Everton 5 - 3 Blackpool

Louis Saha grabbed four goals as Everton broke Blackpool's spirited resistance in a remarkable game. The hosts dominated before the break and Saha stroked them ahead but Alex Baptiste's six-yard shot levelled it. A neat near-post Saha effort made it 2-1 but Jason Puncheon's side-footed finish and Charlie Adam's measured header put the visitors ahead. Saha headed home to make it 3-3 and he added his fourth on the break after Jermaine Beckford volleyed number four. It was a quite awesome match at a rain-soaked Goodison Park, full of incident, controversy and free-flowing, no-holds barred attacking football. (BBC Sport)

Blackpool 1 - 3 West Ham

Victor Obinna followed up his weekend hat-trick with two goals as West Ham beat Blackpool to move off the foot of the Premier League table. Keeper Richard Kingson's blunder gifted him the opening goal, before debutant Robbie Keane volleyed in a second. Blackpool's Charlie Adam scored from a corner only for Obinna's rasping shot to make it 3-1 before half-time. Neil Eardley thumped a free-kick against the bar as the Seasiders laid siege in the second half but West Ham held on. (BBC Sport)

Blackpool 1 Sunderland 2

Sunderland's travelling fans bellowed their disgust at Darren Bent's shock move to Aston Villa in the language of the shop floor. But Kieran Richardson stepped forward to fill the breach with two goals to sink Blackpool. He might have had at least a hat-trick as he tormented Ian Holloway's side, and Sunderland manager Steve Bruce said: 'I must have asked him to play in five or six positions this season and we know he is capable of a performance like that. Richardson, playing just behind Asamoah Gyan, had not scored this season, but the former Manchester United man revelled in his attacking role, handing his shirt to a Sunderland fan at the final whistle. Richardson was the catalyst for a victory which cemented Sunderland in sixth place. However, Blackpool manager Holloway raved about his midfield fulcrum, Charlie Adam, and railed at the clubs who want to lure him away. Adam would have been on the scoresheet long before his 86th-minute penalty but for Sunderland keeper Craig Gordon. (Daily Mail)

West Brom 3 - 2 Blackpool

Peter Odemwingie scored twice as West Brom ended a run of five successive Premier League defeats with a 3-2 win over Blackpool at The Hawthorns. David Vaughan put the visitors in front with a 25-yard left-foot strike but Odemwingie slotted home from 10 yards. After the break, James Morrison tapped in from close range, but Gary Taylor-Fletcher's back-post shot looked to have earned the Tangerines a point. However, Odemwingie volleyed in a deserved winner for a dominant Albion. (BBC Sport)

Blackpool 1 - 2 Birmingham

Scott Dann's late winner lifted Birmingham City out of the Premier League relegation zone after a pulsating encounter with Blackpool. Dann latched on to a header from his central defensive partner Roger Johnson before slotting past Richard Kingson. The visitors had taken a first-half lead when Stephen Crainey's error gifted a goal to Alexander Hleb. A DJ Campbell volley looked to have salvaged a point for the hosts before Dann's 89th-minute winner. The goal handed Birmingham their first away league win of the season and catapulted them four places up the table to 15th. But it was cruel on Blackpool, who had more than played their part in a riveting match in which both sides created countless chances, with the visitors striking the woodwork twice and the hosts once. (BBC Sport)

Man City 1 - 0 Blackpool

Manchester City kept up the pressure on Premier League leaders Manchester United as they produced a battling performance to see off Blackpool. Carlos Tevez shot wide after 24 seconds before Gary Taylor-Fletcher forced Joe Hart to save as Blackpool improved. But City went ahead when Adam Johnson's 25-yarder was deflected in and Tevez missed from the penalty spot soon after following a foul on Yaya Toure. Tevez missed a host of second-half chances but City did enough to win. The result keeps City, who were hanging on to the win at the end, on the same points as neighbours United at the top of the division after the Red Devils' 2-1 win at West Brom earlier on Saturday, though City have played two games more. For a while, Blackpool appeared to have heeded their warning as they took the game to their high-flying hosts and began to cause some mischief at the other end, as Taylor-Fletcher collected an Adam pass and forced Hart into a flying save with a 12-yard shot towards the far corner. (BBC Sport)

Aston Villa 3 - 2 Blackpool

James Collins headed a late winner as Aston Villa recorded their first home win since August with a dramatic victory over a much-changed Blackpool. Stuart Downing put Villa ahead with a volley that deflected beyond Richard Kingson but Marlon Harewood levelled with a side-foot shot before the break. Nathan Delfouneso volleyed Villa ahead again but Blackpool equalised when a DJ Campbell shot deflected in off Collins. The defender made amends minutes later when he headed in from a corner.

The goal came as a cruel blow to a Blackpool side that featured 10 changes from the team that drew 2-2 against Everton on Saturday. Six of those players, including skipper Jason Euell, were making their first Premier League starts this term. Given that the Seasiders arrived at Villa Park in the best away form of any team in the top flight, the wholesale change seemed a curious move from Blackpool boss Ian Holloway. And yet it was the visitors who made the livelier start, Villa old-boy Harewood spurning two early chances to score on his first return to Villa Park....read more...

Birmingham 2 - 0 Blackpool

Birmingham earned their first Premier League victory since August after outclassing Blackpool at St Andrew's. Liam Ridgewell gave the hosts the lead just before the break, nodding home from two yards after Nikola Zigic's header came back off the crossbar. Star midfielder Charlie Adam then gave the ball away in his own six-yard box and allowed Zigic to double the lead.
Blackpool were enterprising but lacked a cutting edge as the home side closed out a comfortable win. The Seasiders went into the match with the best away record in the Premier League and must have had hopes of further success on the road with Birmingham struggling to repeat the form which saw them go unbeaten for so long last season. But the resilience and belief that inspired Ian Holloway's side to wins at Wigan, Newcastle and Liverpool never really materialised at a soggy St Andrew's. Holloway had made headlines in the build-up to the match with a tirade about player power, the Bosman ruling and a lack of video technology in the game. But even if the latter had been in place, it would have had no bearing on a game in which Birmingham finally began to find some much-needed home form. Holloway's decision to go for an attacking formation should be commended, although the colourful boss might have had second thoughts as the Blues controlled the opening stages....read more...

Blackpool 2 Man City 3

IT may be of scant consolation to Ian Holloway and his Blackpool team but even one of the world's best tennis players reckons the Seasiders are brilliant.

Andy Murray thumped Roger Federer in the final of Shanghai Masters, then returned to his hotel room in the Far East to watch this game.We know that because he posted a message on Twitter (ask your children, it's some internet thing) saying: 'Blackpool are so good to watch!

Loving what Ian Holloway has done'.Apart from unnecessary use of an exclamation mark, spot on Mr Murray, and rest assured that all Blackpool fans will give you an extra cheer when you're losing a heartbreaking five-setter in the quarter-finals at Wimbledon next year.This contest might have been billed as princes versus paupers but it turned out to be nothing of the kind.For lengthy periods it was hard to tell which club shopped at Harrods and which in Aldi as Pool's team, put together for less than £3m, more than matched a Manchester City squad worth in excess of £200m.Class possibly just about told in the end but the Seasiders were so unlucky to lose.

For starters they became the first side to score twice against Roberto Mancini's side this season.

Then there were City's first two goals - gifted to them by the officials. Carlos Tevez was offside for his first; the Argentinean getting away with a foul on Ian Evatt for the next - a killer as Pool had hauled themselves back into the contest by equalising 60 seconds earlier.To say Ian Holloway was unimpressed with the performance of referee Phil Dowd is, believe me, putting it mildly. But given that he was already confined to the stands after an improper conduct charge, the boss, as frustrated as he was, had to be careful with what he said after the game. He just about held his tongue and managed to avoid getting himself in further hot water.

The end result was a real shame because Blackpool couldn't have played much better.For a while – particularly the opening 20 minutes of the second half when they were bossing the contest – it looked as if they would actually beat City. They haven't done that in a league game since April 1962, when the Beatles had just been rejected by Decca Records because "guitar groups are on the way out".

The wait might go on but my word the Seasiders are making a lot of people look about as foolish as Decca."They'll never survive in the Premier League," chirped the so-called experts. "They're going straight back down, be lucky to get 10 points," said others.

Complete nonsense, I'd argue. While there is still a long way to go and probably difficult periods to overcome, all the evidence we've seen so far suggests Blackpool will be a top-flight side next season.They are playing with a confidence and rhythm that is a joy to watch.David Vaughan and Charlie Adam are in terrific form in the middle and with Luke Varney displaying more energy than your average Commonwealth Games athlete, the omens are encouraging indeed.How wonderful it was just to witness this game.

The stadium was bouncing for a fixture that Pool fans had been really looking forward to.Fulham and Blackburn, the previous home games, had been great, but City were the first real glamour visitors. After a slow start, when they were perhaps still a trifle surprised to find themselves on the same stage as the likes of Carlos Tevez, Emmanuel Adebayor (blimey he's a big lad) and Nigel de Jong (not the victim of as many pantomime boos as I'd have hoped), Pool found their feet and just about edged the first period, though neither side created many real clear-cut chances.

It's a vaguely interesting statistic, by the way, that Blackpool haven't scored in the first half at Bloomfield Road since the play-off semi-final with Nottingham Forest. Different story after the break though, as the contest became stretched and opportunities presented themselves.DJ Campbell had the best opening, finding himself free in front of goal after good work by Adam and Varney. Unfortunately, the Seasiders club record signing couldn't get his shot on target – beating the post as well as Joe Hart.

Gary Taylor-Fletcher had a goal disallowed (a touch harshly as he was onside, it was Elliott Grandin who was off ... news which further brightened Holloway's mood), then Adam's thumping shot was tipped over the bar by Hart. Pool were in the ascendency, if any side were to score it was surely them.Famous last words. As so often happens in football, under-the-cosh City broke up the other end and scored. David Silva, on as a sub a couple of minutes earlier, crossed and Tevez finished with a clever backheel. Offside by half a yard though.

The excellent Neal Eardley had to clear Milner's chip off the line, then Milner – finally showing us why he is allegedly worth £26m – rattled the crossbar with a long-range effort. It seemed Pool might collapse. We should have known better. On 79 minutes, Varney was fouled on the right flank. Charlie Adam whipped in a free-kick which substitute Marlon Harewood glanced past Joe Hart.The crowd went berserk, Glad All over started playing.Alas we'd barely reached the chorus when City regained the lead – Tevez getting away with his foul on Evatt, then enjoying another slice of luck when his deflected shot flew off Craig Cathcart's boot and into the bottom corner.

Tevez hit the bar as Pool pushed forward and left holes at the back, then Silva scored a superb third goal – twisting past opponents for fun before curling the ball beyond Matt Gilks.That was in the final minute.

Holloway's team never give up though and earned some reward for their endeavour when they snatched a second goal at the death, Taylor-Fletcher turning in Varney's scuffed shot from an Adam corner. There wasn't time to hit back again, a pity as City were looking rattled. It meant disappointment at the end, but is disappointment really the correct word after a performance like this?Of course it's not.

This was terrific stuff from Blackpool.

Viewed live on TV by millions, they've no doubt won countless more fans and will be showered with praise by the very people writing them off a few weeks back. Keep this up and they it's not a case of 'if' but 'when' they survive. (Blackpool Today)

Blackpool 1 - 2 Blackburn

Brett Emerton struck in injury time with his first Premier League goal for two years as Blackburn broke Blackpool hearts in a pulsating Lancashire derby. The visitors had gone in front through a soft own goal when Charlie Adam nodded into his own net as goalkeeper Matthew Gilks lost his footing. Blackpool hit back and substitute Matt Phillips scored on his Premier League debut with virtually his first touch. But substitute Emerton snatched the points with low shot into the corner.

Defeat was exceptionally hard on the Seasiders, who poured forward in the second half and deserved something from an enthralling encounter, which was high on drama.Rovers, who had not won in the league since the opening day of the season and were knocked out of the Carling Cup by Aston Villa in midweek, had let leads slip in four previous games this season and looked certain to do so again in a remarkable finale.

They might have fallen behind after only 90 seconds when home defender Ian Evatt's header appeared destined for the top corner but Michel Salgado headed the ball on to the underside of the bar before it was scrambled clear. (BBC Sport)

Chelsea 4 - Blackpool 0

Blackpool struggled to cope with a rampant Chelsea side at Stamford Bridge, as Ian Holloway's men went down 4-0 in the capital.

The manager made one change from the team which beat Newcastle, with Alex Baptiste replacing Brett Ormerod. This meant Baps went into the middle of midfield and Elliot Grandin operated out wide. Any game plan to stifle the Champions with a slightly more defensive formation was undone within 90 seconds. The home team won a cheap corner and from there the Pool defence were unable to deal with a routine ball into the box, allowing Salomon Kalou with an easy unmarked finish at the back post. As the ball came in, defenders were sucked to the ball which meant Kalou, who had dropped off, had no problems slotting home for 1-0. Set pieces were a thorn in the Blackpool eleven all day, with players unsure who they were picking up and where they were supposed to be stationed; it wasn't clear whether zonal marking was being tried or that the Blues were just too savvy to spring clear of markers. Before the Seasiders had time to settle - which they probably failed to manage until after the break - Chelsea were two up. Michael Essien and Didier Drogba were at the heart of the move, fashioning a close range chance for the in-form Florent Malouda who made no mistake, putting past Matt Gilks with ease on 12 minutes. Neal Eardley was getting ripped to shreds by Ashley Cole down the left hand side and chances came and went at regular intervals for the hosts. The former Oldham man didn't help himself by a lack of positional awareness as he allowed straight and diagonal balls to loop over him, leaving Cole with the freedom of Stamford Bridge. The midfield managed to secure a slight foothold in the game after the second went in, keeping the ball for short spells but weren't helped by the gallivanting runs of Alex Baptiste who, as a supposed holding midfielder, was the furthest forward a few times, leaving Pool susceptible to the counter attack. It wasn't a counter attack which brought the third goal, but an individual error in the middle of the park. Elliot Grandin got caught on the ball which ended up seeing Cole cross for Drogba who had his deflected effort unluckily fly in off Ian Evatt, leaving Gilks helpless. That was on 30 minutes, and 10 later there was the final goal of the day. Kalou was given far too much room by Stephen Crainey and found Malouda who fired home brilliantly to wrap up the scoring, thankfully! Going into the break it felt like the Blues could have hit six, seven, maybe eight in the mood that they were in. Sometimes you have to sit back and applaud to opposition and Carlo Ancelotti and his team look like Premiership winners already. There were chances for Blackpool, but Alex Baptiste saw a long range effort well saved and Dekel Keinan nodded wide from a corner. Ollie made an obvious change at half time, hauling off the out of depth Eardley to replace him with Gary Taylor-Fletcher (Baptiste dropping to right back), with the midfielder having a smashing game in the second half. Charlie Adam and David Vaughan were able to keep the ball more in the second 45 after knowing where they stood without a defender alongside them, which meant chances were created for the front three. DJ Campbell almost reduced the arrears as he sprung the offside trap before his one-on-one shot beat Petr Cech but not Ivanovic on the line. There were more opportunities to come as Pool produced a more characteristic attacking display. Taylor-Fletcher saw a chip brilliantly tipped over by Cech whilst Luke Varney had a volley fly wide. Stephen Crainey and Charlie Adam in particular were getting into decent crossing positions but the quality of ball into the box wasn't that of their more established opponents, which was perhaps the most glaring difference between the teams. There were more chances for the hosts to extend their lead, with Malouda being the biggest culprit for spurning them. Chelsea should have had a penalty in the last minute but Mark Clattenburg was extremely lenient and blew for full time instead. However, all in all, there will be bigger and better teams who lose by more than four at Chelsea and the players should be proud of their second half performance. Ian Holloway said after the game that we simply weren't good enough in the first half and that is probably the most disappointing thing to come out of the game. As a defensive unit they didn't do themselves justice at all but as Sky Sports noted, the game was a freebie and moving onto the Blackburn game as quickly as possible is the best course of action. (Vital Football)

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)