Blackpool 0-0 Birmingham City: Seasiders play out dull draw with Blues
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Tahith Chong hit the post for Birmingham in the first half
Blackpool missed the chance to climb out of the Championship relegation zone but ended a run of four consecutive defeats in a goalless draw with Birmingham City.
Blues, seeking a fifth away victory in eight matches, came closest to breaking the deadlock when Tahith Chong's dinked effort came back off the post and was cleared.
The hosts created several half chances and should have gone ahead through Marc Roberts, but he fired an effort over the bar when well placed.
Neither side looked like finding a late winner in an increasingly scrappy contest, but the result means Birmingham's recent resurgence continues, having now lost just once in their past seven matches.
The first half was dour, although both sides could and should have scored.
Blackpool had the better of the possession and looked marginally the more threatening, with Luke Garbutt shooting into the side-netting and Roberts wastefully blasting their best attempt over the bar from close range.
But Blues went closest in a better end to the opening period, hitting the upright through Chong as he ran through on goal from Hannibal Mejbri's pass and chipped an effort over keeper Chris Maxwell.
Maxime Colin also shot wide early on and had an effort ruled out for offside just before the break.
The excitement, chances and entertainment levels dropped even further in the second half.
Gary Madine sent a header off target and Sonny Carey dragged a shot wide for the hosts, while Blues could have taken all the points in injury time when the game's first attempt on target saw George Hall's strike saved by Maxwell.
Blackpool boss Michael Appleton:
"The players should take confidence from it. A clean sheet, which is big. We ain't kept enough of them this season and against a side where the break came at probably a poor time for them because they were in a decent bit of form.
"They've got a lot of energy in the team, a lot of experienced players, so to see that out reasonably comfortably, it's a point on the board.
"In the second half, there was more purpose to us. We were on the front foot and kept them pinned in their half for long spells and the quality will improve when a little bit of quality comes back into the team, there's no doubt about it, and if we can get that and get a little bit of momentum, some of the areas we get into, we'll make better decisions."
Birmingham boss John Eustace:
"We deserved to win. We were excellent, with and without the ball we looked good. I was really disappointed the goal was chalked off, I think that was very harsh.
"I haven't seen many goals chalked off for standing around those areas and the goalie was nowhere near the shot. I don't think there was somebody in his line of sight, we have watched it back.
"It is what it is. We get on with it. We are disappointed but there are lots of positives to take out of the game.
"Overall, after three or four weeks off to come back and have a solid performance like that was really pleasing."