Tom Heaton's superb save helped Bristol City earn a vital point in their battle for survival in the Championship.

The ex-Manchester United goalkeeper kept out Kirk Broadfoot's header in a game of few chances at Bloomfield Road.

His superb stop helped the Robins move within two points of safety despite falling to the foot of the table.

Blackpool, who are 16th, could not find the breakthrough and have not scored in the three games since Paul Ince took over as manager on 18 February.

Stubborn Seasiders

Blackpool are now unbeaten in five Championship matches against Bristol City

City started well and Marvin Elliott, Lewin Nyatanga and Jon Stead all had chances blocked by Blackpool defenders.

Paul Anderson was next to threaten but the former Liverpool winger fired just over the bar after being found by Stephen Pearson.

At the other end Tom Ince tested Heaton and Matt Derbyshire volleyed wide from 12 yards on the stroke of half-time.

It was City doing all the pushing after half-time and after heading straight at Matt Gilks, Steven Davies had the ball in the net but he was flagged for offside.

Manager Ince introduced Nathan Delfouneso and the Aston Villa loanee came close to connecting with Alex Baptiste's pass.

A minute later Heaton did brilliantly to keep out Broadfoot's header from a Tom Ince corner and City held on for the point.

Blackpool assistant boss Steve Thompson:

"We are trying a style of play that suits us but we are finding it very frustrating on that pitch.

"We are adapting and changing the way we play at home which is wrong. It's a leveller, that pitch. It's frustrating for our players who want to get out and try and trust themselves with it.

"You try and play in the right areas, but the players have to sometimes take two touches instead of one. It's wrong that we've got a fantastic passing team and we're struggling to flow at Bloomfield Road."

Bristol City manager Sean O'Driscoll:

"I thought we were consistent from the first whistle to the last and in the Championship that's quite difficult.

"It's another game. This is a treadmill in the Championship. You don't look too far ahead and you don't look too far behind you. It's onto the next game.

"The most important moments of the game were a corner and a throw. The rest of it you could probably forget."

Lineup, Bookings (2) & Substitutions (4)

Blackpool

  • 01 Gilks
  • 03 Crainey
  • 05 Eardley (Delfouneso - 67' )
  • 15 Baptiste
  • 39 MacKenzie Booked
  • 42 Broadfoot
  • 07 M Phillips (Taylor-Fletcher - 83' )
  • 16 Ferguson
  • 31 Angel
  • 11 Ince
  • 38 Derbyshire

Substitutes

  • 21 Halstead
  • 04 Wabara
  • 20 Cathcart
  • 10 Grandin
  • 14 Sylvestre
  • 12 Taylor-Fletcher
  • 40 Delfouneso

Bristol City

  • 01 Heaton
  • 04 Fontaine
  • 05 Nyatanga
  • 17 Cunningham
  • 19 Moloney
  • 10 Kelly
  • 15 Pearson Booked (Skuse - 88' )
  • 21 Anderson
  • 25 Elliott
  • 09 Stead
  • 16 Davies (Adomah - 83' )

Substitutes

  • 22 Gerken
  • 39 Bates
  • 08 Kilkenny
  • 11 Howard
  • 14 Skuse
  • 27 Adomah
  • 07 Baldock
Ref: Russell
Att: 12,934

Match Stats

Shots

6 10

On target

4 7

Corners

2 4

Fouls

9 8

Live Text Commentary

93:14 Full time

Full Time The referee brings the game to a close.

90:00 +2:32

A cross is delivered by Nathan Delfouneso.

90:00 +2:15

Albert Adomah takes a shot. Save made by Matt Gilks.

90:00 +0:46

Paul Anderson sends in a cross.

89:53

Greg Cunningham takes the direct free kick.

89:53 Booking

Booking The referee shows Gary MacKenzie a yellow card.

89:29

Free kick awarded for an unfair challenge on Albert Adomah by Gary MacKenzie.

89:17

Nathan Delfouneso crosses the ball, Lewin Nyatanga manages to make a clearance.

87:05

Free kick taken by Paul Anderson.

87:05 Substitution

Substitution Cole Skuse replaces Stephen Pearson.

87:05

Free kick awarded for a foul by Nathan Delfouneso on Brendan Moloney.

85:57

Barry Ferguson fouled by Liam Kelly, the ref awards a free kick. Direct free kick taken by Matt Gilks.

85:20

The ball is sent over by Marvin Elliott, clearance made by Alex Baptiste.

82:43 Substitution

Substitution Matt Phillips leaves the field to be replaced by Gary Taylor-Fletcher.

82:20 Substitution

Substitution (Bristol City) makes a substitution, with Albert Adomah coming on for Steven Davies.

81:58

Centre by Stephen Crainey.

78:07

The ball is delivered by Paul Anderson, Kirk Broadfoot manages to make a clearance.

76:29

The ball is swung over by Matt Phillips, clearance by Marvin Elliott.

73:35

Free kick awarded for an unfair challenge on Marvin Elliott by Matt Derbyshire. Brendan Moloney takes the direct free kick.

72:23

The ball is sent over by Stephen Pearson, clearance by Stephen Crainey.

70:44

The ball is delivered by Nathan Delfouneso, Liam Fontaine manages to make a clearance.

69:21

Outswinging corner taken left-footed by Tom Ince from the left by-line to the near post, Kirk Broadfoot takes a shot. Tom Heaton makes a save.

69:09

Tom Ince takes a shot. Blocked by Liam Fontaine.

68:46

The assistant referee signals for offside against Jon Stead. Free kick taken by Matt Gilks.

68:32

Gary MacKenzie gives away a free kick for an unfair challenge on Steven Davies. Paul Anderson takes the direct free kick.

67:41

Centre by Alex Baptiste.

67:29

The ball is sent over by Matt Derbyshire, clearance made by Lewin Nyatanga.

65:59

Matt Gilks takes the direct free kick.

65:59 Substitution

Substitution Neal Eardley leaves the field to be replaced by Nathan Delfouneso.

65:59

The official flags Steven Davies offside.

65:26

Brendan Moloney takes a shot. Save by Matt Gilks.

64:30

The ball is sent over by Matt Phillips, clearance by Brendan Moloney.

63:54

Foul by Barry Ferguson on Brendan Moloney, free kick awarded. Free kick taken by Brendan Moloney.

61:58

Alex Baptiste fouled by Marvin Elliott, the ref awards a free kick. Matt Gilks restarts play with the free kick.

61:26

Corner taken by Stephen Pearson played to the near post, Angel Martinez makes a clearance.

61:12

Centre by Paul Anderson, Gary MacKenzie gets a block in.

59:56

Jon Stead produces a cross, blocked by Stephen Pearson.

60:13

Corner taken right-footed by Paul Anderson, Matt Gilks makes a save.

59:56

The ball is crossed by Jon Stead, blocked by Stephen Pearson.

58:22

Angel Martinez has shot on goal from just outside the box which goes wide of the right-hand upright.

58:14

Neal Eardley produces a cross, clearance by Liam Fontaine.

57:23

The ball is swung over by Brendan Moloney, Steven Davies takes a shot. Tom Heaton makes a save.

56:49

Matt Derbyshire takes a shot. Liam Fontaine gets a block in.

55:57

Matt Gilks takes the direct free kick.

55:57 Booking

Booking Stephen Pearson is shown a yellow card for unsporting behaviour.

55:38

Free kick awarded for a foul by Stephen Pearson on Neal Eardley.

52:57

Greg Cunningham has an effort at goal from outside the area missing to the wide right of the goal.

49:46

The ball is crossed by Neal Eardley.

47:31

Free kick awarded for a foul by Marvin Elliott on Barry Ferguson. Barry Ferguson takes the free kick.

46:00

Unfair challenge on Barry Ferguson by Marvin Elliott results in a free kick. Gary MacKenzie restarts play with the free kick.

45:01

The referee gets the second half started.

45:00 +1:04 Half time

Half Time It is the end of the first-half.

45:00 +0:44

The offside flag is raised against Tom Ince. Tom Heaton takes the free kick.

44:57

Effort from deep inside the area by Matt Derbyshire misses to the left of the goal.

44:21

Jon Stead sends in a cross, blocked by Stephen Crainey.

42:33

Tom Ince takes a shot. Save by Tom Heaton.

41:33

Matt Phillips gives away a free kick for an unfair challenge on Lewin Nyatanga. Tom Heaton takes the free kick.

39:50

Centre by Jon Stead, Neal Eardley manages to make a clearance.

38:25

Paul Anderson produces a left-footed shot from just outside the area that goes harmlessly over the bar.

38:03

Matt Derbyshire sends in a cross, clearance made by Brendan Moloney.

36:59

Unfair challenge on Angel Martinez by Paul Anderson results in a free kick. Free kick taken by Matt Gilks.

36:15

The ball is swung over by Greg Cunningham, save by Matt Gilks.

32:37

The official flags Matt Derbyshire offside. Tom Heaton restarts play with the free kick.

30:45

Free kick awarded for an unfair challenge on Liam Fontaine by Matt Derbyshire. Tom Heaton restarts play with the free kick.

30:09

Stephen Pearson delivers the ball, Gary MacKenzie manages to make a clearance.

28:09

Jon Stead takes a shot. Save by Matt Gilks.

27:22

Marvin Elliott fouled by Barry Ferguson, the ref awards a free kick. Direct free kick taken by Tom Heaton.

27:03

Steven Davies gives away a free kick for an unfair challenge on Gary MacKenzie. Stephen Crainey restarts play with the free kick.

26:48

Marvin Elliott takes a shot. Blocked by Barry Ferguson.

26:36

Effort from 20 yards by Jon Stead. Blocked by Kirk Broadfoot.

26:06

Lewin Nyatanga takes a shot. Gary MacKenzie gets a block in.

24:09

Stephen Pearson takes the inswinging corner, clearance made by Angel Martinez.

23:53

The ball is crossed by Steven Davies, Neal Eardley gets a block in.

23:06

Inswinging corner taken right-footed by Neal Eardley played to the near post, clearance by Steven Davies.

19:59

Alex Baptiste crosses the ball, clearance made by Liam Fontaine.

18:50

A cross is delivered by Stephen Crainey, save made by Tom Heaton.

17:38

Matt Phillips delivers the ball, clearance made by Liam Fontaine.

16:40

Centre by Paul Anderson, Steven Davies has an effort at goal from deep inside the area missing to the right of the goal.

16:25

A cross is delivered by Paul Anderson, save by Matt Gilks.

15:49

Corner taken by Paul Anderson, Stephen Pearson produces a cross, clearance made by Alex Baptiste.

14:59

Neal Eardley sends in a cross.

14:44

A cross is delivered by Matt Phillips.

14:30

Paul Anderson sends in a cross, Gary MacKenzie manages to make a clearance.

14:03

Liam Kelly delivers the ball, blocked by Angel Martinez.

12:28

Foul by Brendan Moloney on Matt Derbyshire, free kick awarded. Stephen Crainey restarts play with the free kick.

11:30

The offside flag is raised against Matt Phillips. Tom Heaton restarts play with the free kick.

10:50

The ball is delivered by Neal Eardley, clearance by Liam Fontaine.

7:44

The assistant referee signals for offside against Matt Phillips. Free kick taken by Tom Heaton.

5:01

Matt Phillips crosses the ball, Brendan Moloney gets a block in.

4:29

The ball is sent over by Stephen Crainey, clearance by Brendan Moloney.

2:48

Free kick awarded for an unfair challenge on Greg Cunningham by Tom Ince. Tom Heaton restarts play with the free kick.

0:00

The referee gets the game started.

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