Jon Walters' header midway through the second-half gave 10 man Town a point following Sito's red card for a two-footed challenge.

Walters, who signed a new contract last week, headed in Gary Roberts' corner to level the scores after Claus Jorgensen had given Blackpool a first-half lead with a close range finish.

Sito was sent-off for the third time in his Town career after catching Seasiders' dangerman Wes Hoolahan with a tackle just after the hour, referee Mike Pike immediately reaching for the red card.

Town made two changes to the side that drew with Stoke last week, Sylvain Legwinski and Gary Roberts coming in for Tommy Miller and Alan Lee.

New loan signing Alan Quinn watched the game from the directors' box with 1500 Town fans making the long journey north.

Stephen McPhee shot wide in the first minute, Walters then responding with an effort that didn't test Paul Rachubka in the home goal.

Walters, playing on the left, let fly again from distance, his effort well wide but it was Blackpool who looked the more threatening, Gary Taylor-Fletcher's cross headed wide by Ben Burgess.

Burgess went close with another effort, Michael Flynn then shooting over from 30 yards.

Flynn had an effort blocked by Alex Bruce, Sito defended well against the impressive Hoolahan before the Seasiders got the breakthrough on 38 minutes, McPhee setting up Jorgensen from six yards and the Dane had the simple task of putting the ball in the net with Town claiming offside in the build-up, Jason De Vos leading the protests.

Flynn shot wide, David Wright sent an ambitious 30 yard effort past Rachubka and the wrong side of the post, with Danny Haynes having a shot blocked by Kaspars Gorkss in the last effort of a disappointing first-half for Blues.

Roberts, who played up front alongside Pablo Counago in the first 45 minutes, switched to the left flank after the break, Walters pushed up front.

Roberts' cross was cleared by Ian Evatt, Haynes then showing pace and a good touch to cross from the right but Counago and Walters couldn't get on the end of the loose ball.

Neil Alexander saved superbly from Taylor-Fletcher after the midfielder had taken possession from Roberts before Town were reduced to 10 men for the fourth time this season, Sito seeing red for a two-footed challenge on Hoolahan just past the hour mark.

McPhee should have extended Blackpool's lead straight after, the striker failing to find the net with a close range header from Burgess' cross and two minutes later Town were level, Walters thundering in a header from Roberts' corner for his 10th goal of the season.

Town then made a double change, Richard Naylor and Alan Lee replacing Haynes and Counago.

Alexander kept the scores level with a smart save from Gorkss' header, with Naylor then doing superbly to deny Taylor-Fletcher.

Lee couldn't get any power on his shot to trouble Rachubka after good work by Roberts before Blackpool made their first change, Andrew Welsh coming on for Taylor-Fletcher.

Roberts then made way for Miller for the last 15 minutes, with Blackpool making two quick changes as well, Andy Morrell on for Burgess and David Fox on for Flynn.

Alexander showed good hands to hold from Burgess' cross, then watched on in worry as Hoolahan's strike blitzed just past the post.

Garvan weaved his way into the box late on but Stephen Crainey cleared, then the Republic of Ireland U21 international combined with Wright to clear in added on time from Burgess as Town held on for the point to stay in Play-Off contention. 

Blackpool: Rachubka, Barker, Gorkss, Evatt, Crainey, Taylor-Fletcher (Welsh 72), Jorgensen, Flynn (Fox 81), Hoolahan, McPhee (Morrell 77), Burgess. Subs not used: Vernon, Jackson.

Town: Alexander, Sito, De Vos, Bruce, Wright, Haynes (Naylor 66), Garvan, Legwinski, Roberts (Miller 75), Counago (Lee 66), Walters. Subs not used: Supple, Rhodes. Sent-off: Sito.

Att: 9154