Harry Clarke joined on loan from Arsenal in the summer
Stoke City earned their first three points of the season with Harry Clarke and Jacob Brown giving them a deserved Championship victory over Blackpool.
Defender Clarke, on loan from Arsenal, nodded Josh Tymon's far-post cross past Daniel Grimshaw to give the Potters a first-half lead.
The Seasiders improved in the second half, with Josh Bowler going close to equalising shortly after the restart.
Stoke missed several chances to double their lead before Brown grabbed their second at the near post with 15 minutes remaining.
Dwight Gayle, who joined from Newcastle last month, registered the first effort on goal for the hosts after 13 minutes but Grimshaw was equal to the striker's shot.
Blackpool had to weather plenty of early pressure before Gary Madine sent a glancing header wide and that was the forward's final action in the game as he pulled up with an injury and was replaced by Theo Corbeanu.
Stoke's Josh Laurent then rattled the bar with a fierce effort before the Tangerines went close at the other end when Jerry Yates marginally failed to get on the end of Sonny Carey's ball across goal.
Michael O'Neill's side went ahead when Clarke headed in Tymon's deep cross from close-range to score the Potters' first goal of the season.
The visitors started the second half much-improved and their most dangerous player Bowler fired narrowly wide after a driving run into the box.
Bowler was causing problems for the Stoke defence and was clipped on the edge of the penalty area on the hour mark but Blackpool failed to take advantage of the promising attacking position as Lewis Fiorini's free-kick was headed away.
Stoke twice went close to doubling their lead in quick succession when Aden Flint placed a header over the bar from Tymon's free-kick, before Grimshaw made a fine reaction save to deny Gayle a first goal for his new club.
However, the second goal only seemed like a matter a time and it duly arrived as another dangerous Tymon cross was swept home by Brown.
- Line-upsMatch StatsLive Text
Line-upsStoke
Formation 3-5-2
1Bursik32Taylor4Flint16Wilmot2Clarke8Baker28Laurent18Smallbone14Tymon11Gayle9Brown
- 1Bursik32Taylor4Flint16Wilmot2Clarke8BakerBooked at 74mins28LaurentBooked at 90mins18SmallboneSubstituted forClucasat 84'minutes14TymonSubstituted forThompsonat 90+4'minutes11GayleSubstituted forCampbellat 81'minutes9Brown
Substitutes
- 6Jagielka7Clucas10Campbell13Bonham15Thompson22Kilkenny29Wright-Phillips
Blackpool
Formation 4-3-3
32Grimshaw2Connolly21Ekpiteta15R Williams23Thompson8Fiorini16Carey17Virtue11Bowler14Madine9Yates
- 32Grimshaw2ConnollyBooked at 90mins21Ekpiteta15R Williams23Thompson8FioriniSubstituted forPatinoat 70'minutes16Carey17VirtueSubstituted forDougallat 45'minutesBooked at 78mins11Bowler14MadineSubstituted forCorbeanuat 21'minutes9YatesSubstituted forLaveryat 82'minutes
Substitutes
- 1Maxwell12Dougall19Lavery22Hamilton25Corbeanu28Patino34Thorniley
Referee:Robert MadleyAttendance:23,612Match StatsHome TeamStokeAway TeamBlackpoolPossessionHome48%Away52%ShotsHome20Away10Shots on TargetHome7Away0CornersHome5Away6FoulsHome10Away8Live TextPost update
Match ends, Stoke City 2, Blackpool 0.
90'+7'Full Time
Second Half ends, Stoke City 2, Blackpool 0.
90'+6'Post update
Attempt missed. Lewis Baker (Stoke City) left footed shot from more than 35 yards misses to the right.
90'+5'Booking
Josh Laurent (Stoke City) is shown the yellow card for a bad foul.
90'+4'Post update
Josh Bowler (Blackpool) wins a free kick in the attacking half.
90'+4'Post update
Foul by Josh Laurent (Stoke City).
90'+4'Substitution
Substitution, Stoke City. Jordan Thompson replaces Josh Tymon.
90'+2'Booking
Callum Connolly (Blackpool) is shown the yellow card for a bad foul.
90'+2'Post update
Foul by Callum Connolly (Blackpool).
90'+2'Post update
Josh Tymon (Stoke City) wins a free kick on the left wing.
90'+1'Post update
Corner, Blackpool. Conceded by Connor Taylor.
90'Post update
Attempt blocked. Rhys Williams (Blackpool) header from the centre of the box is blocked. Assisted by Charlie Patino with a cross.
90'Post update
Corner, Blackpool. Conceded by Josh Laurent.
90'Post update
Attempt blocked. Josh Bowler (Blackpool) left footed shot from outside the box is blocked. Assisted by Theo Corbeanu.
84'Substitution
Substitution, Stoke City. Sam Clucas replaces William Smallbone.
82'Substitution
Substitution, Blackpool. Shayne Lavery replaces Jerry Yates.
81'Substitution
Substitution, Stoke City. Tyrese Campbell replaces Dwight Gayle.
80'Post update
Attempt missed. Jacob Brown (Stoke City) right footed shot from outside the box is close, but misses to the left.
78'Booking
Kenneth Dougall (Blackpool) is shown the yellow card for a bad foul.
78'Post update
Dwight Gayle (Stoke City) wins a free kick in the defensive half.
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Source: bbc.com