Blackpool's unbeaten start to life back in the Championship was brought to an abrupt end by early pace-setters Derby County at Bloomfield Road.
Both sides came into the fixture following back-to-back wins, but it was the Rams who maintained their 100% record courtesy of Craig Bryson's second half effort.
In a game where clear-cut chances were far and few between, the defender pounced to settle the contest after Steven Davies' 25-yard free-kick was parried into his path by Blackpool keeper Matt Gilks.
Matt Hill replaced Craig Cathcart in central defence to make his full league debut in the Seasiders' only change since the opening two games.
The first half was a largely uneventful affair, with both teams seemingly cancelling each other out.
Blackpool enjoyed the lion's share of possession but struggled to penetrate a stubborn Derby back-line, as the visitors were content to sit back and play on the break.
It took 22 minutes for a goalkeeper to be tested as Gary Taylor-Fletcher's long-range effort was easily gathered Derby's England U21 stopper Frankie Fielding.
The visitors came close to scoring soon later when Ben Davies' goal-bound cross drew Matt Gilks into a full stretch save as the ball headed for the top corner.
Blackpool ended the half on top though as Stephen Crainey's cross was deflected narrowly wide, with Keith Southern's volley forcing a save from the resulting corner.
The encounter finally sprung to life in the second half as Kevin Phillips fizzed a dangerous effort wide as he looked to add to the two goals he scored in Sunday's victory over Peterborough.
Brett Ormerod was then a whisker away from connecting to Taylor-Fletcher's cross with the goal at his mercy.
The away side came agonisingly close to scoring on the hour mark when Jamie Ward curled a fantastic effort against the upright with Gilks well beaten, but the deadlock was broken minutes later.
Hill fouled Davies 25-yards from goal and the striker picked himself up to line up the free-kick that Bryson eventually converted.
Blackpool instantly hit back and were unlucky not to equalise when Taylor-Fletcher struck the outside of the post with a vicious effort.
Holloway introduced Tom Ince and Craig Sutherland as the clock ran down, but his team failed to conjure up a meaningful opening in a bid to rescue a point.
"We couldn't get what we needed (the first goal) and to give it away in that fashion I feel a bit sick," Ian Holloway admitted.
"It was about trying to break down the door and unfortunately we couldn't do it."
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