Plymouth 2 Blackpool 0

Scorers: Wotton (60), McGregor (88). Att: 2,867

POOL came away with nothing from the long trip to Plymouth against one of the few teams who were below them before the match.

The game started poorly with neither side looking like scoring but by 20 minutes Plymouth had carved themselves two chances and it was obvious which side wanted the game more.

By the half hour mark Plymouth had the ball in the net but the goal was adjudged to be offside. Minutes later Pool were let off again when Efion Jones looked to have hacked down Wayne O'Sullivan in the box. But the referee wasn't impressed and Pool could breathe again.

In what was arguably the best chance for either side in the first half Simpson's drilled a cross and it looked certain to produce a goal but the Plymouth keeper got in between Ormerod and strike partner John Murphy. In his attempts to get a foot on the cross, Ormerod received a boot to the left knee. He was replaced by Adam Nowland at half time. At first it looked like a good swap as Nowland started the brightly and Pool looked dangerous.

But 15 minutes into the second half disaster struck when Tommy Jaszczun pulled down Paul McGregor in the box. This time the referee pointed to the spot and Paul Wotton drove the penalty past Phil Barnes.

McMahon reacted to the goal by bringing on Richard Wellens for Mark Maley who had picked up a hamstring injury.

Plymouth continued to look the more dangerous side and should have gone further ahead when 18-year-old Ian Stonebridge was put clean through on goal but Phil Barnes saved well. Finally, after Clarkson had been brought on for the injured Nowland, Pool stepped up a gear.

But it was too little too late and they didn't produce any real chances worth mentioning. Plymouth finished Pool's miserable afternoon with a last minute goal

Phil Barnes rushed out of goal to try to head clear a Plymouth cross but missed the ball completely for McGregor to slide the ball into the empty net.

After the match Steve McMahon seemed at a loss to explain his team's performance and blamed individual errors for the defeat with keeper Phil Barnes coming in for particular criticism.

Team: Barnes, Jaszczun, Bushell, Reid, J Murphy, Collins, Coid, Jones, Ormerod, Simpson, Maley, Hills. Subs: Nowland (45 to 72), Clarkson (72), Wellens (65).