BLACKPOOL gave their boss Nigel Worthington the birthday blues after allowing Northampton a scarcely deserved point in their 1-1 draw at Bloomfield Road on Tuesday (November 4).

The manager had every reason to believe he would be celebrating his 36th birthday with three much needed points and the Seasiders should easily have added to Phil Clarkson's 37th minute opener.

But they failed to nail the Cobblers in the second half and let a seemingly unassailable lead become a fragile one.

The visitors never never looked capable of being the party poopers, but as Pool's anxiety grew Northampton started to put the squeeze on the Tangerines.

After a couple of near misses by the visitors, the dreaded equaliser arrived.

Their first corner after 75 minutes was only partially cleared and after a bit of head tennis Ian Simpson beat Steve Banks with an eight-yard volley.

This time there was no way back for Pool - and although Tony Ellis did carve out a couple of half chances in injury time they could never recapture their winning momentum.

For the first hour the Seasiders oozed confidence and their display of positive passing, coupled with the skilful bursts from James Quinn, meant Clarkson's goal arrived as a matter of course.

Ellis ran onto a Phil King pass down the left wing and delivered a teasing low cross which Phil Clarkson dispatched.

Ironically, Blackpool's best chances in the second half were remarkably similar, but Andy Preece just failed to connect with incisive crosses from Ellis and Mark Bonner.

Although Nigel Worthington's party was spoiled by the Cobblers, he will no doubt be looking for a belated birthday present when Burnley visit Bloomfield Road on Saturday.

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