Rob Edwards struck six minutes from time to rescue a 2-2 draw for Blackpool at home to Wolves.
Edwards nets late equaliser for Blackpool
Rob Edwards struck six minutes from time to rescue a 2-2 draw for Blackpool at home to Wolves.
Reading and Birmingham both drew on Sunday and it looked as though Wolves would take the opportunity to extend their advantage at the top of the Championship table to nine points when they carved out a 2-1 lead.
There were two goals in the opening ten minutes as Sylvan Ebanks-Blake's penalty was cancelled out by Gary Taylor-Fletcher, before Matt Jarvis fired Wolves back in front on 70 minutes.
However, the managerless Seasiders continued to battle and grabbed an equaliser as Edwards scrambled the ball home late on.
Frenetic
The game began at a frenetic pace and Wolves took the lead after just four minutes.
Edwards hauled down Chris Iwelumo in the area as the striker looked to turn and Ebanks-Blake made no mistake with the resulting spot-kick, sending Paul Rachubka the wrong way with a powerful strike into the bottom left corner.
Blackpool responded well and after seeing a penalty appeal of their own turned down following Matthew Hill's challenge on Taylor-Fletcher, the home side equalised in the 10th minute.
Shaun Barker's long throw from the right was flicked on by Ian Evatt and Taylor-Fletcher sneaked in at the far post to divert the ball past Wayne Hennessey.
The Seasiders almost took the lead four minutes later, but Alan Gow missed his kick from eight yards after a quick free-kick had released Taylor-Fletcher down the right.
Blackpool came close again soon after as Gow's curling left-footed effort was tipped wide by Hennessey, while Matt Jarvis drilled a shot narrowly off target for Wolves after 39 minutes following a fine solo run.
Impact
The opening stages of the second half failed to produce the same excitement as was generated in the first 10 minutes of the match, although Wolves substitute Stephen Ward almost made an immediate impact shortly after the hour mark as he diverted Jarvis' right-wing cross agonisingly wide of the near post.
The visitors missed another chance to take the lead for a second time after 63 minutes, following an error by the experienced Evatt.
Iwelumo pounced on the defender's poor clearance and fed Jarvis, but his shot was superbly saved by Rachubka, who deflected the ball away for a corner.
Sam Vokes replaced Iwelumo five minutes later as Mick McCarthy looked to freshen up his forward line, and Wolves went back in front moments later as a perfectly weighted pass from Ebanks-Blake released Jarvis, who this time made no mistake as he lifted the ball over the onrushing Rachubka.
However, Blackpool refused to be beaten and after Evatt had beaten Hennessey to Kyel Reid's right-wing free-kick, Edwards was on hand to smash the ball home from point blank range.
Vokes went close for Wolves in the dying minutes with a clever backheeled effort, but the hosts held on for a valuable point.
