Match ends, Birmingham City 1, Blackpool 0.
BirminghamBirmingham City1BlackpoolBlackpool0
Lee Clark's return to St Andrew's ended in disappointment as a goal from Andrew Shinnie left his Blackpool side adrift at the foot of the Championship.
Clark was back at the Blues for the first time since being sacked in October and desperate for a first away win of the season.
But Shinnie's second goal of the season, headed in before the break, was enough to give City back-to-back wins.
The result leaves Blackpool 15 points away from a position of safety.
Birmingham gave a debut to on-loan Nottingham Forest midfielder Robert Tesche, 27, and he played a part in the decisive goal.
Top scorer Clayton Donaldson had just missed an excellent chance for the home side when Tesche played a long ball forward and Shinnie eluded the Blackpool defence to head over advancing keeper Elliot Parish.
Former Aston Villa forward Nathan Delfouneso had gone close before the break as Blackpool matched Gary Rowett's side.
But they couldn't force the breakthrough and saw their last chance of taking a point disappear when keeper Darren Randolph kept out substitute Tom Barkhuizen's attempted chip with 17 minutes to go.
Blackpool manager Lee Clark:
"It'll be the biggest miracle in football if we stay up now. We have 11 games to go and we're 16 points behind with our goal difference really.
"We need to get five wins and a draw more than three of our rivals. When we have only won four so far, it's a tough one.
"We're still in there fighting and I'm prepared to fight myself. I have one eye on next season and the rebuilding job of the club."
Birmingham manager Gary Rowett:
Commenting on two challenges from Blackpool midfielder Jamie O'Hara: "They were two very poor challenges which were the most unsavoury part of the evening.
"One was a forearm smash on David Davis and the other was a stamp on Clayton Donaldson.
"I'm not here to whine about that but it's not nice when it goes unpunished. The referee didn't see either of them but I find it hard to believe when he is five yards away."
Line-ups
Birmingham
Formation 4-2-3-1
- 1Randolph
- 31Caddis
- 23Spector
- 15Kiernan
- 3Grounds
- 26DavisBooked at 65mins
- 13TescheSubstituted forReillyat 81'minutes
- 11Cotterill
- 22ShinnieSubstituted forThomasat 67'minutes
- 33GraySubstituted forNovakat 83'minutes
- 9Donaldson
Substitutes
- 4Robinson
- 10Thomas
- 12Novak
- 17Reilly
- 19Zigic
- 21Doyle
- 40Dyer
Blackpool
Formation 5-3-2
- 21Parish
- 3MaherBooked at 47minsSubstituted forMcMahonat 67'minutes
- 32Hall
- 17Addison
- 2Aldred
- 25Ferguson
- 4Perkins
- 34TelfordSubstituted forBarkhuizenat 58'minutes
- 31O'Hara
- 14Delfouneso
- 24Madine
Substitutes
- 6Clarke
- 20Oliver
- 27Barkhuizen
- 29McMahon
- 30Sene
- 42Boney
- 43Osavi-Samuel
- Referee:
- Stuart Attwell
- Attendance:
- 15,111
Match Stats
Home TeamBirminghamAway TeamBlackpool
- Possession
- Home44%
- Away56%
- Shots
- Home12
- Away15
- Shots on Target
- Home5
- Away3
- Corners
- Home3
- Away2
- Fouls
- Home8
- Away11
Live Text
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Full Time
Second Half ends, Birmingham City 1, Blackpool 0.
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Foul by David Perkins (Blackpool).
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Paul Caddis (Birmingham City) wins a free kick on the right wing.
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Foul by Jamie O'Hara (Blackpool).
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Clayton Donaldson (Birmingham City) wins a free kick in the attacking half.
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Foul by David Perkins (Blackpool).
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David Cotterill (Birmingham City) wins a free kick on the right wing.
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Hand ball by Jamie O'Hara (Blackpool).
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Nathan Delfouneso (Blackpool) wins a free kick on the left wing.
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Foul by Callum Reilly (Birmingham City).
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Attempt missed. Wes Thomas (Birmingham City) right footed shot from outside the box is just a bit too high. Assisted by Jonathan Grounds.
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Attempt saved. Wes Thomas (Birmingham City) header from the left side of the box is saved in the centre of the goal. Assisted by Clayton Donaldson with a headed pass.
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Foul by Miles Addison (Blackpool).
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Callum Reilly (Birmingham City) wins a free kick in the defensive half.
Substitution
Substitution, Birmingham City. Lee Novak replaces Demarai Gray.
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Attempt blocked. Gary Madine (Blackpool) right footed shot from the left side of the box is blocked.
Substitution
Substitution, Birmingham City. Callum Reilly replaces Robert Tesche.
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Attempt saved. David Cotterill (Birmingham City) right footed shot from outside the box is saved in the centre of the goal.
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Attempt missed. Grant Hall (Blackpool) right footed shot from outside the box is high and wide to the right. Assisted by Miles Addison with a headed pass following a set piece situation.