THE largest league crowd of the Bloomfield Road season saw the Seasiders' play-off hopes slip further away than ever,

Despite being six points behind the sixth place club, QPR, a very good run could potentially throw Blackpool back into contention.

Unfortunately, no-one in tangerine had such optimism, and the Seasiders could only manage a draw in a very lack-lustre performance at Bloomfield Road.

In fact, overall visitors Plymouth arguably shaded it in a game where everyone seemed to have one eye on next season already.

To be fair to Blackpool, they were without a key partner for Keith Southern in the midfield. With Wellens suspended and Evans injured, Blackpool Leam Richardson was, surprisingly, pushed forward, with little positive effect.

Plymouth started the game the better side and, apart from a Ben Thornley shot which hit the bar for Blackpool, they went on to dominate the first half. Spurred on by a vocal, 1400-strong travelling support, Plymouth could had been three or four goals up by the time Marino Keith gave them the lead on 29 minutes.

A superb strike from just outside the box into the top corner gave Barnes no chance, one of the best goals scored at Bloomfield Road this season.

Plymouth continued to pile on the pressure finding joy with balls to the back post where it seemed every attack ended up with a Plymouth striker missing a clear shot at goal.

Luckily for Pool, Plymouth's attackers failed to repeat Marino Keith's excellent finishing and the home side even went on to equalise just before the break, against the run of play.

The goal itself had a touch of fortune to it too. First of all Scott Taylor appeared offside when receiving the ball and then went on to squeeze his shot under keeper Romain Larrieu. The Plymouth shot-stopper should had done much better but they all count and Blackpool were back in the game.

Anyone expecting a Blackpool fight back in the second half were to be disappointed. The defence was much better and whatever problems they suffered in the first half seemed to have been ironed out at half time.

But Pool were very poor going forward and strikers Murphy and Taylor were barely given a chance between them.

Pool nearly stole the points at the very end of the game when Scott Taylor's header, from a pinpoint Simon Grayson cross, crashed off the bar. But if that had gone in, Plymouth would have counted themselves very unlucky since it was by no means deserved.

Taylor said after the game that the next three games will be vital to the season. Points away at Cardiff and Stockport won't be easy but the cruncher will be the home six pointer against QPR.

That's going to be the opportunity to catch up but the way Pool are performing, it will be all over before then.

Blackpool 1-1 Plymouth