Bristol Rovers’ four-game unbeaten streak in all competitions ended with a 2-0 home loss to Blackpool in Sky Bet League One.
The Gas were looking to build on their 1-0 win away against Mansfield Town on Saturday but conceded either side of half-time to lose for the first time in November.
Dom Ballard bundled in the opener following a set-piece before Lee Evans thundered a penalty into the top-left corner to give the Tangerines some breathing room.
Manager Matt Taylor used all five of his substitutes before the 70th minute to try and give his team fresh legs heading into the final stages, but the visitors stayed strong to secure all three points.
Rovers looked to make their home advantage count in the opening exchanges and were putting the pressure on Blackpool. The same trio that combined for the Gas' winner against Mansfield four days ago were at it again, with Luke McCormick, Chris Martin, and Isaac Hutchinson playing the ball around swiftly to start an attack.
Hutchinson then dropped the ball off to Bryant Bilongo, the only incoming player from the win over the Stags, and he curled an inviting cross towards Shaq Forde at the back post. However, Harry Tyrer pushed away his downward header before the flag went up for offside.
Blackpool won their first four under manager Steve Bruce but were winless in their last eight league outings. Nevertheless, the Tangerines showed glimpses of promise in the first half and were denied the lead with their opening opportunity of the contest by a moment of brilliance from Josh Griffiths.
Ballard flicked the ball through to Oliver Norburn, who was open on the left side of the box, but his close-range strike was kept out by the outstretched leg of the West Bromwich Albion loanee.
The visitors gained momentum from their chance and scored soon after. A dangerous free-kick from a tight angle was drilled towards the near post, with Ballard poking it into the bottom corner.
Elliot Embleton looked to double the Pool’s advantage and drove through the heart of Rovers’ half before blasting over from the edge.
Griffiths was called into action soon after the restart, pushing away Rob Apter’s strike from inside the box, but could do nothing to stop Blackpool from netting their second just minutes later.
The Tangerines won a penalty after Evans’ shot was blocked by James Wilson’s arm, with the midfielder taking responsibility for the spot-kick and slamming his effort into the top-left corner.
Scott Sinclair, Gatlin O’Donkor and Clinton Mola were introduced just past the hour mark to try and change the tide, but Blackpool continued to be on the front foot.
Apter collected possession outside the area and whipped a low shot towards the bottom corner, but Griffiths got down to parry it away before dealing with Ballard’s rebound.
The Gas kept battling for a way back into the contest but could not create a scoring opportunity that would put Blackpool under pressure, falling to their first home defeat in the league since September.
Bristol Rovers: Griffiths, Moore, Wilson, Taylor, Martin (O’Donkor 61), Hutchinson (Sinclair 61), Conteh, McCormick (Thomas 69), Bilongo (Mola 61), Forde, Lindsay (Ward 69)
Subs not used: Sotiriou, Forbes
Booked: Lindsay, Moore, Conteh
Blackpool: Tyrer, Husband, Pennington, Norburn (Finnigan 88), Evans, Joseph (Fletcher 75), Embleton (Rhodes 83), Ballard (Thompson 75), Casey, Offiah, Apter (Onomah 83).
Subs not used: O’Donnell, Thompson, Ashworth
Goals: Ballard 27, Evans 52
Booked: Norburn, Offiah, Husband
Referee: Thomas Parsons
Attendance: 6342 (167 away)
