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City took the lead in the seventh minute with a superb volley from McPhail.
The goal came from their first corner of the match and involved Aaron Ramsey and Steve Thompson before the ball was laid back to McPhail, whose strike flew into the corner of the net to give keeper Paul Rachubka no chance.
Despite being a goal down the visitors had started far livelier and Mike Flynn had Peter Enckelman stretching to palm away a low drive.
The Bluebirds were pinned in their own half for long periods, but stout defending by Roger Johnson and Kevin McNaughton kept the visitors at bay.
Ian Evatt's 32nd minute header almost caught out Enckelman, but he grabbed the ball at the second attempt and cleared the danger.
There were a few anxious moments for the home side as Johnson went down following a clash of heads just before the interval but he soon returned to the action.
The Seasiders brought on veteran striker Paul Dickov at the start of the second half, but it was Cardiff who went further ahead in the 49th minute.
Ramsey's mis-hit shot went to Tony Capaldi who crossed and Sinclair was on the spot to sidefoot home.
It was Ramsey who set up City's third in the 58th minute with a pass out wide to Whittingham. The former Villa midfielder took a couple of paces before drilling a low shot into the far corner.
Second-half substitute Morrell pulled a goal back for Blackpool when he diverted a Dickov cross home in the 72nd minute and the visitors suddenly began pushing the home defence back.
Despite one or two scares, the Bluebirds held firm to keep their faint play-off hopes alive.