Sean McConville was the Stanley hero as he headed home a late winner in the Boxing Day derby clash at Blackpool.

The winger came on as a second half substitute and was in the right place to direct Callum Johnson’s ball in past debutant keeper Jack Sims in the 91^st minute.

The win has extended Stanley’s unbeaten run to six games.

Both Colby Bishop and Seamus Conneely sat out the game with injuries against Simon Grayson’s side.

Blackpool started well as Jerome Opoku did enough to put off Jordan Thompson who was running through one-on-one in the early stages of the game.

The Seasiders looked a threat on the break but Stanley grew into the game Dion Charles lifting one close range strike over the bar and his next, from distance, stung the hands of goalkeeper Jak Alnwick.

Chances were at a premium but it was Joe Bursik who was next called upon on 26 minutes, pulling off a point blank save to keep out a Ryan Edwards far post header.

Seasiders keeper Alnwck, injured in saving from Charles earlier in the game, couldn’t carry on and Jack Sims came on for his first team debut on 30 minutes.

Blackpool thought they had opened the scoring through Sullay Kaikai on 32 minutes but his close range effort was ruled out for off-side.

The home side were pressing with Bursik denying Armand Gnanduillet while, at the other end, Jordan Clark had a go from distance but it was wide of the goal.

Stanley finished the half stronger and should have taken the lead in injury time when a back pass fell short and Offrande Zanzala ran onto the ball one-on-one with Sims but he fired straight at the stopper.

The Reds came out strongly after the break and piled the pressure on the Pool backline.

They forced sub keeper Sims into a save just after the hour mark, the stopper keeping out a Charles close range effort.

At the other end, Bursik did well to block a header from Ben Heneghan as the game opened up with McConville replacing Joe Pritchard on 62 minutes.

Both sides tried to break quickly but both goalkeepers didn’t have too much to do until McConville popped up with the late winner, celebrated long after the fnal whistle by the 794 Stanley fans.