Town came from behind to grab a 1-1 draw at Blackpool despite having Sito sent off for a two-footed lunge in the 62nd minute. Claus Jorgensen put the home side in front on 39 with Jon Walters hitting back three minutes after the red card.

Striker Alan Lee was left on the Town bench, further fuelling suggestions that the Irishman will be leaving the Blues for Burnley this week. Gary Roberts returned to the side, playing up front alongside Pablo Couñago, while Sylvain Legwinski came into the midfield in place of Tommy Miller.

Blackpool home debutant Stephen McPhee struck a shot well over in the first minute. Town's first strike on goal came eight minutes later when Owen Garvan looped a half-cleared corner back into the box and Jon Walters diverted it into the arms of Pool keeper Paul Rachubka.

On 12 Gary Roberts seized on a loose ball on the edge of the area, but a defender was across quickly and his shot went well wide of the Blackpool goal.

Tangerines defender Ian Evatt headed a freekick off a post a minute later, but the linesman's flag had already been raised.

The opening exchanges of the game had been fairly even on a pitch more suited to a Sunday league match than the Championship. Heavy rain this week left Bloomfield Road muddy and slow, while players were often wrong-footed by unexpected bounces.

Gary Roberts made a quick break in the 23rd minute but Pablo Couñago failed to complete a one-two. Two minutes later Jon Walters, who had swapped flanks with Danny Haynes on a number of occasions during the half, struck an effort from the edge of the area which failed to test Rachubka.

Blackpool were close to opening the scoring soon after when Ben Burgess headed a cross from the right just wide, McPhee just failing to get a second crucial header on the ball.

Town had another lucky escape almost immediately when Burgess headed straight at Alexander from six yards after a cross from the right.

The home side were beginning to get on top and in the 39th minute they went in front. Burgess sent McPhee away beyond the Town defence, the recent signing from Hull breaking into the penalty area and laying the ball across Jorgensen, who made no mistake. Town complained that the Dane might have been offside, but after consulting with his linesman, referee Mike Pike gave the goal.

Michael Flynn went looking for a second, but his shot on the turn flew well over. Town's final opportunity of the half was a Danny Haynes volley, the ball falling to the newly-shaven-headed youngster on the edge of the area. The striker, 20 today, hit a decent effort which looked goal-bound until it struck a defender.

Town had started more confidently than they have most recent away games, but by the end of the half appeared to have run out of ideas. The Pablo Couñago-Gary Roberts partnership hadn't really worked with the ball rarely sticking up front and with chances rare. Blackpool had created one or two opportunities, but looked a side the Blues are well capable of beating.

Shaun Barker headed a corner wide in the 52nd minute as the second half began in much the same vein as the first ended.

A minute later, Alex Bruce surrendered possession to McPhee in a dangerous position, but Jason De Vos was across quickly to make a superb saving challenge. Danny Haynes switched with Gary Roberts, who moved from his striking role to the left of midfield.

Soon after, the former Accrington man gave the ball away only yards outside the Town area, Alexander saving Gary Taylor-Fletcher's shot from the edge of the box.

Just before the hour, Haynes did well on the left, but his cross was too far in front of Couñago and went out for a goalkick.

Town had improved after the break, but in the 62nd minute they were reduced to 10 men. Wes Hoolahan allowed the ball to run away from him inside the Blackpool half and Sito threw himself in two-footed, winning possession. Initially, referee Pike seemed happy with the tackle, but as play carried on, blew his whistle and red-carded the Spanish defender.

Although Sito had made definite contact with the ball and there seemed little malicious intent, the challenge was a textbook example of the two-footed tackle highlighted so often recently and was certainly more worthy of a sending off than Liam Trotter's challenge during the Portsmouth game. Sito becomes only the second Town player to receive three red cards along with Fabian Wilnis.

McPhee headed wide from five yards from a corner when he should have done better, before the Blues got back on terms. Roberts sent in a corner from the left and Walters steamed in at the far post to head the ball powerfully into the net off the crossbar.

Town immediately made changes, Richard Naylor taking over from Danny Haynes and Alan Lee replacing Pablo Couñago. Naylor took over at centre-half with Alex Bruce moving to the right, while Lee took up a lone striker's role.

Alexander brilliantly tipped Kaspars Gorkss's flicked header from a corner wide, prior to a superb goal-saving tackle by Naylor on Taylor-Fletcher on the edge of the six-yard box with the midfielder looking odds-on to score.

Town seemed to improve as an attacking force after the red card and substitutions, Lee ending a move with a weak shot in the 73rd minute. Tommy Miller took over from Gary Roberts in midfield.

With 11 minutes of normal time remaining and the rain starting to fall on the Town support in their uncovered temporary stand, Garvan beat three players on the left but his shot deflected through to the keeper.

Hoolahan fired well over Alexander's goal as Blackpool put the pressure on in the closing stages, winning a series of corners. The final opportunity of the game saw Burgess head straight at Alexander.

Boss Jim Magilton won't want reminding that Town have now gone 18 away games without a win, but in the end it was a decent point for the Blues in difficult circumstances. The pitch made decent football difficult, while the red card came at a time when the Blues were starting to get on top.

Neil Alexander was probably Town's most impressive player, making one fine save and collecting all of the innumerable high balls sent into the box towards Ben Burgess. Sub Richard Naylor was also very impressive, winning virtually everything in the air after his introduction and making one hugely important tackle.

Town were less impressive going forward, although Jon Walters took his goal well from Gary Roberts's excellent corner. Roberts had his moments, but still looks a little way off his best form.

The next opportunity to end the away run comes at Sheffield Wednesday on February 2nd by which time the Blues could have several additions to the squad.

Town: Alexander, Wright, Sito, De Vos, Bruce, Garvan, Legwinski, Walters, Haynes (Lee 65), Couñago (Naylor 65), Roberts (Miller 78). Unused: Rhodes, Supple. Att: 9,154.

Photo: Action Images

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