The first game back in the Championship was always going to be special and those in Tangerine did not let us down, some will say Pool were lucky, others will say this was a flash in the pan, but to a man everyone gave 100% and created another piece of history.
Pool boosted by the news Wes Hoolahan had been cleared to play got things underway on a red hot August afternoon and after just 90 seconds Simon Grayson's men had forced the games first corner, unfortunately David Fox's right wing outswinger eluded everyone and Leicester were able to clear.
A succession of thrown ins down the right touch line lead to Pool's first chance of the afternoon, Shaun Barker's third throw in found Gary Taylor Fletcher on the edge of the 18 yard box, but the debutant could only direct his finish straight at Henderson. A minute later Keigan Parker almost wriggled free but the livewire Scot saw his run ended by a great tackle from Gareth McAuley, the former Lincoln defender timed his tackle to perfection to block behind for a corner.
Pool forced their third corner of the opening stages on ten minutes but once again the giants in the Foxes defence were able to clear the danger.
Leicester who have recruited 14 new players during the summer had their first chane on 18 minutes when Iain Hume was allowed to turn on the edge of the area, but fortunately the former Tranmere man could only direct his finish over Paul Rachubka's crossbar.
Having enjoyed the better of the opening 20 minutes, Pool were fortunate not to have found themselves one down on 23 minutes when Mark De Vries saw a rasping effort rebound back off the bar with Rachubka beaten, the Pool back line recovered to clear behind for a corner which was subsequently well taken by Rachubka.
Ten minutes before the break Andy Morrell saw a shot on the turn saved by Henderson as Pool continued to hold their own.
Four minutes before the break Paul Rachubka was forced to flick an Iain Hume effort behind for a corner, the resulting corner saw Paul Rachubka fail to connect with a punch and Leicester were left wondering how they weren't one up as Wesolowski nodded wide from three yards.
On the stroke of half time David Fox fired over from long range after Paul Henderson and Bruno N'Gotty had collided to clear a Shaun Barker coss from the right
At the other end Iain Hume headed a Mattock cross wide as the half finished with honours even.
Seven minutes into the second half Pool were denied their first goal in the Championship, Wes Hoolahan jinked past three defenders before seeing his finish cannon of the outside of the far post with Henderson floundering
On 55 minutes The Foxes threw former Brentford and Birmingham striker D J Campbell into the action in place of fellow debutant Radostin Kishishev.
On 63 minutes KEITH SOUTHERN scored Pool's first goal back in the Championship since 1978 and although some of the Leicester faithful may protest that Pool should have let the ball go dead so treatment could be administered by the Leicester physio, I am sure Martin Allen would have expected his men to continue and try and break the deadlock, Southern collided with Chambers before the ball fell to Gary Taylor-Fletcher, Taylor-Fletcher saw his strike blocked straight into the path of Southern who made no mistake crashing home off the underside of the bar.
Leicester response was almost immediate with Paul Rachubka producing a brilliant reflex save to once again deny Iain Hume.
The Foxes were throwing everything forward and The Seasiders were indebted to resilient defending and some outstanding goalkeeping. In a bid to stem the flow Pool made their first change of the afternoon on 69 minutes when the defensive qualities of Claus Jorgensen replaced Gary Taylor Fletcher who had impressed in his first League game for Pool.
Ten minutes before the full time whistle Leicester were twice denied by Paul Rachubka who produced two world class saves, the first was to block Wesolowski, the second was to block at the feet of substitute D J Campbell as he looked to mark his debut with a goal.
With nine minutes remaining Pool made a second change with John Hills replacing the shattered Wes Hoolahan, but less than a minute later Rachubka produced another fine save to turn behind for a corner, this time the stopper denied Campbell.
Mark De Vries hit the woodwork and D J Campbell saw the rebound cleared as Leicester continued to press, but it was to be the Seasiders afternoon and as the Pool faithful bellowed, Blackpool ARE back!
Pool: Rachubka, Barker, Jackson, Evatt, Crianey, Taylor-Fletcher (Jorgensen 69), Southern, Fox, Hoolahan (Hills 81), Morrell (Gorkss 85), Parker Subs Not Used: Burgess, Vernon
Attendance: 26,650
