Stoke City 4 - 3 Blackpool

Griffin completes Potters comeback

Updated: September 23, 2009, 8:03 AM UK

Andy Griffin scored a dramatic winner in stoppage time to send Stoke into the fourth round of the Carling Cup as Blackpool were beaten 4-3.

It was an improbable victory given that the Premier League side found themselves two goals down inside 47 minutes. But the introduction of experienced duo Matthew Etherington and Ricardo Fuller made all the difference with both players finding the target in a rousing comeback.

• Holloway: Euell was racially abused

Stoke scored three times in the space of five minutes only for Ben Burgess to level matters. It looked as though the tie was heading for extra time but Griffin's individual effort broke Blackpool hearts late on.

The Championship team shaded it in the first half and there was a scare for Stoke after 15 minutes when Charlie Adam spotted Burgess racing into the area. The delivery was inch perfect and Burgess' header came back off the post as the assistant referee raised his flag.

Play switched down the other end and two minutes later Liam Lawrence saw his inswinging free-kick go narrowly over the bar and nestle on top of the net.

Stoke found themselves on the back foot after 26 minutes but Burgess dragged his effort wide of the post. Adam was beginning to pull the strings in midfield and tried an audacious effort from the halfway line after 30 minutes that just cleared the bar.

The Tangerines almost made the breakthrough five minutes later when Jay Emmanuel-Thomas got on the end of a Joe Martin cross, only to send his header over the top. But the visitors went ahead in the 40th minute with an emphatic finish from David Vaughan after he had been set up by Adam.

Blackpool increased their lead two minutes into the second half when Billy Clarke got on the end of a corner from Vaughan to send a looping header beyond Steve Simonsen. Clarke had won the corner after his effort in front of the posts had been parried by the goalkeeper. He wheeled away in delight after finding the target and Stoke faced an uphill task to get back in the match.

Tony Pulis' side were awarded a penalty in the 56th minute after Tuncay was bundled over by Alex Baptiste and Ashley Asthma. Lawrence stepped up only to see his effort turned superbly away by Matthew Gilks, who had replaced Paul Rachubka in the Blackpool goal.

Stoke increased the pressure and Tuncay saw his 25-yard shot blocked by Gilks before James Beattie fired over the bar from inside the area. The Turkish international should have pulled a goal back soon after, only to clear the bar when in a great position.

But the home side were reward for their persistence in the 75th minute when Danny Higginbotham got on the end of an Etherington corner to head home. Three minutes later Etherington equalised with a crisp finish after Fuller had set up the opening.

The drama continued with Stoke then taking a 3-2 lead in the 80th minute when Fuller scored after linking up with Tuncay. Blackpool though refused to lie down and Burgess pulled them level a minute later. However, Stoke secured their passage into the fourth round deep into stoppage time when Griffin raced forward and his shot beat Gilks.

Holloway: Euell was racially abused

Afterb the match Blackpool boss Ian Holloway said that Jason Euell had suffered racist abuse from a Stoke supporter at the Britannia Stadium. Police interviewed the Blackpool striker following the third-round match after a man was ejected by stewards and then detained.

Euell was sitting in the dug-out when the incident happened during Stoke's dramatic 4-3 victory.

Holloway said: "There was one horrible moment when a racist remark was made to Jason by one supporter. I hope the fellow is banned for life. We do not want anything like that. Jason is a footballer - it should not matter the colour of his skin.

"It is disgusting. The stewards believed what Jason said and got him out. I have to thank them for that. People around the fellow should have said they were not putting up with what was said. It is wrong. I saw Jason's reaction and tried to calm him down. I thought these days were gone but maybe I am being naive."

Of the match itself Holloway said: "I was in dreamland at 2-0 but I know Tony Pulis' teams never stop and they have a lot of quality.

"I thought it might be our night when our goalkeeper saved a penalty but then we had a mad spell, although I felt we deserved to take the game into extra time."

Stoke boss Pulis said: "We kept going and created loads of chances in the last 25 minutes. While the substitutes played a part the others who played a full 90 minutes, like Andy Griffin were smashing. I am very pleased for Andy, although Blackpool deserve credit as they played a lot of good football."