Blackpool made it three straight wins in Sky Bet League One as Karamoko Dembele's early strike made the difference against Carlisle United.
The game had hardly begun at Brunton Park with just 22 seconds on the clock as Dembele got in behind the host's defence and curled past Harry Lewis in what turned out to be the decisive moment.
Straight from kick-off the Seasiders were on the front foot as Karamoko Dembele got in behind the Carlisle defence and curled home to open the scoring with just 22 seconds on the clock. Dembele looked to extend the advantage minutes later but saw his strike head over the bar from the edge of the area.
The swirling, windy conditions were playing their part in the opening stages as a curling corner from Sonny Carey found George Byers at the back post, but the midfielder couldn't divert his attempt back towards target. Blackpool may well have been handed a chance of a second after 22 minutes as Shayne Lavery was brought down in the area by Sam Lavelle, but the referee instead awarded a corner kick.
The chances continued to come for Pool as Dembele drove inside before feeding Carey who took a touch and saw his deflected strike edge narrowly wide of the post. Lavery once again had the perfect opportunity to make it 0-2 to the Seasiders but as the ball fell to him across the face of goal, he blazed over as the hosts escaped.
Pool were forced into an early change after 35 minutes as George Byers pulled up injured, with Albie Morgan taking his place in the base of the midfield. The Seasiders continued to control proceedings but couldn't find a second to reward their creative efforts heading in at the break.
HT: Carlisle United 0-1 Blackpool
The hosts created next to nothing in the first half, but opened up an opportunity soon after the interval as Jayden Harris found a half yard in the area but his effort was lacklustre. Blackpool continued to venture forward and good build-up play between Hayden Coulson and Sonny Carey saw the latter get in behind his man but he couldn't beat Harry Lewis from a narrow angle.
Neil Critchley made a double change after 65 minutes as Matty Virtue and Jordan Gabriel replaced Shayne Lavery and CJ Hamilton and as the Seasiders kept chances at a minimum as the hosts sought a route back into proceedings, Kyle Joseph and Kylian Kouassi also replaced Karamoko Dembele and Jake Beesley.
Carlisle saw chances at a premium but as the minutes ticked by late on, Jon Mellish beat Blackpool's defensive line, however his panicked finish dragged wide as the Seasiders held on for their third victory in a row.
FT: Carlisle United 0-1 Blackpool
Carlisle: Lewis, Ellis (Diamond 66'), Lavelle, Huntington, Barclay, Armer, Robinson (Harris 17'), Neal, Mellish, Armstrong (Kayode 67'), Kelly
Subs: Breeze, Harris, Diamond, Kayode, O'Brien, Emmanuel, Dudik
Blackpool: Grimshaw, Pennington, Ekpiteta, Husband, CJ Hamilton (Virtue 66'), Dembele (Kouassi 84'), Byers (Morgan 35'), Carey, Coulson, Beesley (Joseph 84'), Lavery (Gabriel 66')
Subs: O'Donnell, Gabriel, Morgan, Joseph, Virtue, Casey, Kouassi
Possession
60%Shots
14Shots On Target
2Corners
12Fouls
81
0
Cards
0
0