AN UNDERWHELMING fourth round draw couldn't take the gloss off Blackpool's hard-earned draw at Leicester's Walkers Stadium.

The Seasiders could have made the best possible start when Keigan Parker went clean through inside five minutes but veteran keeper, Kevin Pressman, made a good save.

On 14 minutes, things got even worse when a Gareth Williams free kick flicked off Rob Edwards's head and past Kevin Ellegaard in Pool's goal.

Leicester continued to press, with the pacy Jordan Stewart causing problems out wide.

But, on the half-hour mark, Chris Makin's foul on Danny Coid gave Keigan Parker a chance to whip in a free kick from the left flank which evaded three giant centre halves with international experience and found Peter Clarke who nodded home the leveller from three yards.

Blackpo ol's confidence visibly grew with the lively Keith Southern and Simon Grayson, against his former club, battling hard in the midfield.

Ellegaard had looked shaky in the opening stages, but dealt with most of Leicester's attacking play capably after the break.

Blackpool took a shock lead on 77 minutes. Dion Dublin, impressive at centre-half for much of the game, dithered on the ball at the edge of the area and Southern nipped in to dispossess him before finishing coolly to the delight of the 3,000 or so travelling fans who packed one corner of the otherwise scant stadium.

The tangerine army also made all the noise throughout the game, but were silenced with seven minutes left when a powerful Williams shot after Stewart's cross finally beat Ellegaard. The Seasiders will make the long journey to either Swansea or Reading on January 29 if they win next week's replay.

So, it's back to Bloomfield Road on Tuesday, when, despite the relatively modest fourth round rewards on offer, a big crowd will be hoping to cheer the Seasiders to their best FA Cup achievement in 15 years.

Before that comes the less exciting but, arguably, more important task of a trip to Swindon Town. Gareth Evans is expected to return at left back, while Blackpool are also looking at various possible new strikers.

Serbian striker, Zarko Grabovac, a 6ft 3in hitman who has scored prolifically in the Dutch lower divisions, is expected to join Blackpool until the end of the season.

Blackpool have denied any interest in Mansfield's Wayne's Corden and also say the Stags will not be signing Rob Clare or Simon Grayson, contrary to newspaper reports in the Nottingham area.