Back down to earth with a bump at Bloomfield Road. Anyone who was hoping for a coupon buster was disappointed as Blackpool and Bournemouth showed why they are at the bottom and top of the Championship respectively. Whatever confidence and team moral that Lee Clark had established at Bloomfield Road was gone in 90 minutes.
The visitors opened the scoring when Matt Ritchie's effort bobbled over goalkeeper Joe Lewis and Callum Wilson made it two before the break. Ritchie curled in a third before Nathan Delfouneso tapped in for the hosts, but then Brett Pitman scored from the spot after Darren O'Dea had fouled Wilson. Late goals from Marc Pugh and Harry Arter ensured an easy Bournemouth win.
Meanwhile, Blackpool saw their four-match unbeaten run come to an end and they remain four points behind second-from-bottom Wigan. Bournemouth's opening goal - although well-deserved - was slightly fortunate, as Ritchie's relatively tame shot hit a bobble on a poor pitch to deflect over the helpless Lewis. Blackpool had only themselves to blame for the Cherries' second, as Chris Eagles tried to usher the ball out of play but was caught out by Charlie Daniels, who crossed for Wilson to convert.After Ritchie's spectacular third, Delfouneso looked to have given the hosts hope but Bournemouth restored their three-goal lead within a minute.
Almost straight from the re-start, a long ball forward led to O'Dea clearly fouling Wilson and, after being ordered to re-take his initial spot-kick, Pitman converted emphatically into the bottom corner. The visitors could have scored more and Ritchie could have netted a hat-trick but, after Pugh and Arter's late strikes, they had to settle for a convincing five-goal advantage.
In perspective, it's one defeat but one defeat that could have long lasting implications.