Report by John Patrick Heeley

It took 13 attempts but Blackpool have registered their first ever victory on Wigan soil courtesy of an 11th minute strike from the transfer listed John Murphy and sent Latics crashing to their second successive home defeat into the bargain.

Any slim hope of a place in the play offs must have now disappeared and Paul Jewell's side now have to be playing purely for pride and in some cases for a new contract come April.

There was no doubt about it, Blackpool came to the JJB Stadium for all three points, and succeeded but Wigan have only themselves to blame after failing to close their opponents down and allowing them far too much space to move the ball about which in the end cost them dearly.

Striker Simon Haworth was recalled to the starting line up in place of the mysteriously absent Lee McCullcoch and midfielder Peter Kennedy recovered from a infected foot to take a place on the bench alongside youngster Paul Santus who received only his second call up to the senior squad this season.

Both sides had their chances to score in the opening half with the first falling to Wigan after 3 minutes when Liddell combined with Haworth allowing the Welsh striker to send a fierce shot from the edge of the 6 yard box whistling narrowily wide of the far post.

Five minutes later it was Blackpool's turn to test their opponent's resolve with recent signing Scott Taylor forcing John Filan into action with the Australian keeper only gathering at the second attempt.

The visitors pushed forward and took the lead after 10 minutes when Filan could only manage to block a thunderous distance shot from John Hills and Scott Taylor pounced on the loose ball to set up JOHN MURPHY for his 9th goal of the season.

Haworth then attempted an optimistic acrobatic shot from a corner kick but his effort was put behind for another corner by John O'Kane.

Ged Brannan rising shot from the edge of the area coasted narrowily over the bar after Andy Liddell's won attempt from way out had landed straight into the arms of Blackpool keeper Phil Barnes.

Blackpool came embarrsingly close to doubling their lead just before the half hour mark when John Filan came charging out of his area to deny Scott Taylor and John Murphy picked up the loose ball and eyed an empty net but fortunately for Wigan his long distance shot bobbled narrowly wide of the right hand upright.

Shortly before the break Andy Liddell's former team mate at Barnsley, Martin Bullock, took the ball down the wing and released Richard Wellens who in turn laid the ball on for John Hills who sent in a cross for goalscorer Murphy but his effort was sent wide of the target.

Wigan responed quickly with Liddell sending a header wide from a Gary Teale centre.

After the break Wigan pushed for an early equaliser and earned themselves a corner shortly after the restart which Teale took finding Wigan skipper Arjan De Zeeuw only for the Dutchman to send the ball over the bar.

With just over 5 minutes of the second half gone Tony Dinning was denied his 7th goal of the campaign by the heroics of Blackpool keeper Barnes after Liddell had sent the midfield man through and Liddell himself saw two attempts on goal go begging moments later.

Haworth had probably Wigan's best chance of the second half after 68 minutes but his clear header from 10 yards out was aimed straight at the keeper posing him no problem.

Wigan were forced to play the last 10 minutes of the game with only 10 men after Gary Teale pulled up by the right flank and was eventually helped down the tunnel leaving his side a player short as Paul Jewell had used up his full quota of replacements.

Blackpool kept possession well and held on for the win but to be honest they didn't really have much resistance from the home side and left the field to a rapturous ovation from the 2,000 or so travelling fans.