s side continue to impress under his tenure.

Over 3,000 Boro fans were in good voice and were in celebratory mood as the Teessiders climb further away from the Championship relegation places.

It was a tasty opening and former Boro man James Husband earned himself a yellow cared after going straight through the back of Akpom to halt a quick counter.

The first half-chance of the game came when Jones had a shot blocked after a great ball from Tommy Smith. A Ryan Giles cross was also scrambled for a corner which Darragh Lenihan looked to capitalise on.

The goal was coming, though, and Jones didn’t make any mistake when the lively Forss headed an Akpom ball back across goal into his path and he delivered the finishing touch.

Boro opened up Blackpool again almost immediately when Giles sent Forss clear, but goalkeeper Chris Maxwell narrowly won the race to the ball. Moments later, the Finn had Maxwell at full-stretch when he shot just wide.

Akpom was next to warm the hands of the Blackpool goalkeeper when he drilled a shot at him.

Jones trickery won a free-kick on the edge of the box after he was crudely fouled and Giles almost sent the free-kick beyond Maxwell. As Blackpool failed to clear properly, Jones stabbed an effort just wide of the upright.

Lenihan headed just wide from a corner as Boro continued to dominate the opening period.

The second half got off to the perfect start for Boro when Forss was released on goal and brought down by Maxwell inside the area. Referee Jeremy Simpson pointed straight to the spot and the Finland international stepped up to convert.

Forss almost profited again on the hour when Maxwell somehow sliced a clearance over his own head and back towards goal, and it was only the intervention of Dom Thompson that prevented Forss from converting again.

The third goal did come moments later, though. Giles played a low cross in behind, and there was Akpom to convert his fourth in as many games.

As the clocked ticked down there was a debut for Academy graduate Pharrell Willis and he went close with an effort after cutting in from the right.