Leaders Southampton suffered a dent to their promotion hopes with a comprehensive defeat at play-off chasing Blackpool who are now fifth.

Saints missed an early penalty with Blackpool keeper Matthew Gilks saving Billy Sharp's spot kick.

But Stephen Dobbie made no mistake to convert from 12 yards when the Tangerines won a penalty of their own.

Dobbie poked home after poor defending to double the lead and Ian Evatt completed the rout.

Southampton remain top but their lead is only two points following second-placed Reading's 4-2 victory over West Ham earlier in the day. Third-placed West Ham are six points behind Southampton with six games to play.

Saints began the game without top scorer Rickie Lambert, but Sharp should have put the visitors in front against the run of the play when they were awarded a penalty after Robert Harris brought down Guly Do Prado.

But Gilks superbly kept out Sharp's penalty and within minutes they were ahead when Morgan Schneiderlin brought down Gary Taylor-Fletcher and Dobbie scored the resulting spot kick.

Jos Hooiveld should have brought Southampton level with a close-range header when Richard Chaplow flicked on Daniel Fox's corner - a miss that instantly came back to haunt him.

From the resulting goal-kick, Taylor-Fletcher won the flick-on and Dobbie shrugged Jose Fonte aside before producing another measured finish.

Fonte did just enough to divert Alex Baptiste's header from Thomas Ince's 51st minute corner behind, but Evatt immediately cashed in on his centre-back partner's efforts.

Pre-occupied with Baptiste's threat, the next corner was arrowed to the back post where Evatt thumped home.

Blackpool briefly threatened to run riot and Dobbie had a shot blocked after Ince and Taylor-Fletcher linked up well.

In the closing stages, Holloway's men saw out the match in relative comfort.

When Southampton did find a way through they were wasteful. Do Prado found space at the back post to tee-up Adam Lallana, but the midfielder uncharacteristically slashed horribly wide.

Lineup, Bookings (2) & Substitutions (5)

Blackpool

  • 01 Gilks
  • 05 Eardley
  • 06 Evatt
  • 15 Baptiste
  • 33 Harris
  • 04 Southern
  • 23 M Phillips (Fleck - 81' )
  • 31 Angel Booked
  • 07 Dobbie (Ormerod - 77' )
  • 12 Taylor-Fletcher
  • 36 Ince (LuaLua - 84' )

Substitutes

  • 17 Basham
  • 37 Wilson
  • 25 Fleck
  • 10 Ormerod
  • 38 LuaLua

Southampton

  • 01 Davis
  • 06 Fonte
  • 12 Butterfield
  • 13 Fox Booked
  • 26 Hooiveld
  • 04 Schneiderlin
  • 08 Cork
  • 10 Guly (Barnard - 78' )
  • 18 Chaplow (De Ridder - 46' )
  • 20 Lallana
  • 11 Sharp

Substitutes

  • 03 Harding
  • 16 Martin
  • 14 Hammond
  • 33 De Ridder
  • 09 Barnard
Ref: Whitestone
Att: 13,499

Match Stats

Shots

17 7

On target

11 4

Corners

9 5

Fouls

9 9

Live Text Commentary

90:00 +3:21 Full time

Full Time The referee brings the game to a close.

90:00 +2:37

Free kick awarded for an unfair challenge on Lomana Tresor LuaLua by Morgan Schneiderlin. Free kick taken by Neal Eardley.

90:00 +2:12

Lee Barnard takes a shot. Neal Eardley gets a block in.

90:00 +1:45

Outswinging corner taken by Danny Butterfield from the right by-line.

89:15

The assistant referee signals for offside against Brett Ormerod. Kelvin Davis takes the free kick.

88:08

Free kick awarded for an unfair challenge on Jose Fonte by Brett Ormerod. Danny Butterfield takes the free kick.

86:56

Free kick awarded for a foul by Martinez Angel on Adam Lallana. Daniel Fox delivers the ball from the free kick left-footed from left wing.

86:41

Adam Lallana fouled by Lomana Tresor LuaLua, the ref awards a free kick. Morgan Schneiderlin takes the direct free kick.

85:41

Alex Baptiste is adjudged to have handled the ball. Free kick crossed left-footed by Daniel Fox from left channel, clearance by Neal Eardley.

83:32

Jose Fonte restarts play with the free kick.

83:32 Substitution

Substitution Lomana Tresor LuaLua is brought on as a substitute for Thomas Ince.

83:32

The referee blows for offside against Brett Ormerod.

82:10

The referee blows for offside. Matthew Gilks takes the free kick.

80:02 Substitution

Substitution Matt Phillips leaves the field to be replaced by John Fleck.

80:02

Free kick awarded for an unfair challenge on Martinez Angel by Lee Barnard. Matthew Gilks restarts play with the free kick.

79:40

Adam Lallana has a volleyed shot. Save by Matthew Gilks.

79:13

Foul by Keith Southern on Jose Fonte, free kick awarded. Jose Fonte takes the free kick.

77:39 Substitution

Substitution Lee Barnard joins the action as a substitute, replacing Guly Do Prado.

76:14

Inswinging corner taken right-footed by Matt Phillips from the left by-line, Jose Fonte manages to make a clearance.

76:14 Substitution

Substitution Brett Ormerod replaces Stephen Dobbie.

75:09

Corner taken right-footed by Matt Phillips, clearance made by Jos Hooiveld.

74:49

Keith Southern takes a shot. Blocked by Jose Fonte.

74:11

Jose Fonte challenges Gary Taylor-Fletcher unfairly and gives away a free kick. Matt Phillips delivers the ball from the free kick right-footed from left channel.

73:37

The assistant referee flags for offside against Billy Sharp. Free kick taken by Matthew Gilks.

72:57

Daniel Fox produces a shot on goal direct from the free kick, Matthew Gilks makes a save.

72:57 Booking

Booking The referee books Martinez Angel for unsporting behaviour.

72:18

Martinez Angel challenges Jose Fonte unfairly and gives away a free kick.

71:50

The ball is sent over by Steve De Ridder, blocked by Robert Harris.

70:29

The official flags Gary Taylor-Fletcher offside. Jose Fonte takes the indirect free kick.

69:24

Effort from inside the area by Gary Taylor-Fletcher misses to the left of the goal.

67:08

Free kick crossed right-footed by Neal Eardley from right wing, Danny Butterfield manages to make a clearance.

67:08 Booking

Booking The referee books Daniel Fox for unsporting behaviour.

66:46

Thomas Ince fouled by Daniel Fox, the ref awards a free kick.

65:27

Steve De Ridder produces a cross.

64:04

Matt Phillips has an effort at goal from outside the box which goes wide right of the goal.

63:27

Billy Sharp is flagged offside by the assistant referee. Matthew Gilks takes the indirect free kick.

63:19

Adam Lallana delivers the ball.

58:47

Inswinging corner taken from the right by-line by Daniel Fox. Effort from deep inside the area by Jose Fonte misses to the right of the target.

58:25

Guly Do Prado takes a shot. Blocked by Keith Southern.

56:13

Matt Phillips takes a shot.

55:54

Corner taken short by Matt Phillips.

55:27

Corner taken left-footed by Thomas Ince from the right by-line, clearance by Danny Butterfield.

53:44

Corner taken by Adam Lallana from the left by-line, clearance made by Matt Phillips.

53:28

Stephen Dobbie takes a shot. Morgan Schneiderlin gets a block in.

51:43

Assist by Matt Phillips.

51:43 Goal scored

Goal - Ian Evatt - Blackpool 3 - 0 Southamp'n Ian Evatt scores a headed goal from inside the six-yard box. Blackpool 3-0 Southampton.

51:28

Corner from the left by-line taken by Matt Phillips,

51:06

Corner taken left-footed by Thomas Ince from the right by-line, Jose Fonte manages to make a clearance.

50:23

Corner taken left-footed by Thomas Ince, Jose Fonte makes a clearance.

49:59

Adam Lallana produces a cross, clearance by Ian Evatt.

45:58

The ball is swung over by Gary Taylor-Fletcher, Jos Hooiveld makes a clearance.

45:01

The second half has started.

45:01 Substitution

Substitution Steve De Ridder is brought on as a substitute for Richard Chaplow.

45:00 +1:07 Half time

Half Time The whistle is blown to end the first half.

40:20

The referee blows for offside against Billy Sharp. Matthew Gilks takes the free kick.

39:04

The official flags Thomas Ince offside. Indirect free kick taken by Kelvin Davis.

38:42

Neal Eardley takes a shot. Blocked by Adam Lallana.

37:05

Martinez Angel has an effort at goal from outside the area which goes wide left of the target.

34:16

Inswinging corner taken right-footed by Matt Phillips from the left by-line to the near post, clearance by Guly Do Prado.

33:24

Guly Do Prado concedes a free kick for a foul on Thomas Ince. Neal Eardley crosses the ball from the free kick right-footed from right channel, clearance made by Jose Fonte.

32:16

Gary Taylor-Fletcher takes a shot. Jos Hooiveld gets a block in.

32:10

Robert Harris sends in a cross, clearance by Jose Fonte.

30:25

Gary Taylor-Fletcher provided the assist for the goal.

30:25 Goal scored

Goal - Stephen Dobbie - Blackpool 2 - 0 Southamp'n Stephen Dobbie finds the net with a goal from inside the box to the bottom left corner of the goal. Blackpool 2-0 Southampton.

29:27

Corner taken left-footed by Daniel Fox to the near post, Jos Hooiveld has a headed effort at goal from close range which goes wide of the left-hand upright.

28:52

Inswinging corner taken right-footed by Adam Lallana from the left by-line, clearance by Alex Baptiste.

27:34

The referee blows for offside. Matthew Gilks restarts play with the free kick.

27:19

Stephen Dobbie sends in a cross, Jose Fonte manages to make a clearance.

27:01

A cross is delivered by Richard Chaplow, Ian Evatt manages to make a clearance.

23:11

Richard Chaplow concedes a free kick for a foul on Keith Southern. Neal Eardley fires a strike on goal direct from the free kick.

22:31

Guly Do Prado gives away a free kick for an unfair challenge on Thomas Ince. Free kick crossed by Neal Eardley.

21:53

The assist for the goal came from Gary Taylor-Fletcher.

21:53 Goal scored

Goal - Stephen Dobbie - Blackpool 1 - 0 Southamp'n Stephen Dobbie scores a placed penalty. Blackpool 1-0 Southampton.

20:51

Foul by Morgan Schneiderlin on Gary Taylor-Fletcher, Penalty awarded.

20:41

The ball is crossed by Keith Southern, clearance by Daniel Fox.

17:24

Adam Lallana delivers the ball, Neal Eardley gets a block in.

16:35 Penalty

Penalty taken by Billy Sharp is saved by Matthew Gilks. Blackpool 0-0 Southampton.

15:35

Robert Harris concedes a Penalty for a foul on Guly Do Prado.

13:45

Thomas Ince takes a shot. Save by Kelvin Davis.

12:13

Strike by Gary Taylor-Fletcher from inside the six-yard box clear the bar.

11:58

Gary Taylor-Fletcher takes a shot. Save made by Kelvin Davis.

11:06

Effort on goal by Gary Taylor-Fletcher from 18 yards. Blocked by Jos Hooiveld.

10:43

Inswinging corner taken by Thomas Ince from the right by-line.

10:29

Gary Taylor-Fletcher takes a shot. Save made by Kelvin Davis.

9:38

Morgan Schneiderlin fouled by Stephen Dobbie, the ref awards a free kick. Danny Butterfield takes the free kick.

8:35

The referee blows for offside against Billy Sharp. Matthew Gilks takes the indirect free kick.

7:59

Adam Lallana fouled by Martinez Angel, the ref awards a free kick. Free kick taken by Daniel Fox.

7:33

Stephen Dobbie takes a shot. Jos Hooiveld gets a block in.

6:12

Neal Eardley crosses the ball, Kelvin Davis makes a save.

6:02

The ball is delivered by Thomas Ince, clearance by Jose Fonte.

4:55

Effort from deep inside the area by Guly Do Prado misses to the right of the goal.

4:18

Unfair challenge on Thomas Ince by Daniel Fox results in a free kick. Free kick taken by Neal Eardley.

3:37

The ball is delivered by Matt Phillips.

2:54

Jack Cork fouled by Thomas Ince, the ref awards a free kick. Daniel Fox takes the free kick.

0:00

The referee gets the match started.

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