Yet another second-half comeback saw Blackpool seal a 3-1 win over Cardiff City and move to within three points of an automatic promotion spot.

Chris Basham and Nouha Dicko went close with half chances in a quiet opening period, before Joe Mason put the hosts in front with a close range finish, early in the second half.

Kevin Phillips and Roman Bednar then made their entrances and that swung the game in Pool's favour, with the former levelling with a classy finish with 11 minutes remaining.

Matt Phillips then put Blackpool in front for the first time with a well-taken effort, and he added a killer third to seal the win late on.

The win moves Ian Holloway's men into fourth spot - two points behind Cardiff and just three behind second placed Southampton.

The impact of Blackpool's substitutes has proved crucial in recent weeks and Ian Holloway named arguably his strongest bench of the season for the trip to the Welsh capital.

Starts were handed to Danny Wilson, John Fleck, Basham and Dicko, with the attacking quartet of Kevin Phillips, Roman Bednar, Tom Ince and Lomana Lua-Lua all on stand-by.

The last three clashes between the pair had resulted in 1-1 draws and the opening period continued along that theme, with chances and goalmouth action sparse to say the least.

With snow swirling around the Cardiff City Stadium both sides struggled to keep hold of the ball and muster any form of concerted pressure.

The early stages saw Matt Phillips drag a speculative, 20-yard effort wide of goal and Cardiff's Anthony Gerrard head wide of Matt Gilks' left-hand post.

Though that appeared to be the first signs of an open affair, the 25 minute mark had passed before the first real goal-scoring opportunity.

Alex Baptiste found space down the right and delivered a dangerous cross into Basham and his effort was deflected behind for a corner.

Cardiff's Craig Conway then volleyed over inside the area, before Blackpool went close again when Dicko saw his flicked effort turned over by David Marshall.

The Bluebirds' keeper had to be alert to turn away Stephen Crainey's low free-kick ,before the half-time whistle brought to an end a tepid opening period.

Both managers would have demanded a greater urgency from their sides at the break and Holloway's side did just that with a spell of pressure at the start of the second half.

A raking pass from Barry Ferguson provided Dicko with a wonderful chance to put his side in front but the Frenchman could only drag his shot well wide when one-on-one with Marshall.

And Blackpool were made to pay on 59 minutes when Mason swept home from close-range to put Cardiff in front against the run of play.

A reaction was needed from Holloway's men and they provided it - with a helping hand from the substitute's bench yet again.

Bednar and Phillips were introduced in place of Dicko and Fleck on 66 minutes and that gave the Tangerines an extra dimension in the final third.

14 minutes after their introduction and Phillips put Blackpool back on level terms. Marshall failed to deal with a Matt Phillips corner-kick and the veteran coolly chested the ball down and lifted his shot into the far corner.

It was a goal of real class and buoyed by that strike Pool took the lead for the first time just three minutes later. This time it was the turn of the younger Phillips to do the damage as he struck a half-volley into the bottom left-hand corner, with Marshall rooted to the spot.

The Seasiders were firmly in the ascendency and with Malky Mackay's side stunned by the turn-around, the visitors put themselves out of sight with a killer third goal.

Bednar threaded a ball through to Phillips and the young winger placed his shot into the far corner to send the travelling support home in fine spirits.