Pool 4 Coventry City 0

Wes Hoolahan scores from the penalty

It was the first time the Seasiders have scored four goals in the Championship this season, and it could have been many more.

Coventry were a typical Iain Dowie outfit playing hard physical football which soon got them on the wrong side of referee Anthony Thompson.

On 31 minutes he red carded City striker Kevin Kyle for a crude off-the-ball elbow on Blackpool skipper Shaun Barker.

Four more Coventry players were to follow their way into the referee's book for yellow cards for similar fouls.

A rash challenge on 28 minutes by David McNamee took out Kaspars Gorkss from behind and the referee awarded a penalty which Wes Hoolahan converted for his sixth goal of the season.

Kaspars Gorkss and Michael Misfud

Even though Hoolahan and Michael Flynn were pulling the strings in midfield, it took a long time for Blackpool to finally make the game safe.

Time after time they fell foul of the Coventry offside trap before it was finally sprung in the 65th minute. A long ball by Barker was well controlled by Flynn who turned nicely to score from 15 yards.

Blackpool's third swiftly followed with Gorkss heading home well from Hoolahan's corner. Substitute Scott Vernon made it four on 88 minutes after a mistake by McNamee.

Ben Burgess and Ben Turner

Coventry's problems were underlined by the fact that they didn't force Blackpool keeper Paul Rachubka into one meaningful save all afternoon.

Afterwards City manager Dowie said: "That was our worst performance I've seen.

"We shall have to see what sort of character the dressing room has after that.

"We gave too many goals away just as we were beginning to get on top. I shall be looking at the video to see whether or not to appeal my players' sending off."