English League Championship

Happy day for Inces

Tom Ince scored his first goal in six games to spark the comeback that secured father Paul's first win as Blackpool manager as they beat Watford at Vicarage Road.

The Tangerines were trailing at half-time thanks to Cristian Battocchio's delightful opener and the hosts felt aggrieved not to be further ahead after they had two penalty claims rejected.

But they were guilty of some errant finishing throughout and were made to pay eventually when the England Under-21 international levelled things up.

The former Liverpool winger also played a part in Gary MacKenzie's decisive winner to record only Blackpool's second league win in their last eight outings.

Watford boss Gianfranco Zola made five changes to the side that beat Sheffield Wednesday in midweek. Joel Ekstrand, Marco Cassetti and Nathaniel Chalobah were all ruled out with injury while Almen Abdi and top-scorer Matej Vydra also missed out.

Lloyd Doyley, Fernando Forestieri and Matthew Briggs were amongst those recalled, while Paul Ince made just the one change following Tuesday's draw with Birmingham, striker Matt Derbyshire replacing the injured Gary Taylor-Fletcher.

The Hornets were unbeaten in their last seven matches and they hit the ground running, spurning a couple of early chances to break the deadlock.

First Jonathan Hogg, a late replacement for Abdi who suffered an injury in the warm up, headed inches wide of the post after a terrific cross by Ikechi Anya.

Referee Andrew Madley was called into action soon after when Daniel Pudil and Blackpool's Kirk Broadfoot clashed. Pudil went down inside the area after a challenge from the defender and Madley waved play on before the two exchanged words over the incident and had to be separated.

The breakthrough came after 27 minutes when Troy Deeney seized on an error by MacKenzie. Forestieri's quick throw caught the defender unaware, setting Deeney through on goal. The former Walsall striker looked to be shaping up for a shot before he unselfishly rolled the ball across for Battocchio, who chipped a cheeky finish over goalkeeper Matt Gilks.

Blackpool twice tried to rally through Tom Ince and Derbyshire. Tom Ince first tested Jonathan Bond with a long-range swerving effort which he expertly tipped round the post.

The second was better still as Derbyshire's looping header looked to be heading for the top corner, the striker himself had already turned to celebrate before Bond somehow scooped it from under his crossbar and away to safety.

The home supporters were incensed seconds before the break when Deeney, seemingly through on goal, was hauled back as he lined up the shot but again referee Madley waved play on.

Paul Ince's side looked a little more positive after the break and moved the ball around confidently but it was the hosts who continued to look the more threatening on goal.

Battocchio fired wide from the edge of the box before the impressive Matthew Briggs inexplicably glanced his header wide unmarked at the back post from Anya's free-kick.

But the Seasiders continued to dominate possession and got their reward on 76 minutes. Left-back Stephen Crainey made a darting run before picking out Tom Ince at the near post who steered an expert finish across the body of Bond and into the far corner.

Zola's side threw away the lead against Wolves earlier this month and were guilty of poor defending again as Blackpool took the lead two minutes from time.

Tom Ince's corner was not cleared and MacKenzie appeared from the melee to slot the ball into the corner, making amends for his earlier error to hand the Tangerines a timely boost just when they looked to be slipping closer to the relegation battle.