Simon Grayson will be celebrating his 37th birthday on Saturday in style after his charges recorded an impressive 3-1 victory of second placed Scunthorpe, goals from Andy Morrell, Wes Hoolahan and Keigan Parker saw Pool run out comfortable winners and that was despite a second half sending off of the influential Hoolahan.
The Seasiders began proceedings in awful conditions and Simon Grayson's men were soon under pressure as the hosts forced four corners in the opening five minutes, each time the Pool defence stood firm and cleared the danger. At the other end David Fox and Keith Southern both saw long range efforts fly wide following some neat, patient build up play.
Despite the treacherous conditions both sides tried to get the ball and play some neat football, Keigan Parker's electric pace almost opened up the Scunthorpe defence, but the livewire Scot saw his cross cleared by former Doncaster man Steve Foster.
The fantastic Pool support were brought to their feet on 27 minutes when ANDY MORRELL got on the end of a fantastic cross from Shaun Barker, Barker exchanged passes with Adrian Forbes before his low cross was met at the near post by a combination of Andy Morrell and Andy Crosby.
Wes Hoolahan almost doubled the lead two minutes later with another great piece of trickery, the diminutive Irishman skipped past two defenders before unleashing a rasping strike from 18-yards, but unfortunately for Pool Hoolahan was denied by a fantastic acrobatic save from Joe Murphy who turned over for a corner.
Former Pool loanee Ian Morris saw a cross from the left turned behind for a corner by Michael Jackson, but the hosts failed to trouble the Pool defence with an awful corner from the left.
Rhys Evans had to be alert to take a low shot through a crowd of players on 37 minutes.
Two minutes before the break Rhys Evans did well to hold a rasping shot on the turn from the in form Billy Sharp.
Half Time Scunthorpe United 0 Blackpool 1
Scunthorpe started the second half in the same way the began the first and in the opening two minutes the hosts forced two corners but on both occasions, the Pool defence stood firm and cleared the danger.
Pool were denied a second goal on 55 minutes when Keith Southern found himself through on goal thanks to a great piece of skill from Wes Hoolahan and a great lay off from Keigan Parker, Southern opted to go round Murphy but was denied by a brave block from the former West Brom stopper/
Seconds after Rhys Evans blocked in a crowd, Pool were awarded a penalty after Keigan Parker was upended inside the area by 'keeper Joe Murphy after he was sent racing clear by Andy Morrell, WES HOOLAHAN stepped up to take the kick and calmly sent Murphy the wrong way to double Pool's lead.
Keigan Parker almost made it 3-0 on the hour, once again the flying Scot scampered clear of the Iron defence but this time Parker from an acute angle fired wide.
Keigan Parker saw another bursting run come to an abrupt end on 65 minutes, the flying Scot was sent tumbling with a reckless challenge and the Scunthorpe defender rightly so picked up a yellow card.
Pool were reduced to ten men in farcical fashion on 72 minutes when Wes Hoolahan was shown a second yellow card for kicking the ball away, Hoolahan protested his innocence but referee Ilderton was having none of it and the Irishman was sent for an early bath.
Pool made their first change of the evening on 75 minutes when Claus Jorgensen replaced Andy Morrell.
With the one man advantage Scunthorpe threw everything forward, and 80 minutes, Ian Evatt was penalised on the edge of the area for a foul on Torpey, fortunately for Pool the defence stood firm and Pool's two goal advantage remained in tact.
With 8 minutes remaining Pool made their second change with Scott Vernon replacing Adrian Forbes.
Rhys Evans was forced to claw a Cleveland Taylor cross behind for a corner as the Iron pressed, once again the Pool defence stood firm and the Tangerines cleared the danger.
With three minutes remaining the ten men of Pool made it 3-0, a long ball over the top of the Scunthorpe from Keith Southern found KEIGAN PARKER who rounded the keeper to fire into the empty net.
With 60 seconds remaining Pool made a final change with Gareth Farrelly replacing David Fox. Farrelly could only watch on as IAN BARACLOUGH fired a consolation goal beyond Evans,
Pool: Evans, Barker, Evatt, Jackson, Wilkinson, Forbes (Vernon 82), Fox (Farrelly 89), Southern, Hoolahan, Parker, Morrell (Jorgensen 75)
Attendnace: 4527 (399 Pool)
