It was Albion who started the brighter, searching for their first goal within the first 3 minutes.  Morrison glided past Stephen Crainey with a superb piece of skill before firing his shot directly at Blackpool keeper Rachubka.  Moments later Teixeira found himself in a shooting position, but could only watch as his shot rebound to Kevin Phillips, who could only shoot wide from 20 yards. 

In the 12^th minute Teixeira and Miller left the Blackpool defence in no man’s land as they paced down onto goal.  Miller fired just wide of the left post from inside the area.  Minutes later Phillips found an unmarked Morrison in the box, and despite the former Charlton man only making a tame effort on goal, Blackpool keeper Paul Rachubka made hard work of it, eventually scrambling it past the post for a corner.   

The sustained pressure finally paid off in the 22^nd minute, when Ishmael Miller picking up the ball just inside the area was able to turn Blackpool defender Michael Jackson with ease to fire home, in off the left post.  It was a much deserved lead for the Baggies who had suffered no real danger from the visitors to that point. 

The divisions draw specialists looked like they might find an equaliser in the 27^th minute, Jackson launching a certain goal bound volley from outside the box.  But he was thwarted by his own man Vernon, who standing in an offside position executed the perfect block on Jackson’s effort to see the ball rebound well wide of the target. 

Minutes later Blackpool did find their equaliser, Hoolahan setting off Parker towards goal who was able to fend off challenges from Baggies new boy Bostjan Caesar before finding Vernon on the edge of the area.  Vernon skipped easily past Albrechtsen to fire home past Dean Kiely.   

Morrison might have had an instant reply for the Baggies just moments later, but this time Blackpool keeper Rachubka pulled off a fine save.  Albion had two more good chances to restore their lead on the stroke of half time, but neither Brunt or Albrechtsen could find the net. 

Half Time: West Bromwich Albion 1-1 Blackpool 

Early into the second half Morrison found Miller inside the box, but his weak effort posed no problem for the Blackpool keeper.  Rachubka must have felt he most harassed man on the field as the early part of the second half called him into action time and time again, the most dangerous of which being Phillips from 6 yards. 

But Blackpool held their reserve and as the half progresses began to seek out a second goal of their own.  Albrechtsen was called into action twice, firstly placing a perfect challenge to deny Vernon his second of the game, then again moments later making a vital block from Parker to concede a corner. 

On the hour mark Parker came just inches wide of finding Blackpool’s second, receiving a Crainey cross which he headed over Kiely’s goal.   The Baggies eventually forced their way back into the game,  Miller found Phillip’s in a perfect position, but uncharacteristically for the Albion front man, he screwed his shot horribly wide. 

Running short of patience and desperately seeking the winner Mowbray brought on MacDonald in the place of Brunt. The final 20 minutes of the half became scrappy.  Both sides finding half chances but neither executing well enough to take all three points.  It looked for all certainty as if Blackpool would pull off yet another draw. 

But the 79^th minute saw a change of fortunes for Albion, substitute MacDonald firing in a shot which rebound to Morrison who was finally able to get the Baggies second, and secure all three points for Albion putting them second in the Championship table for 24 hours at least. 

Full Time: West Bromwich Albion 2-1 Blackpool  

Miller (22)

Morrison (79) 

Vernon (32) 

Attendance: 22,030

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