The Seasiders landed back at Squires Airport just after 8pm on Saturday night still wondering how and why referee Ian Williamson got things so wrong. The Berkshire based official via his assessor admitted he had dropped a clanger after he failed to play an advantage that would have seen the Seasiders equalise and possibly go on and win the game. Simon Grayson was clearly furious at the final whistle and having been kept waiting for over 45 minutes after the final whistle the Pool boss eventually vented his spleen at the official and was left baffled at Williamson's costly blunder, subscribers to Tangerine World will be able to listen to the Gaffer's full and frank interview including his thoughts on the reasons given to him by the referee and his assistants.

Pool were forced to make a could of changes for the trip to the South West, Keigan Parker was allowed to spend the weekend with his family whilst Wes Hoolahan was dropped to the bench following a chest infection. The changes saw loan striker Bartosz Slusarski handed his Pool debut whilst Andy Welsh was given his first League start following his August transfer from Toronto and it was the former MLS man who almost gave Pool a second minute lead when he sprinted through the centre of the Saints defence leaving Christian Dailly in his wake. Welsh nicked the ball past the keeper but in doing so was forced

wide leaving a narrow angle for the former Sunderland man to squeeze the ball home, but despite the presence of Andy Morrell and Bart Slusarski the ball flew across the

face of goal and Dailly was able to get back and clear.

At the other end Wright-Phillips let fly for 12 yards and saw his finish take a deflection over the bar, a minute later Shaun Barker was forced to head behind for a corner and Southampton began to increase the pressure on the Seasiders.

Pool were forced to make a change on 14 minutes when on loan defender Tony McMahon was forced to hobble out of the action to be replaced by Stephen Crainey.

Pool should have taken the lead on 31 minutes when a Davies clearance hit

Slusarski and rebounded kindly for Morrell in space in the inside left position on the edge of the area. He tried to bend the ball round Davis but saw it come back off the far right post.

Pool were made to pay for that missed chance three minutes later when STERN JOHN fired home after some neat work involving Surman and Wright-Phillips.

Five minutes after the break Stern John hit the bar after a great cross from Dyer and two minutes later the hosts were awarded a penalty which looked harsh to say the least, Euell bundled his way into the box and looked to have lost possession when the referee adjudged Kaspars Gorkss to have fouled the wide man, the referee to the delight of the home supporters pointed to the spot. Euell stepped up to take the spot kick and was denied by a great save from Paul Rachubka who threw himself to his right to push away the sweetly struck penalty kick.

Pool made their second change of the afternoon on 58 minutes when Andy Welsh made way for Wes Hoolahan.

Pool were throwing everything forward in search of what would have been a deserved equaliser, David Fox replaced Claus Jorgensen and the midfielder will have been disappointed to see his 25-yard striker whistle over.

Now enter referee Ian Williamson - Danny Coid was sent scampering down the right flank as Coid sent over a great cross to the far post, he was fouled, but in the split second before Gary Taylor Fletcher nodded home the official stopped play and gave Pool a free kick, Simon Grayson claimed after the game that the referee had told him he thought Coid's cross was going out of play, which begs the question of what level does the referee think Blackpool are at!

You sensed it wasn't to be Pool's day a minute later when Andy Morrell found himself through on goal and with time and space, perhaps the Seasiders striker thought he was offside or he didn't have as much time and space as he did, but the former Coventry man somehow blasted over the bar.