Black Cats hold off Blackpool

A first-half brace from Kieran Richardson helped Sunderland claim a precious 2-1 win at Blackpool.

Richardson double earns important win

A first-half brace from Kieran Richardson helped Sunderland claim a precious 2-1 win at Blackpool. Richardson proved there is life without Darren Bent as Steve Bruce's men shrugged off the departure of their top scorer. Sunderland boss Bruce was forced to reshuffle his pack and his decision to play Richardson behind lone striker Asamoah Gyan paid dividends. The pair linked up superbly as Richardson opened the scoring after 15 minutes before the former England international doubled his side's advantage shortly after. Blackpool captain Charlie Adam, subject of much transfer speculation himself, narrowed the deficit with an 86th minute penalty. But the sixth-placed Black Cats survived a late onslaught from the home side to maintain the pressure on Chelsea and Tottenham.

Driving seat

Richardson's first goals of the season could not have come at a better time for his manager with his attacking options limited. His double put Sunderland in the driving seat in the first half but they were also grateful to goalkeeper Craig Gordon, who made three magnificent saves in that period. Bruce's side made a flying start and Blackpool were pinned back again in the seventh minute when Jordan Henderson swung in a cross from the right. Steed Malbranque peeled away from his marker but saw his header clear the bar by some distance. But they made the breakthrough in the 15th minute following a swift counter-attack. Asamoah Gyan released Richardson with a delightful through ball and he swept a shot into the net. Blackpool were stung and Adam floated in a free-kick seven minutes later but Elliot Grandin's header was easily taken by Gordon. Sunderland almost added a second in the 26th minute when Henderson clipped the ball to Ahmed Elmohamady on the right flank. He delivered a deep cross and Richardson was handily placed but just failed to get a vital touch.

Shell

Blackpool suddenly broke out of their shell and Gordon made two superb saves in the space of two minutes. He turned away a close-range shot from Luke Varney in the 28th minute after he was set up by the influential Adam, who is reportedly on Liverpool's radar. Then Adam almost equalised when his effort from the edge of the area was turned over the bar by his Scotland international colleague. But the Black Cats extended their lead in the 35th minute with Richardson's second goal of the game. Richardson showed good movement to get on the end of a pass from Malbranque and his effort beat Richard Kingson at the goalkeeper's near post. Sunderland, however, were again grateful to Gordon in the 42nd minute when he pushed over a superb 20-yard free-kick from Adam. Blackpool were forced to make a change in the 49th minute, Brett Ormerod replacing Stephen Crainey after he limped off. Five minutes later Kingson was left with a cut on his head following a brave block from Zenden, who had been put through by Richardson. He was unable to continue and was replaced by Paul Rachubka between the posts. It was another blow for manager Ian Holloway, with his side trailing by two goals.

Broke

Blackpool responded though and almost pulled a goal back in the 59th minute when Varney set up Adam in the six-yard box but Gordon was equal to his effort and turned it over the bar. Holloway decided to go for broke three minutes later and brought on fit-again striker Marlon Harewood for Grandin. Harewood was quickly into the action and got the better of Titus Bramble in the 66th minute but dragged his shot the wrong side of the post. Blackpool were anxious to get back in the game and Adam curled a shot wide from an acute angle in the 77th minute after being picked out by Matt Phillips. They eventually pulled a goal back in the 85th minute with Adam scoring from the penalty spot after David Vaughan was adjudged to have been nudged by Onuoha. However, it was too little too late for Blackpool.

Blackpool	Team Statistics	Sunderland
1	Goals	2
0	1st Half Goals	2
8	Shots on Target	5
3	Shots off Target	7
3	Blocked Shots	1
10	Corners	4
14	Fouls	15
1	Offsides	5
2	Yellow Cards	0
0	Red Cards	0
74.4	Passing Success	66.5
22	Tackles	22
81.8	Tackles Success	59.1
56	Possession	44
45.9	Territorial Advantage	54.1