The Seasiders went into this game with a thoroughly makeshift defence. Despite trying to play down the injury crisis, John O'Kane was the only central defender available today. Tommy Jazczsun joined him at the back, an unfit John Hills filled the left-back berth, and Neil Murphy, who can most politely be described as a squad player, was McMahon's only available option at right-back.Paul Simpson was missing from the line-up, with Jamie Milligan starting on the left of midfield, and Lee Collins was brought into the centre of the park in place of MacKenzie, who was dropped to the bench.
Brighton keeper Michels Kuipers saved a penalty from John Murphy after only three minutes when Simon Morgan brought down Brett Omerod.
Then Charlie Oatway scored the opener on 37 minutes after a 25-yard run and Richard Carpenter added the second from a cross by substitute Les Steele after 47 minutes.
Steele hit the third after 62 minutes with a fine header following good work by Paul Brooker, and Steele then set up star striker Zamora to seal victory with a powerful header.
Blackpool had to play the final 25 minutes with 10 men following the sending off of Martin Bullock for two bookable offences.
Pool also had manager Steve McMahon dismissed from the bench after a furious argument with referee Ray Olivier.
McMahon was angry at the delay it took for Lee Collins to be allowed back on the field after treatment, and Bullock received his second booking for arguing with the referee while Collins was waiting to come on.
Brighton
Kuipers, Watson, Cullip, Morgan, Jones, Carpenter, Oatway, Rogers, Hart, Brooker, Zamora
Subs: Crosby, Pitcher, Mayo, Steele, Lehmann
Blackpool
Barnes, O'Kane, Jaszczun, Murphy, Hills, Wellens, Collins, Bullock, Milligan, Ormerod, Murphy
Subs: Pullen, Clarkson, Jones, Mackenzie, Fenton
Ref: R Olivier (Sutton Coldfield)
Att: 6696