Blackpool got their Championship campaign off to a flyer with a hard fought victory over Hull City on Friday night.
The Seasiders showed no signs of a relegation hangover as Gary Taylor-Fletcher's sensational late strike sealed the points in an evenly matched game at the KC Stadium.
The forward - who scored the opening goal of last season in a thumping 4-0 win over Wigan Athletic - repeated the trick by running on to Billy Clarke's chipped pass and drilling a stunning half volley into the top corner in the 82nd minute.
All the negativity surrounding Ian Holloway's downbeat mid-week press conference was soon put to bed as the players let their football do the talking.
"We've had a terrible pre-season, we haven't played well at all, but we have tonight so that's all that matters," the Seasiders boss admitted.
Both sides struck the woodwork in a slow tempo opening period - Tom Cairney curled a delightful 25-yard free kick against the upright for the hosts, whilst Kevin Phillips rattled the post from the edge of the box for the visitors.
The game sprung into to life in the second half as the home side spurned a number of gilt-edged chances.
Tigers striker Matty Fryatt firstly raced clear through on goal only to be denied by a heroic last-ditch challenge from Alex Baptiste.
The front-man then failed to find a way past onrushing keeper Matt Gilks in the same situation moments later, with Nicky Barmby blasting the rebound over.
The game looked destined to finish goalless when Taylor-Fletcher nodded a free-header wide from a corner, but he atoned for his error by smashing a goal of the season contender past the hopeless Peter Gulacsi.
Hull's search for an equaliser ended in vain when Danny Simpson lobbed a glorious chance over in the final minute, as the referee's whistle sparked scenes of jubilation from the travelling tangerine contingent.
Blackpool now have cause for optimism for the rest of the campaign as they look to bounce back to the Premier League at the first ask.
"I want to prove that it's not just the players we've lost that were good," said Holloway.
I want these lads to shine again and for me they did in this very tough fixture."
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