MATCH REPORT: Plymouth 0-3 Blackpool

Argyle, who are second in the table, were made to look like an ordinary basement division outfit as Pool picked up all three points courtesy of goals from Mark Cullen, Brad Potts and Jordan Flores.

It was just deserts for what was virtually the complete away performance, which confirmed Pool’s play-off hopes are very much alive as they took full advantage of their game in hand.

Gary Bowyer’s men - who rise to tenth in the table - now head to Wycombe Wanderers on Saturday in a game which could prove to be a huge test of their promotion credentials, with the two sides only separated in the league table by goal difference.

After a quiet opening to the game, the first opportunity of sorts came Blackpool’s way - with Clark Robertson’s header across goal just evading striker Mark Cullen at the back post.

The Seasiders looked a handful from set pieces and conjured up another early half chance, with Tom Aldred’s header causing more panic in the Argyle box but eventually coming to nothing.

The home side’s first opportunity came via Matty Kennedy, who saw his shot from the edge of the box fly just wide after a neat lay-off from the impressive Graham Carey.

The Argyle defence were clearly unsettled by the pace of Pool’s counter attacks, which almost brought an early goal as Colin Daniel’s lofted cross just evaded two unmarked Blackpool players at the back post.

Gary Bowyer’s side had successfully nullified any threat from the hosts in the early stages, with the men in tangerine pressing them high up the pitch before hitting them explosively on the counter.

The Seasiders deserved a goal for their early efforts and a goal came their way, albert in fortunate circumstances.

Mark Cullen bagged for the second game running although it came via a huge slice of luck, with Brad Potts’ ambitious effort from range deflecting into his path, gifting him a tap in into a virtually empty net.

Despite the fortunate nature of the goal, it was one their early play deserved and things almost got a whole lot better just a minute later - when Daniel’s deflected effort dropped narrowly wide of the far post.

But they didn’t have to wait long to double their lead as Potts continued his fine run of form to shoot high into the net for his 12th goal of the season, which came after some superb solo play by Daniel on the wing.

The Seasiders were nearly in dreamland as they went close to adding three, with Cullen firing narrowly over the bar following a swift counter attack.

Bowyer’s men refused to sit back on their lead and if anything, it was them who looked the more likely out of the two sides to score before the half-time break, although Argyle’s Carey wastefully blazed over the bar after finding some space down the left.

The hosts, who made a double change at half time in a desperate search for some inspiration, went close to reducing the arrears at the start of the second period with Yann Songo’o unable to stoop his close-range header towards goal.

As to be expected, Pool were forced to sit a little deeper in the second half as Plymouth searched for a way back into the game - but the Seasiders remained a constant threat on the break.

A prime example of that came when Nathan Delfouneso was set free on the right hand side and he left his marker for dead as he beat him to the byline, only to see his pull back wasted as his teammates waited in the area.

But the frustrations of the Pool players evaporated completely when they bagged their third just after the hour mark.

Jordan Flores capitalised on some hesitant play on the edge of the box after a throw in had been cleared, and he set himself up with a touch before drilling home past Luke McCormick - with the ball fizzing off the wet turf and into the middle of the Argyle net.

The confidence among the Pool players was plain to see after they added their third, with the Seasiders combining impressively courtesy of some one-touch passing and trickery.

The home side continued to be frustrated by Pool’s sturdy defence and the only way back for them appeared to be from set pieces, but Dean Lyness was well in command of his area.

The visitors had opportunities to add to their tally in the final moments, with substitute Bright Osayi-Samuel unable to take advantage of a two-against-one position in the Argyle box before being denied by a last-ditch block in another passage of play.

Plymouth: McCormick, Sawyer, Bradley, Songo'o (Slew), Threlkeld, Fox, Donaldson, Carey, Kennedy (Spencer), Jervis (Tanner), Taylor

Subs not used: Dorel, Miller, Bulvitis, Blissett

Blackpool: Lyness, Mellor, Aldred, Robertson, Taylor, Daniel (Osayi-Samuel), Payne, Flores (Black), Potts, Delfouneso, Cullen (Matt)

Subs not used: Boney, Aimson, Odelusi, Gnanduillet

Referee: John Busby

Attendance: 10,568 (127 Blackpool)