Blackpool 2 Tranmere Rovers 1

Last updated : 26 December 2003 By Footymad Previewer

Blackpool broke an unhappy Boxing Day record stretching 17 seasons without a festive win by defeating Tranmere 2-1 at Bloomfield Road to establish their credentials as real play-off contenders.

With Richie Wellens in outstanding form in midfield until injury led to his replacement in the 55th minute, it was almost all one way traffic until that stage.

In front of their best league crowd of the season Blackpool went ahead in the eighth minute with a lovely headed goal from 12 yards by John Murphy from Leam Richardson's pin point cross.

The Seasiders piled on the pressure with the lively Martin Bullock slamming a 20-yarder against the bar and Scott Taylor missing a sitter after good work from Wellens and Simon Johnson.

Rovers were very scrappy in the first half in a match of six bookings which were earned by reckless challenges by Brian Little's players.

Blackpool keeper Lee Jones didn't have a shot to save in the first 45 minutes although that was to change when Rovers staged a late comeback.

They crept more into the game after Wellens departed and Blackpool had to rearrange their midfield. It took time to settle before Danny Coid began to show the same creative ability as Wellens had done before him and it was Coid's low shot in the 81st minute which led to the Seasiders goal.

Coid had been involved in a four man build up which took his side on a 50-yard movement upfield. He was at the edge of the box to fire home a low shot which came back off the woodwork to Johnson who scored his first since signing a loan deal from Leeds United.

Blackpool's ability to play entertaining football had been severely tested by the non stop rain and gales but it was soon their defensive resolution which came under threat too.

Two minutes after the second goal the home back four relaxed and allowed Rovers substitute Simon Haworth a glimpse of goal. Although his shot from the edge of the box did not appear to have much power it crept into the far corner.

Rovers began to pound the home goal with Jones making two good stops as the game went into five minutes of injury time after one of the linesmen was injured in an accidental clash with a Rovers player.

Afterwards Blackpool manager Steve McMahon said: "These were three fine points well deserved point John Murphy's header was a class act from an excellent cross. It was a bit nervy at the end and really it shouldn't have been and defensively we showed one or two lapses which should not have happened." Rovers manager Brian Little said: "Blackpool were the better side. I was always going to gamble in the last 20 minutes by throwing on attackers and it almost worked."