Fleetwood Town suffered a 3-1 defeat away at Blackpool in the Fylde Coast derby on Saturday afternoon at Bloomfield Road.
Blackpool took the lead with Liam Feeney firing in after ten minutes, before Sullay Kaikai doubled the score line shortly after the break.
Armand Gnanduillet scored a third for the hosts midway through the second period before Town grabbed a consolation goal through substitute Conor McAleny.
After a scrappy opening five minutes, with both teams trying to find their feet in the derby match, it was the hosts who took the lead after Town failed to clear their lines. The ball bobbled around Town’s penalty area before the winger slotted it home.
The opener woke up the Cod Army, and soon after created a chance of their own. Wes Burns found Paddy Madden who ran off the back of Ben Heneghan, but the Irishman failed to hit the target.
From this point, the match become a more open affair, most of the play in the middle of the park, and it was Town who were dominate in that area.
Burns was the man who found a pocket of space outside the Seasiders’ penalty area, but his ambitious effort went wide of Jak Alnwick’s goal.
As the half approached the final five minutes, the hosts had a chance to double their lead. Feeney crossed the ball to Matty Virtue – whose effort dipped just over the crossbar and onto the roof of the net.
Joey Barton would have been hoping for his side to start the second half, as they finished the first, on the front foot. But unfortunately that was not the case.
Blackpool doubled their lead after a cheap free-kick which was given away in a dangerous position. Up stepped Kaikai to curl the set piece into the top corner.
After the second, the Cod Army tried to get a foothold on the game and on a number of occasions tried to open up the Blackpool backline but nothing gave.
With Town having many players up the field, the hosts countered just after the hour mark. A cross from the left gave Gnanduillet the chance to put in the third, which he duly did, with a header which hit the back post and trickled over the goal line.
Shortly after conceding, Town had a chance through Lewie Coyle - who made his 100th league appearance for the Cod Army - but his low drive was saved by Alnwick.
As the game approached the final ten minutes, the hosts had another chance to sail away with the points, but Billy Crellin denied Kaikai his second with a smart stop with his feet.
Suddenly, the game had come to life. Town got one back though substitute, McAleny – who fired a low driven shot into the bottom corner from the edge of the area.
There was a chance for a second for the away side. Josh Morris looked to beat the keeper from a free-kick, but the effort just went over the crossbar.
With the game nearing an end, there was a last few chances for the Cod Army. The first from Danny Andrew which bobbled wide, and then it was Morris who found space to shoot from an angle, but his effort was deflected onto the roof of the net.
With nine minutes added on, Blackpool were on the back foot and Barton thought his side had got another goal back, but Madden’s header rebounded off the crossbar and out to a Tangerine shirt.
The referee blew his whistle after 10 minutes added on, with the travelling Fleetwood fans applauding their side for the efforts shown out on the pitch. Eyes now turn to Gillingham, who are Town’s opponents next weekend at Highbury.
Blackpool XI: Alnwick (GK), Edwards, Heneghan, Delfounso, Spearing (C), Kaikai (Thompson 85’), Feeney, Virtue, Turton, Gnanduillet, Husband.
Subs not used: Sims (GK), Hardie, Scannell, Tilt, Nuttall, MacDonald.
Town XI: Crellin (GK), Coyle, Andrew, Eastham, Souttar, Burns (Evans 53’), Dempsey, Morris, Coutts (C), Madden, Sowerby (McAleny 64’).
Subs not used: Cairns (GK), Clarke, Southam-Hales, Biggins, Garner.
Attendance: 10,355 (1,375)