Hull City 0 Blackpool 1

Scorer: Murphy 72 Att: 4,450

By Chris Reece

SIX goals with out reply in two games are the signs of a team on the up. And in ninth position, Blackpool are now only two points off an elusive play off place with their aim of a top seven finish in sight.

After a fantastic win at home, Blackpool came to Boothferry Park to face a much tougher challenge in the form of Hull City.

The Tigers were Blackpool's first opponents on the opening day of the season back in August where two late goals secured a 3-1 victory for the Seasiders.

Opponents Hull have been in indifferent form since then and have struggled in front of goal especially, scoring the least amount of goals in the division.

Manager Brian Little included no less than three ex-Blackpool players in his line-up. Lee Philpot, Gary Brabin and David Brightwell all featured as they looked to put one over their former team-mates.

Blackpool boss Steve McMahon was forced into just a single change to the line-up that won against Torquay on Saturday.

John Hills, injured in the 5-0 win was replaced by Phil Clarkson who was amongst the scorers that day.

The conditions at Boothery Park were poor with icy conditions throughout.

The game started with a few though balls from Paul Simpson to both John Murphy and Brett Ormerod but both strikers, possibly still not adapted to the weather did not take the ball as they would have wished and the passes were wasted.

Both teams then had excellent chances around the 20 minute-mark where keepers on either side were tested to their full ability. First, Phil Barnes in the Seasiders goal made a wonderful save to deny Rodney Rowe in a one and one situation.

Barnes rushed out to narrow the angle for Rowe whist his defenders looked on pleading with the referees assistant for offside.

Minutes later a similar event happened at the other end. Brett Ormerod broke free and his left foot shot was equally well saved by Tigers Keeper Paul Musselwhite.

The next good chance for Blackpool was not far off. On 23 minutes Tommy Jaszczun found Paul Simpson in space. But a bad touch took him wide of the goal and instead of a good shooting opportunity, Simpson had to settle for a corner after his cross was easily defended.

After a forgettable spell the chances continued for Blackpool just before half time. Paul Simpson was at the heart of the Pool chances and his ball found Brett Ormerod who was a good five yards away from the nearest Hull defender. But to Ormerod's despair he was denied by a superb stretching tackle by Jason Whittle.

Half time passed and Simpson carried on where he left off by testing the keeper early on but Musselwhite handled Simpsons attempt well. For a long while afterwards chances were sparse.

Both defences were rarely troubled and when they were broken, the keepers of each side prevented any real attempt at goal.

But just as the game looked certain to remain 0-0, Blackpool moved forward in a rare attack to take the lead on 72 minutes. Brett Ormerod was the provider, striding down the left hand side to pull back across goal.

John Murphy was first to react and beat Hull defender Justin Whittle to the ball to poke past Musselwhite for his 15th of the season. Murphy has been the supplier for a number of recent Brett Ormerod goals, but now it was Murphy's turn to score and move ahead of Ormerod as top goal scorer.