Blackpool 1 Gillingham 1

Last updated : 29 August 2006 By Footymad Previewer
Nsungu: fired the Gills into an early lead
New Blackpool owner Valeri Belokon has yet to see his side win a League One match at Bloomfield Road.

And after escaping with a draw against battling Gillingham, manager Simon Grayson pledged to carry on spending in a bid to stop the rot.

He wants to bring in a Championship midfielder and seal a deal for Morecambe striker Danny Carlton shortly and many Blackpool fans expect to see a clearly unsettled Keigan Parker leave the Seasiders, possibly for Crystal Palace.

However, if Palace watched Parker's disappointing display as a second-half substitute against the Gills their interest may swiftly decline.

Blackpool went behind as early as the third minute when basic defending mistakes allowed Danny Jackman two shots on goal. His second rebounded kindly for fellow striker Guylain Ndumbu-Nsungu and the DR Congo international was left with a simple tap in.

Blackpool should have been stung into instant action but it took a long time for the Seasiders to assert themselves with a series of high balls forward easily cut out by the tall visiting back four.

Only when Wes Hoolahan started playing the ball on the deck did Blackpool spring into life as they began to look dangerous down the flanks.

In the 35th minute Hoolahan himself whipped in a cross which Scott Vernon met with a diving header as he registered his fourth goal in his last three games.

Blackpool survived a 38th minute scare when Andrew Crofts should have scored from eight yards out.

The Seasiders began the second half in style and it took a series of brilliant stops from 19-year-old shot-stopper Darren Randolph, on loan from Charlton, to keep out goalbound efforts from Vernon, Andy Morrell and a dipping volley by Shaun Barker.

Blackpool seemed to lose their way when Hoolahan went off injured in the 74th minute and Gills boss Ronnie Jepson, who would have been happy with a point, suddenly saw the chance to snatch all three.

In stoppage time Matthew Jarvis found himself clean through on goal but was denied by Rhys Evans' point-blank save.