Bolton Wanderers suffered a heart-breaking defeat at Bloomfield Road after Kiernan Dewsbury-Hall snatched a last-gasp dramatic winner.
Kean Bryan’s first goal in a Wanderers shirt two minutes from time looked to have given Keith Hill’s men a deserved point after Connor Ryan’s first -half wonder strike gifted the hosts an early lead.
But the Tangerines had the final say when Dewsbury-Hall capitalised on Liam Feeney’s corner to give the hosts a maximum.
Keith Hill made three changes from the side that lost to MK Dons at the weekend with Joe Bunney, Kean Bryan and Chris O’Grady all returning to the starting XI. Brandon Fleming, Jacob Mellis and Daryl Murphy were named among the substitutes.
Wanderers were backed by a travelling contingent of over 1,000 vocal supporters making the short trip across Lancashire.
The hosts won an early corner after Wanderers skipper was on hand to clear a right sided cross off former Wanderer Liam Feeney from underneath his own cross bar.
The referee waved away a huge penalty appeal from the Tangerines after Nathan Delfouneso went down under a solid challenge from Toto Nsiala.
Blackpool took an early lead through Connor Ryan who unleashed a spectacular shot from 25 yards out which flew past Remi Matthews.
Ryan was looking for his second, but his free-kick was blocked by Dennis Politic after former Wanderer Gary Madine was brought down near the edge of the box by Bryan.
At the other end, Ali Crawford’s corner was met by the head of Bryan at the far post but the ball went wide of target.
Politic then went close when he was expertly picked out by O’Grady but the young Romanian’s effort from the edge of the box was narrowly off target.
Matty Virtue saw his dipping volley go narrowly over the bar when Blackpool broke at the other end.
Matthews held on to a powerful effort from Kiernan Dewsbury-Hall after the hosts poured forward.
Politic shaped up to shoot when Ethan Hamilton’s deflected pass fell kindly to him but some quick thinking by James Husband saw him steal possession just in the nick of time.
Feeney, who was raising plenty of questions on the flank, put in a dangerously looking cross towards the near post but Nisiala was able to turn away the ball for a corner.
Crawford and Lowe combined to forge a chance for O’Grady but the big striker could quite wrestle control of the ball.
Wanderers were starting to grow into the game as the game edged towards half time and Hamilton saw a drive go over the bar after some good hold-up play by O’Grady.
Politic had the ball in the back of the net but the referee had already blown up for a foul in the build up.
Daryl Murphy replaced O’Grady as the players entered the field for the second half.
Matthews was pressed into action to tip Virtue’s 20-yarder over the bar after the Blackpool man charged forward.
Crawford picked out Politic with a pinpoint pass put the Wanderers frontman could only volley wide after controlling with his chest.
Hill made his second change of the evening shortly afterwards with Joe Dodoo coming on for Bunney.
Chris Maxwell in the Blackpool goal made a spectacular save to keep out Daryl Murphy after the Irishman guided Politic’s low pass towards goal.
Buoyed by their bright start to the second half, Wanderers seemed to determined to get the equaliser.
Hamilton;s shot from distance went over the bar after he was picked out by Bryan’s pass.
Politic, Wanderers’ biggest attack threat on the evening, played a good one-two with Daryl Murphy befire seeing his angled-shot kept out by Maxwell.
Hamilton, once again, found himself with space to shoot after some smart build-up play, butt his effort went narrowly wide.
Luke Murphy then had an attempt on goal but his low shot from range went narrowly wide of target.
Daryl Murphy was desperately unfortunate not to get his side a deserved leveller when Dodoo’s cross was knocked down into his path by Politic, but the Irishman’s header was unable to find a way past Maxwell.
The home side broke quickly and Ronan shot over the bar after being played in by Feeney.
With eight minutes remaining, Hill made his third and final change with Melling coming on for Crawford.
Bryan’s late goal appeared to have given both sides a share of the spoils when he powered Dodoo’s cross past Maxwell.
But the lead didn’t last long when Dewsbury-Hall struck home in injury time.