Blackpool frustrated by 10-man Villa

Blackpool were forced to settle for a 1-1 draw against 10-man Aston Villa at Bloomfield Road on Saturday.

Ian Holloway's side ended a run of five successive defeats but they were left to rue a missed opportunity to move further away from the Premier League relegation zone.

Gabriel Agbonlahor opened the scoring for Villa early in the first half but Elliot Grandin equalised for the Seasiders four minutes later.

Blackpool had a chance to push for victory when Villa were reduced to 10 men in the 70th minute after Jean Makoun was shown a straight red card after a challenge on DJ Campbell.

However, Gerard Houllier's side dug in for a point that kept them one point and one place above Blackpool.

Villa made the breakthrough in the 10th minute following a swift counter attack that left the home side exposed.

Darren Bent laid the ball off to Agbonlahor and he showed a blistering turn of pace before going around Richard Kingson and firing a shot into the corner.

However not for the first time this time this season Holloway's side stormed back and equalised in the 14th minute.

Grandin got a vital touch at the near post after Villa failed to deal with a corner from Charlie Adam.

Two minutes later Luke Varney should have put Blackpool ahead only to head wide from six yards following a cross from Marlon Harewood.

Play switched back down the other end and Stewart Downing came close to regaining the lead for the visitors in the 30th minute.

The former Middlesbrough winger carved out an opening for himself on the edge of the area only to see his curler come back off the outside of the post.

Blackpool almost took the lead in the 54th minute with Adam at the heart of the move.

The Scotland midfielder released Varney on the left wing and he skipped to the byline before delivering the cross.

Campbell got on the end of it at the near post but his effort went wide of the target when it seemed easier to score.

Villa were then reduced to 10 men in the 70th minute when Makoun was sent off for a rash challenge on Campbell.

But they kept Blackpool at bay and could have stolen a win when Ashley Young had an appeal for penalty turned down in stoppage time after he tumbled under Ian Evatt's challenge.