THIS was a coast-to-coast contest of the highest drama. And after it all, Hull City narrowly failed to slide into the playoff places and a teasing glimpse of the Premier League.
Mind you, needing a win to get among the serious contenders, they tried to do it the hard way by giving the Seasiders a two-goal lead, but on an afternoon of such opportunities it was no surprise that the home team eventually stormed their way back.
Manager Phil Brown said: "We gave ourselves a mountain to climb and we more than climbed it. I am delighted with the point. There is a great spirit here."
The game was almost out of Hull's reach after two goals either side of half-time from Paul Dickov, on loan from Manchester City, the first a simple tap-in, the second the result of some marvellous first-time control, the striker outwitting Michael Turner before lobbing the ball over the Hull goalkeeper Bo Myhill.
Another goal came on the hour mark but this time it was the turn of Hull to get some reward. Fraizer Campbell danced his way along the byline to roll the ball across to Caleb Folan to touch the ball into the net. Hull then stepped up the pace even further and the equaliser came when Sam Ricketts looped in a hopeful cross from the right flank and it evaded just about everybody. Dean Windass, standing virtually on the line, got the merest of touches and gleefully claimed the equaliser as the KC stadium went into raptures.
Star man: Paul Dickov (Blackpool)
Player ratings. Hull City: Myhill 6, Ashbee 5, Walton 5 (Folan 57min), Turner 5, Windass 7, France 6, Brown 5, Pedersen 6, Hughes 6 (Barmby 18min, 6), Ricketts 7, Campbell 7.
Blackpool: Rachubka 6, Crainey 6, Evatt 6, Hoolahan 6, Taylor-Fletcher 6, Jorgensen 7, Gorkss 6, Barker 6, Burgess 6, Flynn 6, Dickov 8.
Scorers: Hull: Folan 50, Windass 71
Blackpool: Dickov 39, 50
Referee: J Moss
Attendance:18,407
Paul Dickov ruins Hull’s ambition
Hull 2 Blackpool 2