BRISTOL CITY were left frustrated by Blackpool’s impenetrable defence as they spurned the opportunity to make further progress at the top of the Championship, with three of the four sides above them losing.

Blackpool defended obdurately throughout with the centre-back partnership of Shaun Barker and Alex Baptiste containing City, who had won six of their previous seven games.

They remain in the playoff places, but manager Gary Johnson admits his side need to be more unforgiving after a number of chances yesterday.

“It was a frustrating day, that’s for sure,” said Johnson. “We just need to improve our potency around the goal, which we have been doing in recent weeks, but not in this game. We weren’t clinical in the first half. It’s doubly frustrating because we could not have wished for a better set of results, so in a way it means we haven’t lost any ground.”

But for Brett Ormerod’s early shot that barely troubled Adriano Basso, the City goalkeeper, it was all one-way traffic in the first half.

Gavin Williams and Nicky Maynard both came close to putting the hosts ahead with shots from outside the penalty area in the first 15 minutes. Paul Rachubka made a flying save to catch Michael McIndoe’s 27th-minute shot before another Williams attempt landed on the roof of the net.

With Blackpool refusing to succumb under pressure, Johnson introduced Ivan Sproule, who almost had an immediate effect, darting down the right before pulling back a pass into the path of Williams, who dragged his shot wide from a good position.

City came closest when David Vaughan headed off the line after Stern John had risen to meet a corner after coming on as a substitute. But despite needing Rachubka to push away another McIndoe shot, the visiting team held out.

Blackpool’s reward for their effort was to rise to two places off the relegation zone. Tony Parkes, the caretaker manager, said: “We can’t do anything about the teams around us, but it’s another point towards escape and staying in this division. We’re really pleased with that performance.”

Star man: Shaun Barker (Blackpool)

Yellow cards: Blackpool: Ormerod, Adam

Referee: F Graham Attendance: 16,855

BRISTOL CITY: Basso 6, Orr 6, Carey 7, Fontaine 6, McAllister 6 (McCombe 83min) Williams 8, Skuse 7 (John 71), Johnson 6, McIndoe 7, Adebola 6, Maynard 6 (Sproule 57 7).

BLACKPOOL: Rachubka 6, Baptiste 8, Barker 9, Evatt 6 (Coid 30 6), Crainey 7, Taylor-Fletcher 6 (Owens 68 6), Jorgensen 6, Adam 6, Vaughan 7, Ormerod 7 (Fox 89), Campbell 6.