Blackpool took a massive step towards safety with a 2-1 victory over ten-man Sheffield Wednesday to go on to 53 points in the Championship.

Goals from Claus Jorgensen and Paul Dickov gave Pool the win in what was a pulsating game between two committed teams.

Simon Grayson opted for the front pair of Stephen McPhee and Paul Dickov for the game as the pair started together for the first time since the 2-2 draw with Southampton in March.

Both sides started relatively brightly with Sheffield Wednesday having most of the possession in the opening stages. Despite that it was the Seasiders who looked far more of a threat on the counter-attack.

Inside six minutes the Owls defence left Claus Jorgensen in space with the ball to feet on the left-hand side of the penalty area. The crowd were constantly urging the midfielder to 'shoot' and with no defenders approaching, JORGENSEN dribbled his way into the box and saw his deflected strike hit the back of the net (6)

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Deon Burton looked to hit back immediately for the Owls but his shot on the turn flew just wide of the right post.

Despite that effort going wide, moments later Wednesday were back level. A Franck Songo'o free-kick was floated into the box and Deon Burton's connecting header was deflected into the path of RICHARD WOOD, who then headed the ball past Paul Rachubka and in to the back of the net (13).

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The Owls appeared to be lifted by the equaliser and continued to press forward looking dangerous on set-plays. Former Blackpool loan striker Bartosz Slusarski then looked to race clear but Shaun Barker tracked him back.

Wednesday continued to win corner after corner with Jermaine Johnson seeing a strike deflect wide.

The Seasiders continued to plug away with Gary Taylor-Fletcher heading straight at Wednesday keeper Lee Grant after great work by Paul Dickov down the left.

Wes Hoolahan was next to try his luck with a trademark mazy run holding off an attempted challenge by Bartosz Slusarski to fire just wide of the right.

More great play from Paul Dickov this time on the right just failed to reach Ian Evatt but that didn't worry the Pool faithful. After the ball went back into the box, it was headed out only to DICKOV who hit the ball straight into the top left corner (30).

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The goal lifted the Seasiders and Paul Dickov was proving to be a real thorn to the Wednesday side. The Scot put pressure on a Wednesday midfielder in the middle of the park before Stephen McPhee was put through on goal only for Lee Grant to pull off a great save.

Bartosz Slusarski looked to level the game up again four minutes before half time but his half-volley flew over the top of the goal.

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The second-half started with a change for Sheffield Wednesday with Graham Kavanagh replacing Burton O'Brien. The Irishman's first bit of the action was to put a free-kick into the box but it fell straight into the arms of Paul Rachubka.

Wednesday's next bit of action saw Tommy Spurr put in down the left on the overlap crossing for Bartosz Slusarski who fired wide.

An altercation at the other end then ensued as Peter Gilbert was sent off for striking Paul Dickov off the ball. After a stoppage in play the game resumed with Jermaine Johnson switching to right-back. Moments later, Johnson was replaced by Lee Bullen.

Ian Evatt was the first player to see an effort off target following the sending off before Claus Jorgensen fired just over the bar.

The extra man was beginning to count in the game as the Seasiders exploited gaps at the back. Stpehn McPhee sent a ball across the box from the right but Paul Dickov just failed to get a clean connection on the ball.

A foul committed by Claus Jorgensen meant that Graham Kavanagh could have his first effort of the game from the resulting free-kick. Luckily for Pool his strike deflected off the wall and over the bar for a corner.

Ben Sahar came on for Bartosz Slusarski as Wednesday continued to chance the game but the lack of the extra man seemed to affect their options in attack.

Simon Grayson then made his first changes of the game with Andy Morrell and Stuart Green replacing Stephen McPhee and Gary Taylor-Fletcher.

A great piece of play saw Keith Southern float a great ball across the box for Wes Hoolahan to strike but a Wednesday defender just got a toe to the ball to clear it off the line.

A break from a Sheffield Wednesday corner looked to put the game to bed as Shaun Barker raced away with the ball. Wes Hoolahan later slipped the ball through to Andy Morrell who put the ball in the back of the net only to see the flag go up for offside.

With Blackpool supporters counting down the clock to full time and a step closer to safety, the fourth official put the board up for five minutes of added time. It was followed by Deon Burton seeing his looping effort go just wide for a corner.

Paul Rachubka was then forced into making a great save to tip the ball over again from Deon Burton before the final whistle blew.

The result meant that the Seasiders now go on to 53 points and will surely now be playing Championship football once again next season.