Blackpool v Albion - from Bloomfield Road (From The Argus)

4:54pm

4:53pm

Hammond was booked for a foul in the final minute of added time as Blackpool continued to charge forward. But the resulting free-kick into the box was cleared and ref Naylor blew for full-time.

4:52pm

Full-time

4:50pm

Albion might have edged ahead in the first minute of added time but Orlandi shot straight at Gilks from Crofts' cut-back.

4:49pm

Att: 14,038

4:49pm

El-Abd's well-timed tackle got the ball away from Delfouneso at the expense of a corner which Blackpool worked to Angel coming in at the edge of the area. His low shot was well struck but Kuszczak got down quickly to hold it low to his right.

4:46pm

It was back to the other end as Albion scrambed the ball away from inside their own box.

4:45pm

Mackail-Smth briefly returned to the action but was replaced soon after by Dobbie.

4:44pm

Mackail-Smith needed treatment after his spectacular effort.

4:43pm

Bruno played a simple pass to Buckley who played a one-two with en route to the byline. When Buckley stood the ball up towards the far post there were two Albion players waiting. The first, Mackail-Smith, unleashed an overhead bicycle kick which Gilks tipped over at full stretch.  

4:41pm

It was frenetic stuff as the hosts poured forward. but Bruno took the chance to restore a bit of order when the ball fell to him just inside Albion's half and it almost led to great things.

4:39pm

Albion replaced Bridcutt with Orlkandi on 79 minutes and Blackpool sent on Dicko for Taylor-Fletcher at the next stoppage.

4:37pm

4:37pm

4:36pm

Blackpool fans were in terrific voice as they sensed a winner.

4:36pm

Then Kuszczak came to the rescue again with a save from the clean through Delfouneso.

4:34pm

Albion were suddenly in disarray and Grandin was denied an almost immediate second when his shot was tipped away from the top corner by Kuszczak. The resulting corner was delivered on to the head of Evatt charging in at the far post but he headed just over.

4:30pm

The next switch, on 70 minutes, was even more attack-minded as former Villa striker Delfouneso replaced right-back Broadfoot.

4:27pm

4:26pm

4:25pm

4:24pm

Holloway quickly made one of his trademark attacking substitutions as Sylvestre replaced Osbourne.

4:23pm

Ince then had a better chance as the ball fell to him from an El-Abd block but he hooked his shot over.

4:22pm

There was bound to be a response from Blackpool. Greer did well to divert Crainey's whipped-in cross behind and Evatt headed the resulting corner past the top corner.

4:18pm

It was Albion, though, who made the breakthrough in bizarre cuircumstances on 56 minutes.

4:17pm

El-Abd was booked for fouling Ince on 53 minutes and Evatt joined him in the book as players jostled before the free-kick was taken. But Phillips' curler deflected wide off the wall.

4:12pm

Attacking left-back Crainey got to the byline and pulled the ball back but Taylor-Fletcher saw his volley deflected for a corner.

4:11pm

Albion settled back in a line of four and a line of five and negotiated the early minutes of the half with no alarms, although Mackail-Smith was an isolated figure in attack

4:06pm

Blackpool were attacking the South Stand, home of their more noisy fans, in the second period.

4:03pm

Second half now in progress

3:48pm

So the Seagulls' goal famine continued. But they were more concerned with the fact they had got to half-time without conceding.

3:48pm

Albion ended the half deep in Blackpool territory. Mackail-Smith's well-struck volley knocked big defender Evatt off his feet as he blocked it. That led to a corner which Bruno took short to Buckley, whose cross was too deep for Barnes.

3:46pm

Half-time

3:42pm

With Albion back in numbers, Baptiste took his chance to stride forward and let fly from 25 yards. His drive drew "oooohhs" from the crowd but flew a yard over the bar.

3:39pm

Angel was next in the book, again for upending Buckley.

3:38pm

Albion could not afford to lose concentration at the back. They allowed Ince possession 25 yards out on 35 minutes but, rather than shooting, he slipped Taylor-Fletcher in with a beautifully disguised pass. The striker was in space to the right of goal but, as El-Abd tried to get across, opted not to drive in a shot and instead went for a chip which drifted harmlessly over the top. 

3:35pm

3:35pm

3:34pm

Albion were creating nothing in attack. The most nervous moment for keeper Gilks in the first half-hour came when he failed to hold a long throw from Bruno which was flicked on. But the hosts got the ball away.

3:31pm

3:29pm

3:28pm

3:27pm

Buckley looked the Albion player most likely to cause danger. Osbourne could only offer a shrug in the direction of ref Naylor after barging the winger off the ball in the 24th minute. Naylor shrugged back and showed the yellow card.

3:25pm

3:21pm

3:21pm

Respite of sorts arrived with a move which ended wth Crofts hooking an angled volley comfortably past the top corner from the edge of the box.

3:18pm

Albion were in urgent need of some respite as the hosts surged forward and their noisy fans boomed out songs in support of their manager Ian Holloway, who is being linked with a move away from Blackpool.

3:15pm

Blackpool had brought in Broadfoot supposedly as a steadying influence at right back but he got forward a few times early on. His low cross seemed to have set up the opening goal on 12 minutes but Albion breathed a sigh of relief as Baptiste, up from the back, failed to get a touch in front of goal.

3:13pm

This time Grandin headed down a long ball and Osbourne volleyed just over.

3:12pm

It was a terrific start to the contest by the hosts and they went close again on nine minutes.

3:11pm

It was an impressive start by the hosts - with Albion not helping themselves by giving the ball away far too easily at times.

3:09pm

The resulting corner was met by Taylor-Fletcher, whose glancing header flew just wide of the far post.

3:08pm

Blackpool were immediately on the front foot and might have been ahead in only the fifth minute. They dragged Bridge out of position and spread the ball wide to right winger Ince, who was faced by the covering El-Abd. Ince cut inside his man easily and curled in a shot which Kuszczak could not hold. But the keeper recovered to get just enough on Phillips' follow-up to divert it over the bar.

3:02pm

Albion fans belted a supportive chorus of the Ashley Barnes song just before kick-off.

3:01pm

We have ringside seats at Bridge v Ince in this first half. Should be a good contest.

3:00pm

The game is in progress.

3:00pm

Albion in their home strip.

2:59pm

As a result of that switch, Kuszczak will have the sun in his eyes in the first half.

2:59pm

Right, we are about to get under way. Teams are changing ends.

2:59pm

I've just posted a retweet of an original message by Reading reporter Jonny Fordham regarding a former Albion favourite.
 

2:57pm

2:54pm

Plenty of tweets coming in to my colleague @AndyNaylorArgus re the team news. Someone has just asked him: Is Vicente injured?

2:47pm

2:46pm

There has been a late change on the bench for Blackpool. Chris Kettings replaces Mark Halstead as sub goalkeeper. There is an injury involved there but I don't know the ins and outs of it.

2:44pm

The last two sides to win here - Huddersfield and Charlton - both did it by keeping two men up and hitting them quickly when they got the ball. In doing so, they exploited Blackpool's tendency to push men forward. The plan was devised by Huddersfield boss Simon Grayson and his central midfielder Keith Southern, both of whom were previously with Blackpool. Hard to see Albion playing that way.

2:42pm

However the locals here will tell you Blackpool put in an improved performance when they were held 2-2 here on Tuesday by Forest, who scored very late.

2:41pm

Holloway said last night he felt he was being treated unfairly by his chairman. And it is fair to say Gus Poyet is coming in for criticism from some Albion fans.

2:40pm

Right, let's have a look at this game. Both teams come into it on a low ebb. No win in five games (and one goal in 490 minutes) for Albion. One win in six (and no clean sheet in nine) for the hosts. Speculation continues over the future of home boss Ian Holloway, who is being linked with various other Championship managerial posts, including Palace.

2:32pm

Dacky is now chatting to Dracula.

2:32pm

Our snapper Simon Dack - or @simondackpix on Twitter - is currently taking a picture of Albion fans in fancy dress. I suspect you will be seeing that online before too long.

2:30pm

2:29pm

I am coming to you basically from the away section. Well, about two yards away from it! The travelling fans are seated next to us on the currently sun-kissed eastern side of Bloomfield Road. The Albion players just ran across to throw their anti-racism T-shirts, in which they were warming up, to the fans.

2:27pm

Just been writing our team news piece, which is now online.

2:18pm

Just to confirm - no Kevin Phillips in the home 18.

2:13pm

2:13pm

2:13pm

Blackpool line-up as expected and as per The Argus today. Grandin starts just behind their front three.

2:12pm

Team news - Hammond in for Dicker with fit again Orlandi returning to the subs' bench after a calf injury.

2:11pm

We're by the sea and in dazzling sunshine today - here on the Fylde coast. Albion looking to stop the rot against a Blackpool side who are out to do exactly the same!