When Blackpool shone in Sunderland's Stadium of Light: Tenth anniversary of Blackpool in the Premier League

Pool have won none of their last four matches against the Black Cats, drawing 1-1 at the Stadium of Light this season. But their last win over Sunderland, in the Premier League a decade ago, lives on in the memory.

Here's how The Gazette's STEVE CANAVAN reported on that 2-0 victory on December 28, 2010...

This was another glorious chapter in Blackpool’s season. This was the Seasiders’ second victory of the campaign in these parts, the same scoreline as the win at nearby Newcastle.

DJ Campbell scored there. Here he got two more and took his tally to six for the season.

That’s a total that is more like what his excellent play throughout the campaign merits.

It must have been galling for Steve Bruce to watch, mind. He was the manager who introduced Campbell to the top flght, signing him while in charge at Birmingham.

Bruce must have also looked on ruefully at Richard Kingson’s performance. He twice signed the keeper for Wigan and Birmingham and here we saw why: Kingson was magnificent, albeit in an often unorthodox style, and is rapidly becoming a cult hero among the fans who held up a Ghana It was the first visit to the stadium for the Seasiders faithful, who last came to the city in the days when Roker Park was the Black Cats’ footballing home.

It had been 17 days since Pool fanshad last seen their team in action ( the 1-0 win at Stoke) and because of three successive Bloomfield Road postponements, it was the third away game in a row and the 10th of the season compared to just six at home.

It is the first time in the Premier League’s history a club has gone into the New Year having played so few home fixtures.

Not that it has seemed to be a problem for Holloway’s men, as they yet again proved here. With Ludovic Sylvestre stepping in for the suspended Charlie Adam (a mild surprise as many, including this observer, thought Holloway would opt for the tried and trusted Keith Southern), David Vaughan took over the captain’s armband.

So just one change from the team which beat Stoke and, in theory, the players should have been right up for the contest as opposed to a Sunderland side that had barely had 48 hours’ rest since their Boxing Day defeat at Old Trafford.

And so it proved. Sort of. Sunderland were mighty unlucky not to score, especially in the second half when they hammered away at the Blackpool goal with no reward.

In total they had a whopping 32 shots at goal, 16 on target. But the Seasiders deserved the three points in my book, for they turned in yet another classy display, once again making a mockery of the theory that they were supposed to struggle against the established Premier League teams.

Sunderland are four points off Chelsea, and yet Holloway’s men did not for one moment look out of place.

Pool, in other words, continue to hold their own in this division. The first period was fantastic. As games involving Blackpool usually are, it was wide open, end-to-end stuff.

For a team that had lost only once at their own place in 2010 (1-0 to Manchester United in May), Sunderland allowed the Seasiders a surprisingly high number of openings.

Perhaps the manner in which Pool play fast, intricate, triangular passes caught them by surprise. Sunderland had their moments too, though, and you had to wonder how the opening 45 minutes failed to produce a goal.

Darren Bent twice broke though but put his shots past Kingson but beyond the post.

Bent was the subject of some criticism from the crowd and his confidence isn’t what it should be at the moment. Kingson then pulled off a save that wouldn’t have looked out of place in a Buster Keaton movie.

Most keepers would have comfortably pushed Jordan Henderson’s shot round the post. NotforKingson something so dull.

He used both arms to sort of shovel the ball up and over his right shoulder and about two inches past the post.

Amazingly he managed to look calm throughout the whole procedure as tea-mates all around looked on in horror.

I like Kingson, though, really like him. He’s a great bloke and on the pitch, boy has he done a terrific job since replacing the injured Matt Gilks.

This was his second successive clean sheet. Elliot Grandin had to limp out of the action after starting brightly, succumbing to a hamstring problem 20 minutes in.

A blow at the time, though Matt Phillips eased the pain by coming off the subs’ bench and displaying once again what he can do.

He created the Seasiders’ best chance of the half, embarking on a 70-yard sprint down the right flank, beating two defenders and then pulling the ball back for Campbell.

Alas the frontman had to turn on to his left foot and under pressure from Craig Gordon shot wide.

Great play from Phillips, though, and surely he will have a major part to play in the second half of the season.

Same goes for Sylvestre, who, in for the suspended Charlie Adam, lit up the midfield area with a display of calm authority and no little amount of silky passing, until tiring towards the end.

Campbell had Blackpool’s other great chance of the half, dashing through the middle and shooting unchallenged from 18 yards. Alas he dragged his effort narrowly wide with Gordon scrambling.

No matter, though, for Campbell was able to take two second-half chances which ultimately decided the contest,

Five minutes after the restart he volleyed in from close range to open the scoring.

Huge credit to Neal Eardley for calling for a quick corner and delivering a good cross, and to Ian Evatt for a clever flick-on into the striker’s path.

After that the home team piled on the pressure and Pool rode their luck.

Kingson made a terrific stop from Steed Malbranque, then five minutes from the end somehow blocked Danny Welbeck’s close-range effort before Evatt flung his head in the way of Henderson’s follow-up.

Bent’s bad luck continued when his free-kick from the edge of the box thudded back off the upright. It was tense for Pool players and fans unlike, until Campbell made it safe right at the end.

Terrific stuff from Phillips once more on the right, beating two players and whipping in a centre which Campbell hammered in at the back post.

Bruce bemoaned his side’s luck, Holloway simply smiled and shook his head.

He can barely believe how well it is all going. Neither can we, and best of all it shows no sign of stopping. Roll on 2011.