Ten-man Blackpool hold on for vital victory
Brad Inman missed a last-minute penalty for Crewe as 10-man Blackpool held on for a 2-1 win at Gresty Road - their first victory in nine games.
Jack Redshaw headed the Seasiders into the lead but was sent off five minutes later leaving his side to play with 10 men for more than half the game.
Relegation rivals Crewe levelled late on through Marcus Haber but Tom Aldred put Blackpool ahead again before Inman missed from the spot.
Both defences looked far from secure and Inman should have made it count after he was left in the clear but blasted against goalkeeper Colin Doyle's legs.
Blackpool were ahead in the 34th minute when Jim McAlister headed Danny Philliskirk's cross against the crossbar and Redshaw followed up.
But within three minutes the scorer turned from saint to sinner with a high lunge on David Fox earning him his second yellow card, having been booked earlier for his goal celebration.
Zoumana Bakayogo's thumping header from a corner crashed onto the bar and the defender glanced the far post with another effort, while Blackpool's Brad Potts was also denied by the woodwork and Philliskirk blazed over.
It looked to have proved costly as Haber levelled with a near-post flick on Oliver Turton's cross in the 83rd minute. But defender Aldred restored Blackpool's lead when his deflected shot carried over goalkeeper Ben Garratt a minute later.
Crewe spurned the chance to salvage a point when Inman drove over a last-gasp penalty after sub Tom Hitchock had been tripped by Potts.
Source: PA
