Blackpool 2, Southend 2

Att. 3,915 Scorers for Pool: Murphy (15), Ormerod (44)

Only Blackpool can go two up, miss several sitters and end up with only a point against a side who only had two chances in the match.

Pool should have won the game comfortably but once again threw it away in the dying seconds.

The Seasiders must learn to either finish teams off or defend what they have right up to the final whistle.

A positive thing to come out of the game were the performances of the two new defenders Lee Maley and Brian Reid.

Reid's at centre back was especially promising and was deservedly man of the match. Eifion Jones and Neil Murphy were the players dropped for the new boys.

Blackpool started confidently with the new look defence looking solid and the attacking direct and some early opportunities were carved out for Murphy and Ormerod.

After 15 minutes Pool went ahead when Danny Coid supplied another excellent cross and Murphy's header was perfectly directed past the Southend keeper.

It's nine goals now for Murphy, a tally that puts him highest goalscorer of the division.

As the Seasiders grew in confidence Southend didn't get a look in during the first half. Only good saves denied goals from Ormerod and Simpson. And at the back Brian Reid seemed to win every ball with ease with Phil Barnes never in trouble.

It was no surprise when Brett Ormerod netted just before half time. Some skillful work in midfield by Steve Bushell and Tommy Jaszczun found John Murphy at the far post who headed back into the danger area to cause chaos in the box. Ormerod latched onto the loose ball to place it into the net.

Pool made an equally impressive start to the second half with Brett Ormerod and Paul Simpson running the Southend defence ragged. On three occasions early in the second half Pool only needed a touch to finish some great counter attacks.

Paul Simpson struck the post with a turn and shot and he was denied later when his chip over the keeper was just cleared off the line. Pool continued to create goal mouth chances but no-one seemed to want to knock it in and it began to feel as though Blackpool were not going to get away with these missed opportunities.

And almost expectantly Southend did pull it back with their only chances of the game thanks to some bad defending.

Mark Tinkler got the comeback started on 71 minutes and inevitably Southend waited to the 88th minute to get the equaliser through Trevor Fitzpatrick. Both goals were scrappy, against the run of play and totally undeserved.

The missing Blackpool fans have appeared back during the last couple of games with attendances reaching the 4,000 mark.

But on this evidence, they won't be back as they will realise nothing has changed. Same old Blackpool, nothing the cheer about.

Team: Phil Barnes; Tommy Jaszczun; Lee Maley; Brian Reid; Ian Hughes; Danny Coid; Steve Bushell; Lee Collins; Paul Simpson; Brett Ormerod; John Murphy Subs: Phil Clarkson; Adam Nowland; Eifon Jones (on for Hughes 75); Tony Caig; Richard Wellens.