Former Blackpool transfer target John Newby came back to haunt the Seasiders as Bury took home the points in this six pointer at Bloomfield Road.

Newby was subject of a rejected £100,000 bid from Pool, and he showed what Blackpool had missed out on by skilfully setting up Gareth Seddons only and deciding goal of the game on 9 minutes.

With the collapse of the Newby deal, McMahon turned his attentions to Scott Taylor of struggling Division One outfit Stockport County. This time McMahon got his man and Taylor, 25, joined Pool on Thursday on a free transfer. He went straight into the team along side Richard Walker in the Blackpool frontline.

Behind them were a midfield quartet of Coid, Collins, Wellens and Simpson with Hills, Day, Hughes and Thompson at the back. Phil Barnes maintained his place in goals to complete the Seasiders line-up.

Many expected this to be the game to banish Pools poor run of form. Bury are not only struggling at the wrong end of the table, but also in financial difficulties which has made Shakers boss and former Seasider Andy Preeces job yet more difficult.

But surprisingly Bury started brightly and certainly didnt look like a struggling team. They deservedly took the lead on 9 minutes when Gareth Seddon smashed home from close range.

Newby was the supplier, skipping past Phil Thompsons lunging challenge to square to Seddon who couldnt miss.

Blackpool tried to reply in the remainder of the half, Richard Wellens especially was unlucky with some long-range efforts. But it was Pools inexperienced defence that looked the more vulnerable to conceding the next goal.

The second half didnt bring much luck for Blackpool either. A fine display by Bury keeper Patrick Kenny helped the Shakers handle everything Blackpool threw at them.

John Murphy came on for Phil Thompson but he failed to make an impact. Danny Coid and John Hills worked hard at least but Phil Barnes was particularly impressive in the second half, keeping Blackpool in the game at times with some excellent stops to deny Newby and a second from Seddon.

The defeat puts Pool in 18th and only 8 points off a relegation place. But Steve McMahon remains hopeful stating after the game that he wasnt even thinking about getting dragged into a relegation dogfight.

A few wins on the trot will catapult Pool back into mid table security but then again a few more defeats and Pool will find themselves in the relegation zone. The next few league games then should decide how Pool are going to end of season.

Blackpool 0-1 Bury

Seddon (9)