Blackpool 3 Tottenham Hotspur 1

Blackpool pulled off an impressive victory over Tottenham to move five points clear of the Barclays Premier League relegation zone. Seasiders captain Charlie Adam - who so nearly joined Spurs in January - opened the scoring with a firm penalty in the 18th minute after Sebastien Bassong had fouled DJ Campbell in the box. Campbell then netted his ninth goal of the season a minute before the interval by connecting with James Beattie’s cross before substitute Brett Ormerod netted an historic third with 10 minutes of normal time remaining, rendering Roman Pavlyuchenko’s effort at the death a mere consolation. The win was remarkable not only in that in brought Tottenham back down to earth after their famous Champions League win over AC Milan last week, but also because the visitors had numerous opportunities to score throughout the 90 minutes at Bloomfield Road. A couple of goal-line clearances and some superb saves by goalkeeper Richard Kingson kept Spurs out until just before the final whistle, though, as the Seasiders secured three vital points that move them up to 12th in the table. (Blackpool Gazette)

Blackpool 1 - 1 Aston Villa

Blackpool ended a run of five straight Premier League defeats with a deserved draw at home to Aston Villa.
Gabriel Agbonlahor put Villa head, finishing a blistering break by taking the ball around keeper Richard Kingson before shooting from a tight angle. Elliott Grandin equalised for Blackpool with a near-post header from a corner, before Kingson denied Stewart Downing. Jean Makoun was dismissed for a late tackle on DJ Campbell after the break, while Ashley Young shot wide late on. Ian Holloway's Tangerines had lost seven of their previous eight fixtures, with their only top-flight triumph this year a 2-1 victory over Liverpool on 12 January. That run of form had seen them slip to a season-low of 15th going into the contest, just two points above the relegation zone. (BBC Sport)

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 2 - 3 Man Utd

Manchester United staged a stunning late comeback to go five points clear at the top of the Premier League table with victory at Blackpool. United's attempt to extend their unbeaten league sequence to 23 games this season looked to be in shreds as the Seasiders - managed by Ian Holloway - roared into a fully deserved two-goal lead at the interval.

Blackpool still held the advantage given to them by two headed goals, from former United youngster Craig Cathcart and DJ Campbell, with only 18 minutes left - but they were then hit by a torrent of attacks that brought United boss Sir Alex Ferguson's visitors an unlikely triumph.

And Ferguson himself was able to take much of the credit for the turnaround following his decision to remove a subdued Wayne Rooney after 66 minutes and replace the England man with Javier Hernandez, who went on to play a crucial role in United's fightback. (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)

Sensational Blackpool beat Liverpool

BLACKPOOL completed a truly memorable night, beating Liverpool and ruining Kenny Dalglish’s first Premier League match in charge. The Tangerine hoardes went home delirious after witnessing a terrific performance from their time which earned them a deserved three points, and ensured they did the double over Liverpool, after winning 2-1 at Anfield earlier in the season. Mind you it didn’t immediately go to plan as Dalglish got off to the perfect start, when he saw his side score just four minutes in. The goal was simplicity itself, Martin Kelly’s pass sending Fernando Torres clear and the Spaniard - supposedly out of form - finished in emphatic fashion, smashing a rising drive into the roof of the net from a tight angle. Kenny Dalglish jumped for joy on the touchline - he couldn’t have wished for a better start on his return to league management. But the Seasiders wasted little time in hitting back when on 12 minutes Gary Taylor-Fletcher latched onto David Vaughan’s pass, wriggled his way past a half-hearted challenge by Daniel Agger and slid the ball under Pepe Reina. A quality finish from Taylor-Fletcher which brought Bloomfield Road to its feet. DJ Campbell put a header wide from close in and Charlie Adam’s half-hit shot was comfortably saved by Reina but there was nothing to separate the teams at the break. Adam had a thumping shot turned away 10 minutes after the retarts and Reina was in action moments later, spectacularly tipping Vaughan’s close range effort over the bar. (Blackpool Today)

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)

Sunderland 0 Blackpool 2

Sunderland were made to pay the ultimate price for a series of embarrassing misses as Blackpool's DJ Campbell helped maintain the newly-promoted Tangerines' spectacular start to the life in the Premier League. The player, who first tasted top flight action when Black Cats boss Steve Bruce brought him to Birmingham City, scored twice in the second half to earn his side yet another win on the road. Sunderland manager Steve Bruce was able to draft the in-form Lee Cattermole and Danny Welbeck straight back into the starting line-up for this afternoon's Barclays Premier League clash with Blackpool. Skipper Cattermole missed the Boxing Day trip to Manchester United through suspension, while Welbeck was ineligible under the terms of his loan agreement with the Old Trafford club. They were joined by David Meyler as Cristian Riveros, Steed Malbranque and Bolo Zenden dropped to the bench alongside Titus Bramble, who was included after six weeks out with a knee injury. Blackpool manager Ian Holloway replaced the suspended Charlie Adam with Ludovic Sylvestre and was also able to call upon a long-term absentee as Alex Baptiste returned to the bench after knee surgery with the Seasiders tasting action for the first time since December 11. The game, assistant referee Sian Massey's first in the Premier League, began at a brisk tempo with the home side attempting to make an early impact in the wake of their 2-0 defeat at United.

It was Blackpool who took the lead with 52 minutes gone after Phillips forced Bardsley to concede a right-wing corner.David Vaughan played the corner short to Neil Eardley, who cut inside on to his left foot to send in a cross which Ian Evatt flicked on for Campbell to volley home from close range. The visitors might have increased their lead within a minute when Phillips fired in a rasping shot which flew just wide of Gordon's right post. Sunderland were stung back into life and launched a series of raids deep into enemy territory, but too often their final ball lacked the required quality to trouble Kingson and his defenders. There was little wrong with Henderson's firmly-struck 58th-minute cross to the near post, by Gyan could not keep the ball down as he slid in to meet it. Bruce immediately made his move when he replaced Meyler with Kieran Richardson in the search for greater creativity. However, the visitors might have increased their lead twice within a minute as the home side wilted. (Daily Mail)

Blackpool 2 v 2 Bolton

Bolton came from two goals down to share the spoils with Blackpool in a thrilling draw at the Reebok. Defender Ian Evatt headed the visitors ahead in the first half from a precise Elliot Grandin corner. Luke Varney headed another Grandin corner into the Bolton net to make it 2-0 just before the hour. But Martin Petrov pulled one back with a delightful volley and Mark Davies rescued the home side with a calm side-foot finish a minute from time. Before the match, Blackpool manager Ian Holloway had spoken of his admiration for Owen Coyle, who has turned Bolton into attack-minded entertainers this season. Indeed, with 26 goals from 14 matches, Wanderers came into the game unbeaten in November and with a goal tally bettered by only four Premier League sides. Yet the home side initially struggled to achieve such penetration against their Lancashire rivals and had it not been for the Seasiders' refusal to sit on a two-goal cushion Holloway could have left the Reebok with the upper hand over his opposite number (BBC Sport)

Blackpool 2, Wolves 1

PRINCE William's presence at Bloomfield Road inspired the Seasiders to a 2-1 victory over Wolves.

The Prince watched the game from a sponsor's box and was no doubt enthralled by what was another momentous afternoon by the seaside.Luke Varney opened the scoring with a superb goal just three minutes in and Marlon Harewood scored his fifth of the season on the stroke of half time.

Varney's goal was stunning, as good as any player in the Premier League could produce. Controlling Ian Evatt's long ball forward on his chest in front of the ponderous Kevin Foley, Varney stepped in from the left byline and smashed a first-time looping half-volley over Marcus Hahnemann from fully 30 yards. It was the kind of goal that very few players can score and one Varney will be telling his grand-children about. Even William looked impressed...

DJ Campbell had a shot blocked and Hahnemann saved from Hareood's low strike but in truth it was Wolves who went onto boss the half. They had 60 per cent of possession and missed good headed chances, Stephen Hunt and Kevin Doyle both missing the target after getting on the end of good crosses from left back George Elokobi. They paid for those missed chances on the stroke of half time when Varney - having a good afternoon - got on the end of David Vaughan's left wing corner and Harewood stabbed the ball home from six yards.

The second half began at a frantic pace and rarely let off...read more...

West Ham 0 - 0 Blackpool

West Ham's struggles at the foot of the table continued as they failed to break down Blackpool, who made 11 changes. The hosts dominated the first half and were unlucky to be denied a penalty when Craig Cathcart appeared to use an arm to block Victor Obinna's volley. Luis Boa Morte and Pablo Barrera wasted good chances and Carlton Cole hit the post as the Hammers continued to press. But Blackpool's Marlon Harewood was guilty of the worst miss of all when he shot wide with the goal at his mercy.
Boos rang out around Upton Park at the final whistle but for a side lacking in confidence, West Ham's players produced plenty of endeavour in an entertaining encounter which lacked only a goal. Both teams had a hatful of chances to grab a late winner but the defences held out and both managers had to be satisfied with a hard-earned point. (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...

Pool Share The Spoils With Everton

A DISALLOWED Marlon Harewood goal in the final minute prevented Blackpool taking all three points against Everton.

After a slow start, this game turned into a pulsating contest with Pool - after struggling to keep the Toffees quiet for the first hour - ending the match on top and looking more likely to win it. It finished 2-2, with the Seasiders twice going ahead, but twice being pegged back within minutes of scoring. Neal Eardley gave Blackpool a ninth minute lead when he curled in a free kick from 25 yards. But five minutes later Tim Cahill headed in his 50th Premier League goal to put the Toffees back on level terms. Former Pool loanee Seamus Coleman, causing havoc all afternoon on the right, tested Matt Gilks with a volley and curled a left foot shot inches wide. Yakubu and the outstanding Mikel Arteta also come close. But the Seasiders responded by scoring within two minutes of the restart after half time, David Vaughan battling his way through and slamming the ball past Tim Howard. A mistake by Matt Gilks allowed Everton to equalise just two minutes later though - the Pool stopper letting Seamus Coleman's low drive squirm underneath his body. Despite chances at both ends, especially in a frantic final 10 minutes, it ended honours even. (Blackpool Today)

Blackpool 2 - 1 West Brom

Blackpool capitalised on West Brom suffering two first-half dismissals to record their first top-flight home victory since 1971. West Brom were dealt an early double blow when Pablo Ibanez was dismissed for a foul on DJ Campbell, resulting in a penalty that Charlie Adam scored. Gonzalo Jara's lunge on Luke Varney saw the Baggies reduced to nine men. Varney doubled Blackpool's lead before Youssouf Mulumbu curled in what proved to be a consolation goal for Albion. Having beaten Blackpool twice in the Championship last season and defied expectation with a superb start to this campaign, West Brom brought both belief and momentum into the game. However, two incidents in the first half - both of which saw the Baggies emerge a man lighter - swung the match in the home side's favour. (BBC Sport)

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)

Liverpool 1 Blackpool 2

GOALS from Luke Varney and Charlie Adam handed Blackpool sensational win against Liverpool.

Charlie Adam's penalty and Luke Varney's perfectly-timed run and finish did the damage in the first half and although Sotirios Kyrgiakos's header pulled one back Liverpool will spend the next fortnight rooted in the bottom three because of the forthcoming international break. Blackpool were well worth their win on their first-half performance alone. Liverpool were not helped by the 10th-minute loss of striker Fernando Torres to a suspected groin injury, but even then they should still have at least dominated possession. But they did not get chance as Blackpool attacked from the off and Adam's second-minute free-kick had Jose Reina batting the ball away. Torres barely had time to flash a cross into the six-yard box where Joe Cole deflected it wide before he was replace by David Ngog. Blackpool were enjoying far more of the play than they could have expected to at Anfield and DJ Campbell went close at the far post from Neal Eardley's teasing right-wing cross. When Steven Gerrard gave the ball away in his own half it was only Martin Skrtel's sliding challenge which denied Varney's shot but the pressure eventually told in the 29th minute. Right-back Glen Johnson, in particular, has had a dreadful start to the season and it got worse when he brought down Varney, allowing Adam to fire home the penalty despite Reina getting a hand on it. Liverpool's response was half-hearted with Kyrgiakos, Ngog, Johnson, Dirk Kuyt and Raul Meireles all failing to test goalkeeper Matt Gilks with chances.Seconds before the interval the Seasiders stunned their hosts when Gary Taylor-Fletcher flicked a ball into the penalty area and Varney ran on to fire past Reina ... read more...