Blackpool’s start to the season was best summed up by one Tangerines player on Saturday afternoon as he equalled a feat not seen in 18 years.
The Seasiders won their first game of the campaign this weekend, beating promotion favourites Huddersfield Town – who they recently beat to signing George Honeyman – 3-2 at Bloomfield Road. Niall Ennis’ double and Lee Evans’ goal in the first half cancelled out Ben Wiles’ early opener and Lynden Gooch opening his account for the Terriers.
It ended a run of three losses in a row, with Steve Bruce’s side previously falling to defeat against Stevenage, Exeter in League One and then Port Vale in the Carabao Cup first round.
But despite getting a victory under their belts, one Blackpool player epitomised the mixed bag of performances the Seasiders have endured so far this season.
Niall Ennis is the first player to score twice and be sent off in one game since Robbie Keane in 2007
Niall Ennis, who had been on loan from Stoke City last season before signing permanently this summer for an undisclosed fee on a two-year deal, started up top with Ashley Fletcher for Bruce’s side on Saturday.
He scored his second and third goals of the season, but his afternoon was cut short after he saw a straight red card for a late tackle on Jack Whatmough, just 36 minutes into the game.
Despite being down to 10 men, Blackpool saw out the win – but Ennis has gone in the history books as a result.
It’s been 18 years since a player scored twice and also got sent off in one game. The last star to do that was Robbie Keane in Tottenham’s clash against Bolton in February 2007 for serious foul play involving a studs-first lunge on Fabrice Muamba.
Much like Blackpool, Spurs went on to win the game, beating Wanderers 4-1. Steve Bruce’s assessment of the incident suggests Ennis will miss the next three games like Keane did.
Steve Bruce’s reaction to Niall Ennis’ red card
The Blackpool forward will now serve a ban and could prove to be a huge miss after starting the last three of the Seasiders’ games.
However, Bruce appears to have accepted the decision, and the chances of the club opting to appeal it look unlikely.
Although, he did joke that back in his days of playing football in the 1980s and 1990s, Ennis could have ‘got away with it’.
Discussing Ennis’ sending off, the Blackpool boss said. “I don’t think we’ve got any complaints. Back in my day we might’ve got away with it. I haven’t seen it back but my initial thought was I could see why he was sent off.”
Bruce’s other forward Kylian Kouassi joined Cambridge United on loan on Monday, while the Seasiders also boast Tom Bloxam and Dale Taylor to help replace the former Stoke goalscorer for the upcoming fixtures.