Gwion Edwards gave the Blues an eighth minute lead but Joe Nuttall equalised for Blackpool on 22 to leave the half-time score 1-1 at Portman Road.

Town were without right-back Kane Vincent-Young, who was touch and go for the game following his recent groin operation, and striker James Norwood, who has also picked up a knock.

Will Norris returned in goal with Janoi Donacien making his first League One appearance since August at right-back. Luke Garbutt was at left-back with skipper Luke Chambers and Luke Woolfenden the centre-halves.

In midfield, Cole Skuse was joined by Flynn Downes and Jon Nolan, while Gwion Edwards and Danny Rowe were either side of lone central striker Kayden Jackson.

For Blackpool, who went into the game fifth in the table, Joe Nuttall replaced 12-goal top scorer Armand Gnanduillet, who was injured. Ex-Blues loanee Liam Feeney started and Town’s summer-of-2018 target Curtis Tilt was on the bench.

The Blues started brightly and went close in the third minute when Rowe, playing on the left of the front three, picked up a loose ball midway inside the Tangerines’ half and brought it into the box, cut on to his right foot but scuffed his shot wide.

Within a minute, Blackpool won a freekick five yards outside the Town area to the left. Sullay Kaikai hit a well-struck shot which Norris did well to save down to his right and push away from danger.

On six, Jackson played in on the right of the area and cut a cross towards Nolan but a defender’s toe took it away from the midfielder.

But Blues fans only had two more minutes to wait for a goal. Donacien sent over a deep, looping cross from the right and Garbutt headed it down to Jackson with his back to goal. The ball was stabbed away from the striker but straight to Edwards, who gleefully smashed his second goal of the season from a matter of feet.

However, Town’s lead lasted only 14 minutes with Blackpool having seen an increasing share of the ball.

Following a Blues corner and after Skuse, Downes and a Blackpool player had collided midway inside the visitors’ half - and with the Bristolian down having clearly been caught on the head by a boot - Blackpool broke quickly.

Calum MacDonald got round the outside of Chambers and sent over a cross, Nuttall’s header was blocked but the loose ball fell kindly for him and he smashed into the net to level.

On the touchline, Blues boss Paul Lambert and the Tangerines’ staff clashed, presumably due to Town annoyance that the referee hadn’t stopped the game due to the head injury. Skuse subsequently received treatment on the pitch before being able to continue.

The Blues began to see more of the ball and on 33, Edwards was teed-up inside the area but his shot was blocked. Skuse sprayed the ball back out to Jackson on the right but his effort from a tight angle flew high and wide.

Blackpool went closer a minute later when Feeney broke down the right. The former Town loanee’s first cross was superbly blocked by Chambers but he played the loose ball back in to Kaikai, who hit a powerfully-struck effort which Norris did well to bat away from goal and out for a corner.

Neither side seriously threatened again before the half-time whistle. After making a positive start and scoring the early goal, the Blues had never really controlled game and been unable to maintain that impetus.

Blackpool had started to get on top prior to their goal - even if Town might have had a legitimate claim that the referee should have stopped play - and had been a threat when breaking on either flank and had looked more likely to grab the game’s third goal.

As has often been the case this season, and as they have successfully managed to do on a number of occasions, the Blues need to up their game in the second half.

Town: Norris, Donacien, Chambers, Woolfenden, Garbutt, Edwards, Skuse, Downes, Rowe, Nolan, Jackson. Subs: Holy, Dozzell, Judge, Huws, Keane, Wilson, Georgiou.

Blackpool: Alnwick, Edwards, Heneghan, Delfouneso, Spearing, Kaikai, Feeney, Virtue, Nuttall, Husband, MacDonald. Subs: Sims, Hardie, Scannell, Thompson, Tilt, Turton, Guy. Referee: Stephen Martin (Staffordshire).

Photo: TWTD

Suffolkboy added 16:43 - Nov 23 Referees are under as much personal pressure as players ,BUT it's nearly unforgivable to either ignore , or choose not to stop a game ,when a head injury occurs .In this instance ,and reading the report , it's seems very odd that the game had to be suspended whilst Skuse received on field treatment and one hopes the referee will reflect afterwards on whether his decision ,or non- decision ,was the right thing to do ! It is, of course ,quite possible he did not see the kick so couldn't make any decision , but on the field he ought to be close enough ,and receive assistance from the sidelines ! Curious to say the least . COYB

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