Blackpool were relegated from the Championship after defeat by play-off chasing Millwall in a thrilling game at Bloomfield Road.
The Seasiders’ two-season stay in the division came to an end with a game to go despite the hosts twice levelling the scores after the Lions took the lead.
Tom Bradshaw scored in either half for the visitors, with Jerry Yates levelling with a penalty while Lewis Fiorini also equalised with a stunning strike from long range.
But Fiorini later brought down Duncan Watmore, leading to Zian Flemming scoring from the spot to win it for Millwall and ensuring the hosts will play third-tier football next season.
Millwall move up to fifth and are three points clear of seventh place, with a home match against Blackburn concluding their season.
Blackpool are now three points behind Huddersfield in 21st and two points behind 22nd-placed Reading, but with the Terriers playing the Royals in the final game of the season it means the Seasiders go down.
First Championship club relegated
Knowing they needed to get a result to avoid becoming the first club to be relegated from the Championship this season, Blackpool got off to the worst possible start.
Flemming and Jamie Shackleton combined on the right wing before teeing up Ryan Leonard, who found Bradshaw to slot past Seasiders keeper Dan Grimshaw within just two minutes.
Blackpool rallied as the first half ticked down, with Morgan Rogers forcing Lions goalkeeper George Long into a fine save shortly before the hosts were awarded a penalty.
Hamilton went to ground under pressure from Shackleton, who made slight contact with the Blackpool forward, with Yates duly converting after referee Matt Donohue pointed to the spot.
There was a nervy atmosphere on the Lancashire coast with both sides needing victory. Millwall’s play-off aims rested on them returning to The Den with three points.
The game tipped in Millwall’s favour once again when Bradshaw scored his second with a tremendous composed finished, having been played through by a superb Watmore pass.
There was more drama to come as Fiorini scored his first goal in over a year, and his first for Blackpool, courtesy of his drive from distance.
But his joy did not last for long as, just minutes later, he fouled Watmore in his own box leading to the Lions’ winning penalty and bringing an end to Blackpool’s stay in the second tier.
The hosts’ misery was compounded late on when Jordan Gabriel was stretchered off leading to 13 minutes of stoppage time.
More to follow.
Line-ups
Blackpool
Formation 4-2-3-1
- 32Grimshaw
- 4Gabriel
- 31Nelson
- 3HusbandSubstituted forBowlerat 64′minutes
- 24Lyons
- 8FioriniBooked at 74minsSubstituted forHolmesat 79′minutes
- 28Patino
- 25RogersBooked at 90mins
- 10Anderson
- 22HamiltonSubstituted forEkpitetaat 84′minutes
- 9Yates
Substitutes
- 1Maxwell
- 2Connolly
- 11Bowler
- 16Carey
- 21Ekpiteta
- 38Holmes
- 46Trybull
Millwall
Formation 3-4-3
- 1Long
- 18Leonard
- 4Hutchinson
- 5CooperBooked at 26mins
- 16ShackletonSubstituted forMcNamaraat 81′minutes
- 8Mitchell
- 23SavilleBooked at 32mins
- 17StylesSubstituted forMaloneat 81′minutes
- 10FlemmingBooked at 24minsSubstituted forBurkeat 86′minutes
- 9BradshawBooked at 72minsSubstituted forBennettat 86′minutes
- 19WatmoreSubstituted forBureyat 86′minutes
Substitutes
- 2McNamara
- 7Burke
- 11Malone
- 14Burey
- 20Bennett
- 21Voglsammer
- 33Bialkowski
Live Text
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Match ends, Blackpool 2, Millwall 3.
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Second Half ends, Blackpool 2, Millwall 3.
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Corner, Millwall. Conceded by Marvin Ekpiteta.
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Corner, Millwall. Conceded by Andrew Lyons.
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Foul by Josh Bowler (Blackpool).
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Scott Malone (Millwall) wins a free kick in the defensive half.
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Attempt blocked. Scott Malone (Millwall) right footed shot from the centre of the box is blocked. Assisted by Oliver Burke.
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Attempt missed. Tyler Burey (Millwall) left footed shot from a difficult angle on the left misses to the right. Assisted by Mason Bennett with a headed pass following a fast break.
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Offside, Millwall. Tyler Burey tries a through ball, but Scott Malone is caught offside.
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Morgan Rogers (Blackpool) is shown the yellow card.
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Foul by Morgan Rogers (Blackpool).
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Mason Bennett (Millwall) wins a free kick on the right wing.
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Foul by Charlie Patino (Blackpool).
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Dan McNamara (Millwall) wins a free kick in the attacking half.
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Delay over. They are ready to continue.
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Delay in match because of an injury Jordan Gabriel (Blackpool).
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Foul by Jordan Gabriel (Blackpool).
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Scott Malone (Millwall) wins a free kick in the defensive half.
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Substitution, Millwall. Oliver Burke replaces Zian Flemming.
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Substitution, Millwall. Mason Bennett replaces Tom Bradshaw.