Seated in the directors box were a group of people whose combined wealth is more than the GDP of most European countries.

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Eccleston (Formula One chief), Flavio Briatore (owner of the Renault F1 team), Ramon Calderon (president of Real Madrid) and a man mysteriously described as the King of Ghana (King of Ghana) were all there, not to mention Harry Redknapp, Sam Hamman and some Latvian billionaire by the name of Valery Belokon.

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All that was missing was Prince Harry, Paul McCartney and Dale Winton and we would have had a collection of pretty much the world's most famous folk in one venue at the same time.

Press play to hear Simon Grayson after last night's defeat at QPR

If Pool were aiming to put on a show for their affluent and influential guests, then for 50 minutes they blew it.

The 'King of Ghana' (and, yes, I'm thinking what you're thinking –what the hell was he doing there?) along with his cohorts, must have been wondering just how the Seasiders had reached the top half of the Championship as Simon Grayson's men produced a thoroughly mediocre display to stumble to a three-goal deficit.

Capitalised

Then, as the Tangerines belatedly raised their game, the cast of VIPs suddenly saw what the men from the Fylde are capable of.

They came roaring back thanks to goals from Ben Burgess and Stephen McPhee and, in the end, were only denied the unlikeliest of points by some stubborn, at times desperate, QPR resistance.

It really was the strangest of games. Rangers went 3-0 ahead despite playing poorly. Neither side showed much quality. It was simply the case that every time Rangers forced an opening they capitalised.

Even when three-down it was quite clear that if Grayson's side played as they could, they would have a chance of getting back into it.

Belatedly they did – but unfortunately you can't give any side a three-goal advantage and expect to get anything from a game.

The good news is that this defeat doesn't actually change much. Pool are still in a very decent 13th position, although that is a bit misleading.

There are a bunch of teams below them, with just six points separating a glut of clubs from mid-table to the bottom three.

In my opinion Blackpool will probably be safe with the number of points they already have (47) but the players can't afford to look at it like that. The manager certainly won't.

They need to edge past that 50 barrier as soon as possible. The problem is that the Seasiders' run-in is pretty difficult. The home games with Preston and Sheffield Wednesday look, on paper, the most winable – but we thought that about Barnsley and Southampton.

In short, Pool will avoid relegation but there could be a few fingernails gnawed to the bone between now and the end of the season.

As for last night's defeat, it is certainly no disgrace.

Let's not forget that QPR – as can be judged by the ridiculous cast of celebrities present at the ground – are the new, richest club in British football and splashed out £5m-plus in the January transfer window.

Sweating

They also love playing Blackpool – you have to go back to 1972 to find the last time the Seasiders left Loftus Road with three points.

That was also the year Paul Dickov was born. Last night he, along with Claus Jorgensen, missed out through injury – replaced by Andy Morrell and Michael Flynn.

The latter gave himself a good shout of being included for the big one against PNE on Saturday, but Morrell will be sweating – especially because of the impression Burgess made after coming on as a second half substitute.

On top of that Dickov will surely be fit to face North End, which means there will be strong competition for places up front.

However, after last night it's fair to say that there's competition in every department throughout the side because a great display it was not.

The home side went ahead 11 minutes in when Patrick Agyemang, the former Preston striker, fired in a right wing cross.

Akos Buzsaky stuck out a leg and somehow sent the ball looping over Paul Rachubka and in off the bar.

It was described on the BBC's website as a "sublime strike". You've got to be joking – it was a complete fluke.

Pool had a good chance to level soon after but Stephen McPhee, after doing well to take out two defenders and cut into the box, slashed a right-footer wildly over when Gary Taylor-Fletcher was in acres of space to his right and screaming for a pass which surely would have resulted in a goal.

QPR, belying their cash-rich status, were poor and yet on 40 minutes they doubled their advantage.

Rowan Vine capitalised on some hesitation from Taylor-Fletcher to burst into the box and, unchallenged, fire a left-footed diagonal shot low and hard into the bottom corner.

Rachubka got a hand to the ball but couldn't keep it out. Maybe he could have done better, but where was his protection?

Provoked

On 48 minutes it was 3-0, a goal that Shaun Barker would pay good money never to have to see again. The Seasiders skipper made a bad error in conceding possession to Vine on the left.

The striker, a real handful on his day, burst into the area and squared the ball, which was eventually bundled home by Martin Rowlands.

Pool were being hammered and yet the game was fairly even. Very strange.

However, at least that third goal provoked a reaction.

Kaspars Gorkss slid a lovely pass through to Burgess and the striker showed excellent composure to bury an angled, left-footed drive into the bottom corner.

It was his seventh of the season and he scored it just six minutes after coming on as a 53rd minute sub.

Flynn was denied by keeper Lee Camp and Ian Evatt missed out on a goal against his former club when his volley cleared the bar by a whisker.
Then, seconds after Keigan Parker (remember him?) had come off the bench 71 minutes in, it was 3-2 and the fightback seemed on.

Wes Hoolahan's corner, Gorkss's majestic rise and header, and McPhee helped the ball in with his forehead from close range. McPhee's fourth goal for the Seasiders; Gorkss denied yet another goal but claiming his second assist of the night.

Suddenly everyone, maybe even the 'King of Ghana', was on the edge of their seats. Could Pool complete one of the comebacks of the season?

They certainly tried their best, pressing and probing and giving Rangers one or two heart-stopping moments.

But credit to the home side, for after almost throwing the points away they played well for the remaining 20 minutes and in truth it was they who looked the likelier to score – and would have done so had Rowlands' long-range not flown the wrong side of the post.

Credit

Grayson's men had to be content with the role of gallant losers and at least, in the end, they came out of the game with great credit – and deservedly so for their persistence and character if nothing else.

It was just frustrating that they gave their hosts a three-goal start before they started playing because Rangers, on this evidence, are certainly no better than Blackpool.

Unfortunately a distinctly average performance for 50 minutes led to defeat.

However, all will be forgotten and forgiven should the Seasiders get a win against Preston. Roll on Saturday, it's going to be something special.

QPR: Camp, Mancienne, Connolly, Leigertwood, Delaney, Buzsaky (Lee 85), Hall, Rowlands (Rehman 90), Vine, Blackstock, Agyemang (Mahon 66).
Subs Not Used: Pickens, Balanta.

Goals: Buzsaky 11, Vine 40, Rowlands 47.

Blackpool: Rachubka, Barker, Evatt, Gorkss, Crainey, Taylor-Fletcher (Parker 71), Southern (Fox 53), Flynn, Hoolahan, Morrell (Burgess 54), McPhee.
Subs Not Used: Coid, Welsh.

Booked: Taylor-Fletcher, Hoolahan.

Goals: Burgess 60, Gorkss 73.

Att: 11,538

Ref: Keith Hill (Hertfordshire).