Blackpool 2 v 2 Fulham

Dickson Etuhu's late equaliser rescued a point for Fulham and denied Blackpool a deserved victory as top-flight football made its return to Bloomfield Road after 39 years. Manager Ian Holloway's newly-promoted Tangerines looked on course for a momentous three points as they came from behind after Bobby Zamora - watched by England coach Fabio Capello - headed Fulham into a first-half lead. Blackpool's patient passing approach and attacking verve was rewarded when John Pantsil turned Luke Varney's shot into his own net with 19 minutes remaining. Varney then sent Blackpool's fans into wild celebrations five minutes later as he finished in style from 12 yards after racing on to Brett Ormerod's through ball. But with three minutes left and Bloomfield Road counting down the seconds to the final whistle, Etuhu raced clear on to Moussa Dembele's pass to beat Matt Gilks. It was a point Fulham barely deserved after the home side dominated for long periods, but Holloway will take great encouragement from his team's display against a side that reached the Europa League final in May. (BBC Sport)

MK Dons 4 v 3 Blackpool (AET)

Lewis Guy's extra-time goal gave MK Dons a win over top-flight Blackpool in a superb Carling Cup second-round tie. Sam Baldock fired the Dons ahead from long range in the first minute, with Brett Ormerod levelling on the hour. Jermaine Easter hit two goals in two minutes shortly after to put the Dons in charge but Ludovic Sylvestre reduced arrears a minute later. Charlie Adam's penalty forced extra time in which substitute Guy struck the decisive blow with 10 minutes left.

It was a fittingly dramatic conclusion to a hugely entertaining game in which the home side had never been behind but were continually pegged back by their spirited opponents. It was a much-altered Seasiders side from the one that lost 6-0 at Arsenal on Saturday, with manager Ian Holloway making 10 changes. Holloway himself was not present to see his second string battle hard but ultimately fail against League One MK Dons - with the Blackpool club website stating he was watching a possible transfer target at another match. Assistant boss Steve Thompson, standing in for Holloway, had barely taken his seat in the dugout when Baldock collected a Sean O'Hanlon pass and scored from 18 yards after just 53 seconds. (BBC Sport)

Arsenal 6 - 0 Blackpool

Theo Walcott registered the first hat-trick of his club career as Arsenal brought Blackpool back down to earth with a resounding win at the Emirates. Newly-promoted Blackpool, who won 4-0 at Wigan on the opening day, started well but Walcott slotted Arsenal ahead. Ian Evatt was sent off for a foul that appeared to be outside the area, Andrey Arshavin scoring the penalty, before Walcott drilled a third on 39 minutes. Abou Diaby clipped home, Walcott curled in and Marouane Chamakh headed a sixth. While they squandered numerous chances to extend their advantage, the Gunners now have their first victory of the season and boss Arsene Wenger will surely be delighted with his side's performance.

Opposite number Ian Holloway insisted before the match that his side would "have a go" and admitted they "might end up losing by the most embarrassing scoreline even in the Premier League". Such a scenario did not quite materialise for the Seasiders - but after Evatt's dismissal there was a feeling that it could have gone that way. Blackpool did enjoy plenty of early possession and carved out the first meaningful attempt on goal when David Vaughan shot powerfully at Manuel Almunia. (BBC Sport)

Best Newcomers ....

BLACKPOOL SIMPLY SENSATIONAL AGAINST WIGAN

WIGAN 0, BLACKPOOL 4. FOR once, mentions of Blackpool’s illuminations have nothing to do with the seafront.

On an incredible, implausible debut, Ian Holloway’s improbable underdogs lit up the Premier League. Now they tower over the division. They were peerless. This was simply sensational.League goal; to Marlon Harewood, the brace that made it an elegant demolition job; to Holloway, surely, the plaudits for a rapid, radical overhaul of a forgotten club. Pass and move is supposed to be Arsenal’s ethos. Blackpool have borrowed it to make the tangerine dream all the more attractive. This was no smash and grab – it was classy attacking football. It was a club that went from disarray to disbelief in a matter of days. In midweek Holloway denied he was resigning after a frustrating summer in the transfer market. Enter seven signings in 72 hours.
Holloway’s bargain basement version of supermarket sweep paid immediate dividends. Elliot Grandin made a goal. Harewood set up one and scored two more. Charlie Adam sent Harewood surging clear on the right and he rolled an inviting cross to the far post for Taylor-Fletcher to sweep in.Formerly of Northwich Victoria, Grays, Dagenham & Redbridge and Lincoln, Taylor-Fletcher is an unlikely hero. But then they all are. That’s what makes Blackpool so remarkable.
Unwanted at Aston Villa, Harewood had the choice of Premier League Blackpool or League One Huddersfield. It looks like he picked the right one. He opened his account with a 25-yard shot that squirmed under Chris Kirkland’s body.

Having waited 28 months for a Premier League goal, Harewood had a second in five minutes when Kirkland parried Grandin’s shot and the former West Ham man slotted in the rebound.

The rout was completed when a player who was relegated from the Football League in his Mansfield days, Alex Baptiste, scored in the Premier League with a mishit cross. It was an emotional comeback match for referee Mark Halsey after his successful cancer treatment. (Sunday Express)

Wigan 0 - 4 Blackpool

Premier League newcomers Blackpool had a dream start to their campaign as they beat a Wigan team in disarray. The Tangerines were 3-0 up at half-time, with Gary Taylor-Fletcher side-footing them into a deserved lead. Livewire Marlon Harewood added a second with a 22-yard shot and also slotted in after Elliot Grandin had an effort parried by goalkeeper Chris Kirkland. Steve Gohouri had a header disallowed for Wigan before Alex Baptiste's cross inadvertently added Blackpool's fourth. Wigan were comfortably beaten and it was the home side which looked more like the Premier League debutants than the more assured Blackpool, who were making their return to the top flight for the first time since 1971. Until Chelsea beat West Brom 6-0 in the later kick-off, the three points had also put Blackpool top of the table for the first time since the opening day of the 1957/58 season. (BBC Sport)