Stoke’s home Championship campaign began with a comfortable 2-0 victory over Blackpool. The Potters, who sat bottom after a 2-0 defeat at the hands of Millwall on the opening weekend of the season, took control of the fixture after the half hour mark.
Arsenal loanee Harry Clarke nodded in on his home debut to give the hosts the lead and a Jacob Brown strike in the second half tightened their grip on the tie.
The visiting Tangerines could not build upon their defeat of Reading last weekend, despite the best efforts of an influential Josh Bowler and a buoyant travelling support.
Michael O’Neill handed home debuts to six of his Stoke players but the hosts started slowly in a tentative opening period. However, a new-look Potters attack fronted by latest recruit Dwight Gayle went some way to calming the early nerves.