A WIND-ASSISTED first half goal from Joey Gudjonsson blew Blackpool out of the FA Cup at ice-station Bloomfield Road on Tuesday night.

A battling performance from the Seasiders wasn't enough to see off an experienced Leicester side, but Blackpool certainly had the higher division side rattled.

Gudjonsson's goal on 16 minutes came after Simon Grayson gave the ball away in midfield and the Icelandic international took full advantage, hitting a stunning 40 yard shot which left young Lewis Edge with little chance.

Edge, pressed into only his second senior appearance due to injuries, illness and Middlesborough's reluctance to let Brad Jones get cup-tied, made a few good saves and showed once again his promise.

James Scowcroft missed a sitter for Leicester before on-loan Simon Lynch blew the best chance of the half.

Peter Clarke burst into the area and saw his cross/shot parried by Ian Walker into the path of Lynch who, eight yards out, should have done better than to put the ball straight into the former England keeper's hands.

The second half saw Blackpool bring on Poulton-based youngster, Matt Shaw, for his debut, but the striker and his colleagues found it tough to break down their visitors from the Midlands.

The best chance came right at the end when a cross from Danny Coid beat Walker before being headed onto his own bar by Leicester's Jordan Stewart.

But, ultimately, there was no way through and the crowd of almost 7,000 went away dissapointed.

Rain and wind ravaged the Fylde Coast all day and Leicester City wisely advised their fans via an internet message to 'wrap up warm and wear waterproofs.'

But the game was never in any real doubt - although preparations at Bloomfield Road were severly disrupted when regeneration work around the ground severed communications links to the outside world, jeapordising a ticketing system which had been on and off all week, as well as phone and internet communication.

Blackpool could take great comfort from their never-say-die performance and last-minute equaliser at Swindon on Saturday.

Colin Hendry had seen players dropping like flies as injury and illness swept the camp in the days leading up tot he game.

Blackpool took the field with possibly their oldest ever midfield partnership, with Simon Grayson, 36, partnering Paul Warhurst, a mere 35, in the centre of the park.

But Blackpool shot into an early lead when Simon Lynch, providing young legs just in front of the midfield four, played in Keigan Parker who finished neatly.

But individual errors by Rob Edwards and Peter Clarke allowed the ever-deadly Sam Parkin in to score twice and put his side ahead at the break.

But Blackpool battled through the second half and, four minutes into injury time, Clarke made amends by sneaking home an equaliser.

That effort was set up by giant striker, Zarco 'Zorro' Grabovac. The enthusiastic young Serb came on for his debut barely 24 hours after receiving international clearance for his move from Dutch football and made an immediate impression.

New hero Grabovac may feature in Saturday's six-pointer against MK Dons. John Murphy, who failed a late fitness test on Tuesday night, is still struggling with a knock to his knee. Hendry is also lining up two new signings - at least one of whom is expected to be a striker - and hopes to have deals done by the weekend. MK are just a point below Blackpool and are picking up their form after bringing in the experienced