A lack of concentration cost Blackpool once again as James Collins' dramatic late winner sent them crashing to an unfortunate 3-2 defeat at Villa Park.
DJ Campbell thought he had earned the Seasiders a deserved point when he equalised in the 87th minute, but Collins had the last laugh when he nodded in on the stroke of full time.
In a familiar scenario this season, Blackpool let the opposition regain the lead moments after scoring.
Stewart Downing opened the scoring for Villa with a deflected volley, before Villans old boy Marlon Harewood equalised for the visitors with a neat finish before the break.
Nathan Delfounso slotted home to put the hosts back in front, but DJ Campbell pegged them back once again with a deflected effort with a matter of minutes to go.
Collins then headed a dramatic winner moments later to break tangerine hearts.
Seasiders boss Ian Holloway made a staggering 10 changes from the side that drew 2-2 with Everton at the weekend.
Richard Kingson, Rob Edwards, David Carney, Matt Phillips, Jason Euell and Ludovic Sylvestre were all handed their Premier League debuts in a much changed starting line-up.
Blackpool made the livelier start, and squandered a great chance when Harewood fired over from Phillips’ inviting cross.
The home side responded when Luke Young found space in the box, but he powered an effort well over from a tight angle.
Villa opened the scoring against the run of play when Downing hit a vicious volley that took a wicked deflection off Dekel Keinan, leaving Kingson stranded as the ball flew into the net.
Marc Albrighton almost doubled the lead from close range, but Kingson palmed away his effort.
The Seasiders equalised just before the break when Harewood seized upon Phillips’ delightful back heel to clinically finish past Brad Friedal.
Villa came out all guns blazing in the second half, and Kingson had to be alert to tip Ashley Young’s long range effort around the post.
James Collins then had a goal bound header cleared off the line by David Carney as the home side rallied.
Marlon Harewood missed a gilt edged chance to give Blackpool the lead when he powered a free header wide from a corner.
Nathan Delfounso thought he had put Villa back into the lead when he headed home from Young’s cross, but the goal was ruled out for a debatable obstruction on Dekel Keinan.
But Delfounso soon completed the feat when he latched onto Young’s pinpoint through ball to slot home.
Substitute DJ Campbell equalised with a matter of minutes remaining when he unleashed a shot that took a nasty deflection off Collins to loop over Friedal and into the net.
Collins then popped up moments later to break Blackpool hearts, powering home a header from a cheaply conceded corner on the stroke of full time.
It was an unfortunate result for the Seasiders, who deserved to come away with at least a point against a Villa side that were there for the taking.
It will be interesting to see Ian Holloway's team selection for Saturday's fixture against West Ham - a potential relegation six-pointer.
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