Emnes denies Seasiders
Marvin Emnes plundered a stoppage-time leveller as Middlesbrough ended Blackpool's 100 per cent start in a scrappy 1-1 draw at the Riverside.
Emnes scored in the fourth minute of stoppage time to claim a last-gasp draw by cancelling out Chris Basham's 83rd-minute strike for the Seasiders
It was Boro who started the brightest and they carved out the first chance after nine minutes as a perceptive ball from Dean Whitehead picked out Mustapha Carayol wide on the left, who wriggled past two defenders and into the box, but his angled shot was straight at goalkeeper Matt Gilks.
Boro probed again after 15 minutes as lively Carayol flicked a ball down the left and past his marker and scythed inside but his low 20-yard strike sizzled wide of the far post.
Soon after home striker Lukas Jutkiewicz flicked a loose ball into the box for Grant Leadbitter to chase but Gilks was quickly off his line to clear to beat him by a fraction.
Blackpool were defending deep but several times threatened with quick balls forward. From one they went close as after a scramble on the edge of the box Steven Davis cracked in a stinging 20-yard effort but Boro goalkeeper Jayson Leutwiler was well placed to save.
On 25 minutes the whole crowd - and both dugouts - joined in a standing ovation for Gary Parkinson, a former player at both clubs, who is battling against 'locked in syndrome' after suffering a massive stroke in 2010.
Blackpool went close on the half-hour as Neal Bishop got to a loose ball after a corner but his hooked effort was blocked on the line and scrambled clear by Whitehead.
Boro had the initiative for long spells but Blackpool finished the first half on top but a string of free-kicks were fruitless.
Blackpool showed first after the break as a weak Leutwiler punch sparked a spell of header-tennis before Williams hooked clear.
Boro had a half-chance after 61 minutes as Adomah got down the right and tried to pick out the run of Jutkiewicz but the keeper got there first to clear then Adomah sent a low shot flashing just wide.
In the 70th minute Adomah wriggled down the right again to cross in for Jutkiewicz to power a header just over.
Blackpool threatened on the break after 76 minutes as Basham fired in a low ball from the left for Bishop in the box but Jonathan Woodgate arrived with a superb sliding block.
Blackpool took the lead after 83 minutes as Williams fouled Bishop on the edge of the box and Barry Ferguson's dead-ball hit the wall and bounced around before Basham stabbed inside the near post.
But persistent Boro grabbed a leveller three minutes into stoppage time as an Adomah cross bounced through a crowded box for Emnes to drill home from close range.
Source: PA
Source: PA