A 65th minute header from Jon Walters meant that Pool had to settle for a point against Ipswich, in a game they dominated at Bloomfield Road.
The header from Walters cancelled out a 38th minute goal from Claus Jorgensen and came even though the Tractor Boys had previously been reduced to ten men.
Simon Grayson opted to give Stephen McPhee his first start for the club and partnered him with former Hull teammate Ben Burgess.
The move to start McPhee looked to be a masterstroke by the manager with the new Pool number eight making an instant impact. Inside the first minute the striker burst down the right before firing wide.
The Seasiders looked the more dominant side but a slight mix up at the back nearly provided Ipswich with the chance to take the lead. A miscued back pass from Stephen Crainey fell to the emerging Gary Roberts but Kaspars Gorkss managed to track back and stop him.
After Ian Evatt had an effort that hit the post ruled to be offside, Pool created their first real chance in the 25th minute when Gary Taylor-Fletcher put the ball in only for Ben Burgess' header to go just wide of the post.
The same combination nearly provided a goal again moments later after Shaun Barker took a quick throw to put in Taylor-Fletcher for the second time. This time Ben could only direct his header straight at Town keeper Neil Alexander.
The main positive in the first-half was the home debut of Stephen McPhee who was a real livewire causing constant problems for the opposition.
Watching the game, it was clear to see that any likely breakthrough for the Seasiders would come through the work of McPhee, and it duly did in the 38th minute. 'Macca' sprung the offside trap after being put through by Ben Burgess before drawing out the keeper and unselfishly laying the ball off to CLAUS JORGENSEN (38) to tap the ball into the empty net.
BLACKPOOL 1 IPSWICH 0
Michael Flynn could have made it two before half-time following good work from Wes Hoolahan. The Welshman took the ball on the turn but just couldn't direct his effort on target.
HALF TIME SCORE - BLACKPOOL 1 IPSWICH 0
The second-half continued with Pool in the ascendancy as they looked to finish the game off early.
Stephen McPhee continued to cause the Ipswich back line problems when he raced down the right but he just couldn't find the awaiting Ben Burgess.
Gary Taylor-Fletcher then went in on goal after dribbling his way through the defence before firing straight at the keeper.
The game looked set to become a counter-attacking affair with Ipswich piling further forward looking for the equaliser. Danny Haynes came closest to finding them one yet he fizzed the ball across goal and wide.
Four minutes later on (62), the Tractor Boys were reduced to ten men after SITO CASTRO was red carded for a two-footed challenge on Wes Hoolahan. The extra man nearly counted straight away as Ben Burgess clipped the ball into the box. After looking odds on to score his first goal for the club, Stephen McPhee somehow headed wide from just six yards out.
Minutes later the ten men of Ipswich were to peg Pool back. A corner from Gary Robert met the head of JON WALTERS who headed the ball off the underside of the bar and in (65) to make it BLACKPOOL 1 IPSWICH 1.
The Seasiders had the chance to go back in front moments after but for a great save from Town keeper Neil Alexander. The effort came from a header courtesy of Kaspars Gorkss, who again highlighted why he is such a threat at corners. As the Pool fans began to celebrate another goal for the Latvian international, Alexander produced a superb one handed stop to tip the ball over the bar.
The goal boosted confidence for the visitors and it was Jim Magilton's side who looked the brighter, despite going a man down.
With just twelve minutes remaining, Simon Grayson brought off Stephen McPhee to a standing ovation to be replaced by Andy Morrell as the Seasiders looked to impose themselves more in the final third.
It took until the 86th minute for the Seasiders to come real close to a winner. That man Wes Hoolahan picked up the ball 25 yards out, only for his fantastic strike just to fly over the bar.
