Portsmouth dented Blackpool's promotion hopes with a draw at Bloomfield Road.

Norweigian striker Erik Huseklepp's turn and shot put Portsmouth ahead on the stroke of half-time.

Further chances fell to Huseklepp but he spurned them, and Blackpool's perseverance was rewarded 14 minutes from the end.

Crainey curled a delightful free-kick into the top corner to energise Blackpool, but Portsmouth held on for a valuable point.

Portsmouth took the lead on the stroke of half-time when Kelvin Etuhu took advantage of a static Blackpool defence to fire goalwards on the angle.

Matt Gilks parried clear but Futacs steered back towards the danger area for Huseklepp to produce an assured finish on the turn.

Pompey were still carrying a considerable threat but Huseklepp's touch let him down as he burst between the Tangerines' centre-backs in the 52nd minute.

Full-back Alex Baptiste teed himself up to volley over as Blackpool kept the pressure on with the hour approaching, but Huseklepp soon passed up another clear opening.

After springing the offside trap and racing into space down the right channel, the attacker contrived to thrash a simple cross out of play.

Huseklepp was eventually made to pay for his second-half misses as former Southampton full-back Crainey curled a sumptuous free-kick into the top corner after Greg Halford fouled Baptiste in the 75th minute.

Lineup, Bookings (0) & Substitutions (4)

Blackpool

  • 01 Gilks
  • 03 Crainey
  • 15 Baptiste
  • 17 Basham (Sylvestre - 66' )
  • 20 Cathcart
  • 37 Wilson
  • 16 Ferguson
  • 23 M Phillips
  • 35 Bednar
  • 36 Ince (Taylor-Fletcher - 55' )
  • 38 LuaLua (K Phillips - 56' )

Substitutes

  • 05 Eardley
  • 14 Sylvestre
  • 09 K Phillips
  • 12 Taylor-Fletcher
  • 32 Dicko

Portsmouth

  • 13 Henderson
  • 02 Ward
  • 03 Rocha
  • 05 Pearce
  • 15 Halford
  • 26 Ben-Haim
  • 07 Lawrence
  • 08 Mullins
  • 10 Huseklepp
  • 09 Futacs (Kitson - 78' )
  • 14 Etuhu

Substitutes

  • 01 Ashdown
  • 31 Webster
  • 04 Mokoena
  • 18 Kitson
  • 25 Mwaruwari
Ref: Robert Madley
Att: 12,545

Match Stats

Shots

15 9

On target

7 6

Corners

6 0

Fouls

5 15

Live Text Commentary

90:00 +3:21 Full time

Full Time The referee signals the end of the game.

90:00 +2:48

Unfair challenge on Liam Lawrence by Matt Phillips results in a free kick. Stephen Henderson takes the direct free kick.

90:00 +1:03

The ball is sent over by Alex Baptiste, Hayden Mullins makes a clearance.

86:45

Stephen Crainey takes the inswinging corner, save by Stephen Henderson.

86:37

The ball is crossed by Matt Phillips, Joel Ward manages to make a clearance.

86:29

The ball is crossed by Matt Phillips, Joel Ward makes a clearance.

86:17

Corner taken by Matt Phillips.

85:54

Ludovic Sylvestre takes a shot. Save by Stephen Henderson.

84:56

Foul by Greg Halford on Ludovic Sylvestre, free kick awarded. Free kick crossed left-footed by Stephen Crainey, clearance by Tal Ben-Haim.

84:19

The ball is crossed by Danny Wilson, Kelvin Etuhu gets a block in.

82:16

Matt Phillips sends in a cross.

81:33

Joel Ward takes a shot. Craig Cathcart gets a block in.

81:21

Greg Halford sends in a cross.

80:51

Roman Bednar concedes a free kick for a foul on Liam Lawrence. Greg Halford restarts play with the free kick.

79:50

The ball is delivered by Matt Phillips.

79:02

Stephen Crainey takes a shot. Jason Pearce gets a block in.

77:47

Direct free kick taken by Matthew Gilks.

77:47 Substitution

Substitution Dave Kitson on for Marko Futacs.

77:47

Free kick awarded for an unfair challenge on Stephen Crainey by Kelvin Etuhu.

77:17

Free kick awarded for an unfair challenge on Tal Ben-Haim by Gary Taylor-Fletcher. Direct free kick taken by Stephen Henderson.

75:53

Assist on the goal came from Alex Baptiste.

75:53 Goal scored

Goal - Stephen Crainey - Blackpool 1 - 1 Portsmouth Stephen Crainey scores a goal direct from the free kick from just outside the box to the top right corner of the goal. Blackpool 1-1 Portsmouth.

74:57

Alex Baptiste fouled by Greg Halford, the ref awards a free kick.

74:21

The ball is swung over by Danny Wilson, Hayden Mullins makes a clearance.

73:30

Centre by Ludovic Sylvestre, clearance made by Jason Pearce.

72:03

Erik Huseklepp takes a shot. Matthew Gilks makes a save.

71:28

Gary Taylor-Fletcher takes a shot from just inside the penalty box which clears the crossbar.

70:29

Kevin Phillips takes a shot. Joel Ward gets a block in.

68:53

Foul by Marko Futacs on Danny Wilson, free kick awarded. Free kick taken by Danny Wilson.

68:05

The referee blows for offside against Gary Taylor-Fletcher. Stephen Henderson takes the free kick.

65:15 Substitution

Substitution Ludovic Sylvestre replaces Chris Basham.

64:19

The ball is delivered by Matt Phillips, Stephen Henderson makes a save.

63:23

The ball is sent over by Chris Basham, Stephen Henderson makes a save.

62:23

The ball is delivered by Erik Huseklepp.

62:10

The ball is swung over by Greg Halford.

61:44

Matt Phillips takes a shot. Greg Halford gets a block in.

59:41

The ball is sent over by Chris Basham, Liam Lawrence gets a block in.

59:22

A cross is delivered by Matt Phillips, Greg Halford gets a block in.

58:01

Alex Baptiste has an effort at goal from just inside the box that misses to the right of the target.

56:47

Unfair challenge on Alex Baptiste by Greg Halford results in a free kick. Matt Phillips crosses the ball in from the free kick, Ricardo Rocha manages to make a clearance.

55:00 Substitution

Substitution Kevin Phillips replaces Lomana Tresor LuaLua.

55:00 Substitution

Substitution Thomas Ince goes off and Gary Taylor-Fletcher comes on.

51:59

Effort from just outside the box by Marko Futacs strikes the post.

51:42

Free kick awarded for a foul by Thomas Ince on Greg Halford. Liam Lawrence takes the free kick.

49:54

Centre by Stephen Crainey, Stephen Henderson makes a save.

49:02

Free kick awarded for an unfair challenge on Matt Phillips by Hayden Mullins. Barry Ferguson takes the direct free kick.

47:14

Effort on goal by Thomas Ince from just outside the penalty area goes harmlessly over the target.

46:43

Ricardo Rocha challenges Roman Bednar unfairly and gives away a free kick. Direct free kick taken by Barry Ferguson.

45:32

Effort from the edge of the box by Thomas Ince goes wide of the left-hand upright.

45:01

The second half begins.

45:00 +1:53 Half time

Half Time The players leave the pitch at half time.

45:00 +0:51

Ricardo Rocha gives away a free kick for an unfair challenge on Roman Bednar. Shot on goal comes in from Lomana Tresor LuaLua from the free kick.

44:46 Goal scored

Goal - Erik Huseklepp - Blackpool 0 - 1 Portsmouth Erik Huseklepp scores a goal from close range to the bottom right corner of the goal. Blackpool 0-1 Portsmouth.

44:09

Tal Ben-Haim takes a shot. Matthew Gilks makes a save.

40:53

Thomas Ince takes a inswinging corner from the right by-line to the near post.

40:47

Alex Baptiste delivers the ball, Liam Lawrence gets a block in.

40:41

A cross is delivered by Stephen Crainey.

40:28

Hayden Mullins gives away a free kick for an unfair challenge on Lomana Tresor LuaLua. Lomana Tresor LuaLua takes the direct free kick.

39:10

Foul by Tal Ben-Haim on Roman Bednar, free kick awarded. Lomana Tresor LuaLua restarts play with the free kick.

37:10

The ball is crossed by Joel Ward.

35:11

Lomana Tresor LuaLua takes a shot. Blocked by Jason Pearce.

33:46

Marko Futacs is flagged offside by the assistant referee. Free kick taken by Barry Ferguson.

33:11

Centre by Greg Halford, save made by Matthew Gilks.

32:01

Matt Phillips sends in a cross, clearance by Jason Pearce.

30:16

Unfair challenge on Chris Basham by Liam Lawrence results in a free kick. Direct free kick taken by Matthew Gilks.

27:58

The ball is delivered by Erik Huseklepp.

27:38

Erik Huseklepp takes a shot. Save made by Matthew Gilks.

27:05

Tal Ben-Haim takes a shot. Save by Matthew Gilks.

26:58

Liam Lawrence crosses the ball.

26:24

The ball is swung over by Kelvin Etuhu, blocked by Danny Wilson.

24:57

Chris Basham produces a right-footed shot from just outside the box that goes wide left of the goal.

20:50

The referee blows for offside. Direct free kick taken by Matthew Gilks.

20:33

The assistant referee signals for offside against Chris Basham. Stephen Henderson restarts play with the free kick.

18:49

Free kick awarded for an unfair challenge on Thomas Ince by Tal Ben-Haim. Lomana Tresor LuaLua fires a strike on goal direct from the free kick.

18:12

Outswinging corner taken by Matt Phillips from the right by-line, Greg Halford manages to make a clearance.

17:54

Lomana Tresor LuaLua takes a shot. Jason Pearce gets a block in.

16:32

Alex Baptiste delivers the ball.

16:17

The ball is crossed by Thomas Ince, Liam Lawrence manages to make a clearance.

15:24

Effort from the edge of the box by Lomana Tresor LuaLua goes wide of the right-hand upright.

14:48

Marko Futacs takes a shot. Craig Cathcart gets a block in.

13:48

The assistant referee flags for offside against Thomas Ince. Stephen Henderson restarts play with the free kick.

13:04

Unfair challenge on Craig Cathcart by Hayden Mullins results in a free kick. Matthew Gilks takes the free kick.

11:22

Roman Bednar fouled by Liam Lawrence, the ref awards a free kick. Free kick taken by Barry Ferguson.

10:37

Centre by Lomana Tresor LuaLua.

10:06

Thomas Ince takes a short corner.

9:59

The ball is delivered by Alex Baptiste, clearance made by Liam Lawrence.

9:17

Chris Basham fouled by Hayden Mullins, the ref awards a free kick. Direct free kick taken by Barry Ferguson.

8:18

Kelvin Etuhu produces a cross.

7:16

The ball is crossed by Matt Phillips.

5:08

The ball is delivered by Erik Huseklepp, Barry Ferguson manages to make a clearance.

3:39

Matt Phillips crosses the ball.

3:21

Short corner taken by Thomas Ince.

3:05

The ball is swung over by Alex Baptiste, clearance made by Jason Pearce.

1:37

Marko Futacs has an effort at goal from outside the penalty box which goes wide right of the target.

1:06

Liam Lawrence fouled by Chris Basham, the ref awards a free kick. Stephen Henderson takes the free kick.

0:00

The referee gets the game started.

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