Blackpool 1-0 Cardiff City
- Published
Blackpool moved off the bottom of the Championship with a first win of the season against managerless Cardiff.
After some home fans staged a planned walkout in the 53rd minute, external in protest against the club's owners, Blackpool took the lead when Francois Zoko drilled home after a powerful run.
Cardiff left-back Fabio and Adam Le Fondre wasted late chances to level.
But the Seasiders held on to give Jose Riga his first victory and move his side above Bolton in the table.
Cardiff were again watched from the stands by prospective manager Russell Slade.
Slade - who left League One side Leyton Orient last month - is expected to complete his move to Cardiff during the upcoming international break.
And he has plenty of work to do after seeing his side beaten by Zoko's fine second-half goal.
The Bluebirds are in 14th place in the Championship table and, despite possessing former Premier League players such as Kenwyne Jones, Ravel Morrison, Anthony Pilkington and Peter Whittingham in their starting XI, they failed to seriously test Blackpool's debutant goalkeeper Ell Parish.
Despite starting the game with just three points, it was the home side who had the better chances in an open first half.
Ishmael Miller went close with a header and Nathan Delfouneso was only denied the opener by Fabio's fine challenge.
In the second half, the game came to a brief halt as sections of the support angry with chairman Karl Oyston left their seats to chant 'We want Oyston out'.
Blackpool's transfer business in the summer - or lack of - became headline news as the club had only eight contracted professionals two weeks before the season started and were forced to cancel a pre-season tour to Spain.
A run of 10 games this season without a win led to the protest, but while some fans entered the pitch but the majority of supporters remained in the stands.
And they were rewarded when Zoko drove past defender Sean Morrison and hammered a low strike past David Marshall in the Cardiff goal.
Cardiff rallied and Fabio poked wide, substitute Federico Macheda was close to converting a cross and Le Fondre then blazed a good opportunity over.
But Blackpool could have had a second at the break as Miller powered clear down the right to tee up Delfouneso, who saw Marshall brilliantly save his effort.
Blackpool manager Jose Riga:
"I'm happy just because it's a result of good collaboration and we forgot all that's happened around to focus on our job; we deserve it.
"The fans were even more behind us (after the goal) because that was the message I delivered to the players: keep going and do your job.
"That's all what I ask and just what the fans ask, even those who protest.
"They did well because it's not so easy. Even with a reduced number of fans you feel the sphere and you have the will and the power to go until the end and that's what we do."
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