A touch of class from Kevin Phillips rescued Blackpool a precious point against a dangerous Cardiff City side at Bloomfield Road.
The evergreen striker cancelled out Don Cowie's opener in sensational style to deny the Bluebirds the chance to extract revenge for their 2010 play-off final defeat at the hands of the Seasiders.
Malky Mackay's men dominated the game for long spells and should have been a couple of goals to the good before Cowie deservedly fired them ahead moments into the second half.
But a triple subsitution from Seasiders boss Ian Holloway sparked a mini revival as Phillips demonstrated his quality in front of goal once again with his fifth of the campaign.
"We managed to knick something when we didn't deserve it. I feel a bit like a burglar," conceded Holloway.
Blackpool remained unchanged from last week's 2-0 victory over Ipswich, but failed to get to grips with a side who showed greater attacking vigour.
But for all their dominance in a one-way opening period, Cardiff
failed to find the all-important goal.
Summer signing Kenny Miller spurned a gilt-edged chance on the quarter hour mark, striking the side-netting after Peter Whittingham had played him clear through on goal.
Blackpool conjured their first meaningful opening on the 20 minute mark when Billy Clarke's cross found Phillips in space, but David Marshall did well to tip his header over.
The visitors continued to threaten and came close to scoring when Mark Hudson's close-range effort was tipped away by Matt Gilks before Anthony Gerrard headed Craig Conway's corner narrowly over minutes later.
The Seasiders nearly opened the scoring against the run of play in the dying moments of the half when Keith Southern's deflected drive drew Marshall into a fine outstretched save.
Two minutes after the break, Cardiff's fortune finally turned when Cowie expertly glanced Whittingham's cross into the far corner to open a deserved lead.
Ian Holloway introduced a triple substitution to inject some energy into
his lagging side on 52 minutes, with Matt Phillips and Stephen Crainey joining debutant James Hurst on the field of play.
The changes paid dividends as Blackpool finally found their feet and played themselves back into the game.
The equaliser arrived on the hour mark when Phillips unleashed a beautiful angled strike into the top corner that Marshall was powerless to stop.
Things nearly got better for soon later, but Ormerod couldn't divert home Matt Phillips' free-kick from close-range.
Cardiff went all out in search of a winner towards the finale and came agonisingly close when Whittingham's 30-yard free kick sailed inches wide of the post.
Gilks excellently saved from Gunnarson in the midst of a goalmouth scramble at the death as the game ended all square.
It was an excellent point for the Seasiders, who remain in the top half of the table.
"Today Cardiff played better than us and probably deserved all three points. I'm glad Earnshaw didn't come on," admitted Holloway.
Add Click Blackpool on FACEBOOK at: http://facebook.com/ClickBlackpool (For all the latest news updates via your status feed)
You can also follow Click Blackpool on TWITTER at: http://twitter.com/ClickBlackpool
You can follow the editor at: http://twitter.com/Wilson_LAD
Wigan Athletic ace Diame set for Malaga switch
(Tue 22/05)
Bolton Wanderers confirm Petrov stay
(Tue 22/05)
Post a comment