Second-half goals from Velice Sumulikoski and Jon Walters gave Town victory and opened up a gap between the top six and the rest.

Macedonia international Sumulikoski fired in from 20 yards five minutes after the break, Walters then taking his goal tally to 12 for the season with a cool finish after getting clear of the Blackpool backline.

Paul Dickov pulled one back for the visitors on 90 minutes, with Town appealing for offside.

The win takes sixth placed Blues four points clear of the chasing pack.

Town stayed with the team that started the 1-0 win at Crystal Palace, Sumulikoski making his first home start, Danny Haynes keeping his place on the left flank.

The highly rated Wes Hoolihan had the first effort of note, shooting wide after cutting inside the Town defence from the right flank.

Paul Rachubka's outstretched right hand kept out Walters' goalbound strike on nine minutes , Walters then lifting the ball over the bar after Sumulikoski had knocked on.

Blackpool lost Ian Evatt on 10 minutes for what looked like a hamstring injury, Danny Coid coming on, with Shaun Barker moving inside as Blackpool reshuffled their defence.

Walters and Alan Lee combined on the quarter hour, Lee's cross diverted goalwards by his strike partner but Coid was in the right place to clear off the line.

Haynes' pace saw his burst past Coid but his cross was cleared by Barker, while at the other end Jason De Vos just beat Paul Dickov to the ball, taking a whack in the face for his troubles.

Town were an inch or two from taking the lead just past the 20 minute mark when Lee's dipping volley cannoned back off the underside of the bar, then De Vos saw his header cleared off the line by Claus Jorgensen as Blues turned up the heat on the visitors' goal.

The Seasiders lost their second central defender on 30 minutes when skipper Michael Jackson limped off, Stuart Green his replacement with Keith Southern moving into the makeshift backline.

Lee fired over from 20 yards with his left foot, then combined with Tommy Miller, Barker deflecting the cross over his own bar.

Blackpool finished the half with their best spell of the 45 minutes, Dan Harding having to clear from Dickov's cross, then Southern stretching out a leg to meet Hoolahan's cross but diverting the ball over the bar.

Town got the breakthrough five minutes after the restart, Sumulikoski started the move, breaking out from the back and sending Walters clear down the left, Haynes and Lee were involved before the Macedonia international rifled in a superb strike in to the top corner from the edge of the box.

Another flowing move almost brought a second, Miller bursting onto a right wing delivery but his left foot strike went straight at Rachubka.

Town did make it two just before the hour, Lee hooking the ball on and Walters shrugging off Southern before planting the ball past Rachubka.

Blackpool made a final change on the hour, Ben Burgess replaced by Stephen McPhee.

Lee weaved his way into the box, cross hacked clear by John Hills before Town made a double change on70 minutes, Alan Quinn replacing Haynes and Pablo Counago on for Lee.

Counago's first touch set up Walters who fired over, then the Spaniard linked up with Miller to send Quinn in on goal but Rachubka blocked the Republic of Ireland international's shot.

Sumulikoski fired over from 30 yards as Town threatened a third, Rachubka saving well from Walters' powerful right foot strike. Miller denied a far part tap in by Hills.

Blackpool pulled a goal back in controversial circumstances when Dickov went clear off the Town defence with the referee's assistant raising his flag. The Scottish international put the ball in the net with Stephen Bywater half stopping.

Town protested but the goal stood, the ball deflecting into Dickov's path via Quinn.

Blues had a few anxious minutes to close the game down, Jorgensen having a shot charged down before referee Fred Graham's final blast on the whistle.

Town: Bywater, Bruce, Naylor, De Vos, Harding, Norris, Miller, Sumulikoski, Haynes (Quinn 70), Lee (Counago 70),Walters. Subs not used: Colgan,Wright, Garvan.

Blackpool: Rachubka, Barker, Jackson (Green 30), Evatt (Coid 10), Hills, Taylor-Fletcher, Southern, Jorgensen, Hoolahan, Burgess (McPhee 61), Dickov. Subs not used: Gerrard, Morrell.

Att: 21,059