Ten-man Blackpool halted Middlesbrough's recent revival as Scott McDonald missed a late penalty.
McDonald made to pay for penalty miss
Ten-man Blackpool halted Middlesbrough's recent revival as Scott McDonald missed a late penalty at Bloomfield Road.
The home side took the lead through Brett Ormerod on the half-hour mark but were reduced to 10 men in the 61st minute after Rob Edwards felled McDonald.
The Australian striker, signed in January from Celtic, then missed from the spot seven minutes from time before DJ Campbell added a second for Blackpool in injury time.
It brought to an end to Boro's six-game unbeaten run while victory for Blackpool snapped a five-game winless streak and moved them to within three points of the top six.
Blackpool, on the back of one win in seven games, came flying out of the traps and Charlie Adam, back after suspension fired a shot wide from 25 yards inside three minutes.
Gary Taylor-Fletcher then forced Boro goalkeeper Danny Coyne into a save to keep out his 20-yard effort before the visitors threatened.
McDonald, still looking for his first goal since joining from Celtic, was causing problems in the Blackpool rearguard.
First he volleyed wide from 25 yards before seeing his second chance well blocked by Ian Evatt.
Response
Back came Blackpool with Adam and Campbell failing to find the target - but the deadlock was broken shortly afterwards with Ormerod in the right place to slot the ball home.
Boro nearly produced an immediate response with French striker Jeremie Aliadiere twice being denied by goalkeeper Matthew Gilks in as many minutes.
Blackpool finished the first half on top and Edwards came close to doubling their lead in the 43rd minute but Coyne produced a fine save to tip his effort round the post.
He then had to be alert to keep out Ormerod's shot from 12 yards on the stroke of half-time.
Adam was fortunate to escape with a yellow card after bringing down Aliadiere but Boro could not capitalise from the resulting free-kick as Gary O'Neil lifted his shot over the bar.
But Blackpool were not as lucky just after the hour mark when Edwards was dismissed for hauling down McDonald with O'Neil again failing to test Gilks from the free-kick.
Aliadiere came close to an equaliser three minutes later but Gilks was equal to the task, as he was moments later when the French striker fired in a shot from 12 yards.
McDonald wasted a glorious opportunity to level from the spot and Lee Miller had two chances to level before Blackpool broke and Campbell ensured victory in injury time.
