Crewe Alexandra's recent impressive home record came to an abrupt end thanks to Shaun Barker's late winner at the Alexandra Stadium. The former Rotherham man popped up inside a crowded penalty area to head home a Keigan Parker free-kick in the final minute to snatch three points for the visitors.

In the closing stages, it was Crewe Alexandra who looked the more likely side to secure a victory after Simon Gillet was shown his second yellow card of the afternoon for kicking the ball away. It was an act of stupidity that should have cost his side two points but to fair to Simon Grayson's battling side they dug in and emerged with all three points. The 2-1 defeat on Crewe Alexandra was harsh, as we had controlled much of the possession and had drawn ourselves level thanks to Nicky Maynard's tenth goal of the season.

Dario Gradi had to give a debut to two new players brought in this week on loan after losing seven first-team players through injury and suspension. Isaac Osbourne from Coventry City came into the Alex midfield and full-back Andy Taylor from Blackburn Rovers. The left full-back was rightly voted Man-of-the-Match by the match sponsors following an outstanding debut. The only thing he did wrong was to concede the late free-kick from which Blackpool grabbed their late winner.

Rodney Jack was also given the nod in a front three ahead of Ryan Lowe as Crewe switched back to a flat back four.

After Julien Baudet had wasted a decent chance inside the penalty area via a Jon Otsemobor free-kick, it was Blackpool who went ahead inside the first five minutes. The Crewe defence were caught flat-footed from a Wesley Hoolahan throw-in, with the awkward bounce falling invitingly for Andy Morrell to strike on the volley. He didn't probably catch it quite right but it worked to his advantage as it looped up and over Ben Williams. It was a bit of good fortune, which saw Crewe behind at home again.

The home side huffed and puffed without making too many inroads to really trouble Rhys Evans in the Blackpool goal. The Alex worked hard enough, closing down their opposite numbers and chasing lost causes but we didn't pass the ball well enough to get in behind their well-marshalled back-four.

Blackpool's Keith Southern was rather lucky to escape a potential red card following a two-footed lunge on Ben Rix. The challenge certainly looked worse than the offence Gary Roberts 'committed' at Bristol City last weekend, which has resulted in a three-game ban. The referee only booked the offender. From the resulting free-kick, Evans was finally called into action to deny Luke Varney connecting to a Baudet knockdown.

The Alex also made a strong appeal for a penalty after Michael Jackson was accused of handling a cross not once but twice, as he tried to spin around and whack a clearance. You could tell from the Alex appeals that it was a genuine shout. The referee wasn't interested.

Blackpool were working ever so hard to keep the Alex out with Carl Dickinson, on loan from Stoke, stopping Varney in his tracks and Maynard being blocked off as he tried to race into the box.

At the other end, Ben Williams was the busier of the two goalkeepers. The Alex number one was called into action to make a save from Southern and then our former defender Michael Jackson had two alarming sights at our goal from corners.

Crewe certainly had more of the possession than the visitors in the first half, but Blackpool's keeper Rhys Evans was never forced into a save of any merit. That was probably the most disappointing aspect of the game because in our previous home matches (Bradford aside) we have been creating chances for fun.

Blackpool certainly made a bright start to the second half, forcing a number of corners. Barker headed just wide before Andy Morrell forced an excellent save from Williams following a well executed curler from 25 yards.

Crewe needed to start and play their more natural passing game because we were certainly not getting a lot of change in the air because of the dominance of Jackson and Ian Evatt. When Ben Rix did manage to get a ball over the heads of those two, Nicky Maynard couldn't quite get the ball under his spell and Evans raced from his line to collect.

From a corner of our own taken by David Vaughan, the nuisance Baudet nearly converted with his head. He is certainly getting a lot closer to his first goal for the club. Meanwhile, full-back Taylor was making a lasting impression with his excellence in possession. One probing run from his left-back position nearly picked out Rix in a good position, but before the midfielder had time to think, he was opposed by a flying tackle.

Gillet was then cautioned for time wasting at throw-in and could have been sent-off much earlier than he actually was after he went down under a make believe challenge from Taylor. The Blackpool player had quite clearly dived looking for a spot-kick and the referee rightly waved away any appeals. To be fair to Gillet he didn't push his luck on that occasion.

On 67 minutes, Crewe finally drew level after going awfully close on a couple of occasions just previously. Firstly, from another Vaughan free-kick Baudet had his firm header smuggled off the line and from the second corner coming in, Ben Rix forced a superb save from Evans inside a crowded box. The former Chelsea stopper could only push the effort away and there following up to convert the rebound was the poacher Maynard. The Alex youngster now has ten for the campaign.

To their credit, our equalising goal didn't rock Blackpool as much as you thought it would. Only a superbly timed tackle from Rix prevented Hoolahan from getting his shot off and then Scott Vernon screwed his header just wide of the mark after good approach play from Dickinson. Crewe may have had more of the ball, but it was the away side having the better of the clear-cut chances.

Williams was also caught into action to deny Vernon after the Blackpool striker had been played onside by the deep defender Baudet. The Alex keeper pushed away his well-struck effort before Dario Gradi elected to introduce Michael Higdon for a tiring Rodney Jack. Blackpool also made a change of their own with David Fox making way for Claus Jorgensen.

With just over ten minutes left, Blackpool nearly shot themselves in the foot when Gillet lashed possession away after he had miss controlled a long pass and not prevented it form going out of play. It was one of those frustrating moments that can catch out any player and Gillet will be a relieved man this evening.

With an extra man advantage, you would have thought Crewe would have kicked one and got that victory. Mike Higdon was cautioned for his arm catching Evatt on the side of the head, as both players leapt for possession. After seeing their own player red carded, the Blackpool bench and their travelling supporters wanted more, but the referee got it spot on. It wasn't an elbow.

With time running out and Blackpool content to hold on for a point, a flowing passing move involving Taylor and Higdon, saw Osbourne shoot a yard or so wide from the edge of the box.

Blackpool seemed happy with a share of the spoils, so they couldn't quite believe their luck when Taylor was penalised for a slight trip on Vernon close to the corner flag. Sub Parker whipped it over and there was Barker to head firmly into the bottom corner for a dramatic winner. From enjoying the highs of our late winner against Gillingham, to the despair of conceding a late, late goal to ten-men Blackpool. Football is a funny old game.

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