Dickinson fires Blackpool to victory.

Liam Dickinson may well turn out to be signing of the season for Pool, as the goals that he just can't stop scoring may well be enough to keep Pool in the Championship. 2 goals just after half time saw off Charlton, with many Pool fans wondering when the Dickinson bubble may pop.

Blackpool made 2 changes from the side that came back from Plymouth with 3 points, with Dickinson demoting Kabba to the bench with his first start, and Gary Taylor-Fletcher missed his first game of the season, dropping down to the bench as Adam Hammill stepped up. Charlton were unchanged from their draw against Southampton, meaning former Burnley striker Andy Gray led the line up front.

It was the visitors who made the brighter start, with Jay McEveley,  who had already been spoken to for nearly sending Adam Hammill into the technical area with a shove, made a good run down the left which ended with a cross finding Andy Gray, with the former Burnley man being denied by an incredible save by Rachubka, who somehow managed to smother the ball behind when it was easier to score.

Charlton continued to probe and Deon Burton, who was looking to become the first player to score against Blackpool in consecutive games at Bloomfield Road after scoring in Pool's last match for Sheffield Wednesday, forced Rachubka into another excellent save to touch over the bar.

Hamuer Bouazza shot wide when well placed after 24 minutes as the visitors dominated the early exchanges, with Burton again bringing a smart stop from Rachubka, and Charlton fans were starting to think there may be a chance of going back with all 3 points.

Blackpool finally made inroads as good work down the left from the other home debutant Kyel Reid, and when he laid off to the impressive Joe Martin, the young full back's cross was pinpoint, and Ben Burgess pulled away from his man, only to head way over Nicky Weaver's crossbar.

Andy Gray brought a vital block from Rob Edwards as Charlton continued to press, but the partnership of man of the match Lee Hendrie and Dickinson began to show promise, with Hendrie's corner picking out Dickinson, only to see his header hacked off the line.

At half time, neither team had much to complain about, after Blackpool had managed to defend well against the onslaught of Charlton, with Paul Rachubka keeping the home team in it at stages having made 2 or 3 excellent stops, reaffirming the fact that he is an excellent shot stopper. Another plus point for Pool was that they were managing to limit balls into the box, which has been Pool's main avenue for conceding goals.

Half Time: Blackpool 0-0 Charlton Athletic

 As the second half came around, there was a clear change in the manner of play from Blackpool. There was more urgency, a willingness to break down the visitors, and it came around almost immediately, when Hendrie's shot was deflected behind, the former England loan man sprinted to the corner to get started, and geed up the crowd as the others prepared. His cross was perfect, and Dickinson's late run was timed perfectly, with the lanky striker powering the ball past Weaver from 6 yards.

You could almost touch the relief around the ground as the home fans celebrated, with the players all realising how important the goal could be. All of them charged into the corner except Rachubka, with Hendrie and Dickinson taking the plaudits as they celebrated in the corner.

The game was over 9 minutes later, when good defending from the skipper Rob Edwards, who had his best game for a while, cleared up to Hendrie, whose flick over the defence was pinpoint, and Dickinson was in the clear. His first shot was magnificently saved by Weaver, but the former Man City keeper couldn't hold on, and Dickinson held off Jose Semedo to power the ball into the back of the net, and slid away on his knees back into the same corner.

As soon as the second goal went in, it was clear that Blackpool had relaxed, knowing that the job was done. However, Pool still needed to be alert at the back, with Evatt and Edwards proving to be a tough nut for the Charlton attack to break down, and they were supported aptly by Martin and Shaun Barker.

Rachubka was then called on to make the save of the game, with Bouazza showing the class that was on show with Watford in the Premiership, when he curled a perfect lob over Rachubka, only to see the American, against his former team, arch his back to touch it onto the bar, and the follow up from Gray was somehow kept out by the Pool keeper as he snapped back to touch it wide. Gray's header wouldn't have counted, as the flag was raised for offside, but Rachubka took the praise anyway.

Substitute Chris Dickson came close for the Addicks, shooting straight at Rachubka, and Ben Burgess had a speculative volley fly over as he attempted to re-create his screamer against Charlton at The Valley last season. As Burgess went off, to be replaced by Gow, not only did the fans stand to applaud, but Dickinson as well clapped off his striker partner, the loanee knowing the job that Burgess had done. Winning flicks, holding up the ball, and being completely unselfish had aided Dickinson to put in the fantastic performance that he had.

The fans then acknowledged Dickinson, as he was replaced by Kabba, with a standing ovation as the shattered striker, who had run himself into the ground, trudged off to the best reception for a home debutant for a long time. In his brief stint on the pitch, Kabba was nearly released for Pool's 3rd, when good work by Gow, who had nearly unlocked Charlton all by himself from an impossible position, only to be tackled at the last after beating 3 men, sent Kabba away over the top. The centre half had a head-start on Kabba, who sprinted after the ball, and just as he was about to move clear, the centre half hacked it away.

Pool fans were more than happy with the result, their first back-to-back win since beating Southampton and Barnsley in succession, and Dickinson came and applauded the fans who applauded him back, as congratulations for a stunning performance, and 2 goals which distance Pool from the relegation zone, and into 15th spot.

Blackpool: Rachubka, Barker, Edwards, Evatt, Martin, Reid,Hendrie, Southern, Hammill (Taylor-Fletcher 81),Dickinson (Kabba 90), Burgess (Gow 87).

Subs Not Used: Fox, Baptiste.

Charlton: Weaver, Cranie (Holland 79), Fortune, Hudson, McEveley, Gillespie (Sam 65), Semedo, Bailey, Bouazza, Gray (Dickson 65), Burton.

Subs Not Used: Elliot, McLeod.

Referee: Mike Jones (Cheshire)

Attendance: 6,648

Full Time: Blackpool 2-0 Charlton Athletic

My Man of the Match: Lee Hendrie