Blackpool 1-0 Cardiff as it happened

1. Blackpool fans stage 53rd-minute protest
2. Zoko drills home left-footed
3. Blackpool win for first time this season
4. Blackpool off the bottom of the table

That's us done for the evening here, but we'll all be back tomorrow with plenty of football to keep you entertained. You can join Richard Winton from 09:00 BST.

See you then.

It's Blackpool's first win since April and they're off the bottom of the league then. They climb above Bolton and are now only three points adrift from safety. It's Huddersfield away for them next, in 15 days.

But what about Cardiff? Russell Slade should be in charge for their next one, at home to joint leaders Nottingham Forest. They weren't great tonight, but there's plenty in that squad to work with you'd think.

League Two update

The leaders of League Two also had a bad night, as Cambridge beat Burton 3-1.

Exeter, meanwhile, came from behind to win 2-1 at Dagenham.

North of the border

In Scotland it finished Kilmarnock 2-0 Dundee United, with the visitors staying on top of the Premiership table. For now.

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Jamie Mulholland: THREE POINTS! At long long last!

Special commendation has to go to Ell Parish in the Blackpool net too. His first game for the club, his first game in the Championship, and he's going home with a clean sheet.

As a fully paid-up member of the goalkeepers' union I can tell you that will be a good feeling.

Manager reaction

Blackpool manager Jose Riga, speaking to Sky Sports: "We were waiting and it was important to get this win at home. It was an amazing atmosphere and we deserved it. We had many opportunities in the first half, Cardiff controlled the second half a little more but without creating so many opportunities, and we had the best of the second half.

"The way we did, with our situation, the injuries, our mentality and behaviour is amazing. Maybe we are not the best players but we have to be the best team, in terms of commitment and collaboration. I am very proud.

"I want to give everything to this club. I still feel good in Blackpool and am very happy for the club and staff, and of course for the fans. We worked hard for this."

Cardiff's players have that Premier League quality, you could see that in their passing and their close control in tight spaces in attack. But they didn't have a cutting edge, and Blackpool were able to restrict them to half-chances in the main.

They had a penalty shout when Federico Macheda was rather scruffily bundled over by Donervon Daniels in the second half, but other than that?

Player reaction

Blackpool goalscorer Francois Zoko, speaking to Sky Sports: "It feels very good because it was the time to win. Today the team were excellent, we worked very hard and we deserved to win.

"We are confident. After the international break we worked very hard and we progress game after game."

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A deserved win for Blackpool I would say. They definitely did not look like a team that is certain to go down. There was some really nice football played in that first half and when they finally did chance upon that clear opening, Francois Zoko applied a quality finish.

David Perkins and John Lundstram looked decent in midfield too.

Player reaction

Blackpool striker Ishmael Miller, speaking to Sky Sports: "It's been very difficult, everybody knows what been going on since the beginning of the season. But the last two weeks we have shown togetherness and it is great to get the first win today.

"Obviously the fans just want the best for the club. I feel they have their right to do what they want to do, but we are just playing as well as we can for the club."

FULL-TIME

Adam le Fondre goes down on the right-hand side of the Blackpool box but the referee waves play on. It's switched out to the left but Cardiff's pressure comes to nothing and Ell Parish gathers again.

That's it. Three points for Blackpool.

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YELLOW CARD

Cardiff still think they have time for one more attack. Nile Ranger tries to slow them up and gets a yellow card. Cardiff's free-kick is pumped long and straight into the hands of Ell Parish. That is nearly that...

SUBSTITUTION

Jacob Mellis comes on for Blackpool. That may eat into the added time.

CLOSE!

Straight down the other end Ell Parish makes an important stop, turning round a very dangerous looking header. From the corner, Adam le Fondre blazes the ball skywards on the edge of the box.

Four minutes to go for Blackpool.

CLOSE!

Ishmael Miller breaks clear, the whole length of the pitch almost, and holds off the challenge to find Nathan Delfouneso at the far stick. But David Marshall spreads himself and blocks. A great save! Delfouneso has to score. And great work from Miller. He ran from right-back!

Donervon Daniels concedes a free-kick in a central position and certainly in Peter Whittingham territory but the ball hits the wall. Blackpool sit back for the next wave.

Nile Ranger rampages forward on the break in his first involvement. There's space for Blackpool on the counter, but how much will they leave in behind? Cardiff win the ball back as the move breaks down but can't move it forward quick enough to punish the hosts.

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Malc (Coventry fan): I think all Blackpool fans will have to wait until the end of this season when the "parachute payments " end to see if Oyston finishes with the club.

CLOSE!

A Peter Whittingham free-kick flashes right across goal, perhaps glancing a Cardiff head on the way. A decent connection there and it's a goal for sure.

SUBSTITUTION

Francois Zoko, the goalscorer, is coming off. It's Nile Ranger who comes on. With fresh legs he should be able to pressure Cardiff at the back a little more.

Most of Blackpool's team are camped well inside their own half now. It's only Ishmael Miller who is up there to chase the ball down. Which he is doing, very, very slowly. Blackpool are close to a victory here.

Their last league win was at Wigan in April. Only eight minutes plus injury time to go.

PENALTY APPEAL

Craig Noone has some nice touches in the Blackpool final third and finds Federico Macheda, and Donervon Daniels makes an awkward challenge as the Italian bears down on goal. The referee points to a corner and Ishmael Miller headers it away with some gusto.

Then, Cardiff's David Marshall clearly handles the ball way out of his goal, collecting Miller's header. One each then.

CLOSE!

Ishamel Miller is denied contact on what would surely have been a goal-bound volley by Bruno Ecuele-Manga, the ball falls back to to John Lundstram, he fires in the rebound but it's blocked by Aron Gunnarsson, with David Marshall scampering across his line.

There's a storm brewing between David Perkins and Gunnarsson, as the two clash off the ball.

YELLOW CARD

Francois Zoko is bundled over from behind by Fabio and that's a yellow card for the former Manchester United left-back. An untidy challenge.

Cardiff have got about 20 minutes to find a leveller. There's some better build-up play from them down the Blackpool left, with Adam le Fondre involved already. Crisp passing picks out Aron Gunnarsson, but his shot is blocked.

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League Two latest

Not a good night for league leaders in general - Burton are now 2-0 down at home to Cambridge, with Ryan Donaldson on target.

SUBSTITUTION

A double switch for Cardiff as the Bluebirds look for a way back into this one. Adam le Fondre comes on for Joe Ralls, and Craig Noone for Ravel Morrison.

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Jamie Mulholland: Unlucky to the Blackpool 'fans' who walked out and missed that goal! The joke is on you!

Aidan Williams: It irks me when fans become such heavy critics. Blackpool have it rough - they need their fans to support them more than ever

CLOSE!

Federico Macheda should do better here and really Cardiff should be level. A great cross from Joe Ralls finds the Italian with a clear sight of goal and he fluffs his lines.

Blackpool fans who were in the process of leaving when the goal went in seem to have now congregated in the corner of the stadium, close to the Cardiff goal and presumably close to the exits.

North of the border

Goals in Scotland too, as leaders Dundee united are hit with two in as many minutes from Kilmarnock.

Tope Obadeyi and Mark Connolly have struck - follow the action here.

I was beginning to wonder whether Blackpool had lost their way slightly since the not-so-dramatic-really protest drama, but Francois Zoko's goal says otherwise. A lovely bit of quality there. They've not won all this season Blackpool and this could be a big result if they can stay in front.

GOAL

After a Cardiff corner, Ell Parish releases the ball quickly and it eventually finds its way to Francois Zoko, whodrives into the box and fires low and hard past David Marshall.

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Chris: Walking out may only further stiffen Karl Oyston's resolve. Always support your team. Protests before and after the game still get your message across. Worked for Bolton fans, even eventually worked for Blackburn.

SUBSTITUTION

It's Kenwyne Jones who makes way as Federico Macheda comes on for Cardiff. You remember him right?

CLOSE!

Cardiff are beginning to have a greater say in things here. Ravel Morrison and Fabio show great movement and invention to fashion a chance on goal, but Fabio's shot is deflected wide. John Brayford has a pop as the resultant corner leads to a half-chance on the edge of the box. That too is deflected wide.

Another corner, but this one is nipped in the bud by the referee. Pulling in the box.

As the camera pans around the stadium the stands don't look considerably emptier. The 'Oyston out' chants continue and the fans who have decided to leave are, let's say imploring their fellow Seasiders to follow them. Some others are milling around enjoying the limelight.

Cardiff swing in a corner, which is cleared by Ishmael Miller. It's broken the game up a bit all of this.

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Jonny Naidoo: Blackpool fans have every right to be angry, but walking out isn't the answer

Since half-time there had been plenty of support from the Blackpool fans but moments before the moment, chants of: 'We want Oyston out' starts up again.

So far there is some movement on the way to the turnstiles. Some of those have gone out onto the pitch and the game has been stopped. All those who are leaving have got banners, letting their feelings be known in no uncertain terms. But it's not masses though.

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Joe Hornby: Jose Riga has given permission for the walk out: he said he understands why the fans would protest against the owner and he + players won't be upset

Let's see how this protest pans out then. It's due to begin on 53 minutes gone. How many Blackpool fans are going to leave?

Terrible advert for Championship football there. Bruno Ecuele-Manga shanks a simple clearance to David Perkins, who is just three yards away on the edge of the box. But Perkins blazes so, so high and wide.

Then moments later Donervon Daniels absolutely launches a clearance down the pitch.

What happened to that silky stuff?

Blackpool are back with it soon enough and some lovely link-up play between Ishmael Miller and Edu Oriol almost leads to an opening for Nathan Delfouneso on the edge of the box. He goes down under a 50-50 challenge, possibly looking to make the most of what was a difficult chance.

KICK-OFF

Here we go then. Cardiff start with the ball.

Leaving early?

BBC

Fans who do walk out on this one early in the second half will surely not call it a night.

But in the City that never sleeps, you are never short of entertainment. A few hundred yards away from Bloomfield Road such delights as the Diamonettes Showgirls Show, The Aaron Levi Show, or Michael Jordan's High Jinx Magic & Illusion Show await for the paying punter.

I know which one I'd choose...

Will that first-half performance have any bearing on the plans for a walkout on 53 minutes then?

Blackpool certainly didn't play like a team that are bottom of the league. There was some lovely one-touch stuff going on. Surely that's reason enough to stay?

The official attendance hasn't been announced yet, but judging by the number of fans who were holding up the lights on their phones (see 31 mins), the Cardiff fans might have the place to themselves by the end of this. Unless they walk out too...

HALF-TIME

Burton 0-1 Cambridge

Dagenham 1-0 Exeter

As it stands then, Burton will remain on top of League Two but could be displaced by Wycombe, Bury or Southend tomorrow afternoon.

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As Blackpool fans prepare to walk out in protest after 53 minutes tonight, we asked is it OK to walk out on your team?

Mark Branigan: In my opinion you should always support your team through the good timed and, particularly, through the bad times

Owain: Yes because it helps convey an important message, and No because a team (especially at home) needs its supporters

North of the border

No goals in the first half but plenty of chances and Kilmarnock will probably feel the better opportunities fell their way.

Follow the Scottish action here.

HALF-TIME

Are we going to get a goal in this one lads? If it's coming we'll have to wait a little longer in any case. Blackpool have been the better team so far.

INJURY TIME

Two minutes until the whistle.

CLOSE!

It's flagged for offside as Ishmael Miller had strayed way beyond the last man but David Perkins' shot from outside the box is deflected just inches wide of the Cardiff post.

Miller is then back in the action, powering down the left this time, but as he bears down on goal his composure goes, and he blazes into the stands.

Blackpool have had so many chances to score that you feel Cardiff are about to nick one before half-time.

A free kick for Peter Whittingham seems the perfect opportunity but he fires over, and Ell Parish dashes across his line, hurried but not worried.

CLOSE!

Edu Oriol is among the action here again and it's a lot better than his previous involvement. Ishmael Miller, again rampaging down the Cardiff left, fires in a cross and the Bluebirds almost conspire to lay it on a plate for Oriol to tap in. Bruno Ecuele Manga gets on to it and stabs clear. Good defending in the end.

Edu Oriol loses the ball in midfield trying to dribble pas three players. The ball falls to Fabio who breaks down the left, showing blistering pace, but he is crowded out and Blackpool have a goal kick.

Can they get something from this positive start?

League Two latest

The League Two leaders are behind! Cambridge take a 1-0 lead at Burton as Tom Elliott heads home - only the second goal conceded at home this season by Albion.

Straight down the other end a Cardiff free-kick almost causes havoc in the Blackpool defence. A mix -up between defender and goalkeeper sees Ell Parish emerge with the ball before anything disastrous can happen.

CLOSE!

Empics

Nathan Delfouneso is clean through but can't get a shot away - he is denied by a last-ditch tackle by Fabio. The follow-up by Ishmael Miller is then blocked, and Blackpool pour forward again but a cross is claimed by David Marshall. Cardiff will look to calm things down after that. Best chance of the night.

This is a new one. Blackpool fans are flashing the lights on their mobile phones, seemingly in some kind of planned communal action. All the talk has been of the walkout on 53 minutes, in protest against the club's owners. But we've already seen black balloons and now this too.

Empics

Just past the half-way stage and so far Blackpool are just edging it for me. It's an open game, and both sides look like they could score, but Blackpool have created the better openings and are breaking forward with greater purpose.

Kenwyne Jones almost gets a header in on goal but for Joel Dielna's intervention. The Frenchman clears his lines in the box via a brave header. He must have taken some hit off Jones too for his troubles. But he's not letting it show, still zipping around.

In terms of young English talent on display tonight I have to say it's John Lundstram for Blackpool who has caught my eye ahead of Ravel Morrison so far. The Everton youngster, on loan here at Blackpool, has been confident on the ball, and is seemingly not afraid to get stuck in either.

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Mark, Lancashire: I don't agree with this walkout tonight. As a lifelong Manchester City fan, under Peter Swales, we had many opportunities to walkout but stuck by our club. Your club needs you BFC. Stay put!

The Blackpool fans have also released a stream of black balloons onto the pitch. Ell Parish, the Blackpool debutant goalkeeper, has just popped the last one cluttering his penalty box.

Another chance goes begging for Blackpool. David Perkins is found by Nathan Delfouneso on the edge of the box but he stabs wide, under no real pressure.

The Blackpool fans are in full voice, chanting: 'We want Oyston out.'

CLOSE!

Chance for Ishmael Miller again. David Perkins finds the striker with a floated cross but he can only head the ball over the bar. Very, very open so far. Just lacking that bit of quality.

League Two update

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The first goal of the night comes from a Football League goalscoring legend.

Jamie Cureton - 39 years young - has banged them in for Norwich, Bristol Rovers, Reading, QPR, Swindon, Colchester, Norwich (again), Barnsley, Exeter, Leyton Orient, Exeter (again), Cheltenham and now Dagenham down the years and another one early on has put the Daggers 1-0 up on Exeter.

In the other League Two game tonight it's leaders Burton 0-0 Cambridge.

Nathan Delfouneso wins the ball in midfield and finds Ishmael Miller down the left, his cross is flapped at by David Marshall in the Cardiff net.

Down the other end Kenwyne Jones almost finds the ball at his feet after a long pass but is crowded out and can only fire high and wide, off balance.

All very open so far.

SUBSTITUTION

Joan Oriol is coming off with an injury. He was involved in an earlier challenge with John Brayford and has seemingly taken a nasty knock. He's replaced by Joel Dielna. A Football League debut for the Frenchman.

Peter Whittingham whips in a free-kick and Sean Morrison rises highest to nod it just wide of the Blackpool post. If it had been on target I don't think Ell Parish would be getting that.

After some crisp build-up play Cardiff find Ravel Morrison in the box but he is quickly pressured out. Blackpool pour forward again and Tony McMahon is inches away from finding the head of Ishmael Miller in the penalty box. Just too much on the ball.

The first time Cardiff start to play a bit more of the ball Edu Oriol steals it back in midfield. Blackpool do not look like a team with only three points.

Possession changes hands three times before Blackpool get the ball under control and play it around a bit. After a very early hoof from Tony McMahon I was worried we might be in for a long night, but it's decent, patient stuff so far. Ishmael Miller gets an early cross in which zips across goal but there's nobody there.

KICK-OFF

It is Blackpool who get us under way. Russell Slade is up in the stands.

View from the dugout

Blackpool manager Jose Riga: "What we showed in the last game is that we are always close to getting a result. We have to believe that we can win. We have been unlucky but I do not like this word."

Cardiff caretaker manager Danny Gabbidon: "Russell Slade has had his input on what we can do better. It has been good to have his involvement, we want to sign off with a win. There may be some communication with him during the game, we shall see."

Russell Slade certainly did a good job with Orient last season. They reached the League One play-off final, just losing out on promotion via penalties to Rotherham.

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Elliot Byrne: As a Leyton Orient fan, I can say that Russell Slade is a superb manager, Cardiff are lucky to have him.

Russell Slade is here with Cardiff then. He's waiting in the wings, and his appointment as next Cardiff boss is expected to finally be confirmed over the coming days.

Meanwhile, one story you may have missed today is the news that Dougie Freedman has left his post as Bolton manager by mutual consent. They'd won just one of the last 10.

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Sam in York: I don't see what a walkout could possibly achieve at this point. The chairman already knows what the fans think and you've got players playing their first competitive season and they're going to see the fans walk out... What's that going to do to their confidence? I understand the frustration, but why not wait until the club's in absolute dire need of such action? Not so soon into a season.

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As Blackpool fans prepare to walk out in protest after 53 minutes tonight, we asked is it OK to walk out on your team?

PA

Scott Greenall: Yeah it is, think us Hull City fans should sort some boycott out.

Jonathan Davies: Always stay till the end of the game, not leaving for any reason, be it to beat the rush or the fact you are losing.

PA

Just Talk Ball: No, never. If you support a club you are there until the end in the good times and the bad times!

I haven't seen him today but I believe Blackpool's mascot is one Bloomfield Bear. Surely an anthropomorphic take on the Lancashire coast would have been more appropriate for The Seasiders? Opportunity missed if you ask me.

A quick plug here for the Women's Football Show, broadcast on Monday evenings at 19:00 BST on BBC Three.

This week Chelsea Ladies and England midfielder Eniola Aluko and Ellen White of Notts County Ladies and England will be on the show.

You can send in your questions for the pair using the Twitter hashtag #BBCWFS.

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It's safe to say he's got his problems off the pitch, but Ravel Morrison surely now has to start showing something more of the talent he's so widely thought to have. Otherwise his story is going to start sounding a little too familiar in the context of hyped-up English talent. He's on loan at Cardiff from West Ham, who he joined from Manchester United...

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Ned, Cardiff fan: Quietly confident tonight! Would be nice to get a win before the break. Good to see Ravel Morrison get his first start!

North of the border

We've got action from the Scottish Premiership tonight too, as leaders Dundee United travel to face a Kilmarnock side bidding for a second straight home win.

You can follow that one in a separate live page right here.

It's all going a bit better on the pitch for Cardiff though. After a terrible start they have gone three league games without defeat, rising to 14th in the table. Not exactly sitting pretty for a club you would expect to be challenge for promotion, but there's still 36 games to go…

Join the debate at #bbcfootball

Blackpool fans - will you be supporting tonight's walkout? Cardiff fans - do you think Russell Slade will be the right man for the job?

And what about the rest of you out there, would you consider walking out on your club in protest? Or should you always back your team?

Michael Blighe: As a Newcastle fan I can sympathise with the Blackpool supporters and their frustration. But never walk out on your team.

You can tweet us using #bbcfootball, send a text to 81111 (UK only, remembering to include your name), or post a comment on the BBC Sport Facebook or Google+ page.

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Chris: Agree with Geoff's text [19:08] but Blackpool have brought this upon themselves. Chairman Karl Oyston really does need to go. This summer proves he's not a fit and proper person.

One of Blackpool's many, many, many summer signings scored as they drew away to Middlesbrough on Tuesday night, probably the Seasiders' best result of the season so far.

But even with Ishmael Miller's leveller, Blackpool have just three points from a possible 30. Tonight could see them double up on that and rise above Bolton to 23rd in the table, three points from safety.

Right then. The players are out on the pitch warming up, with less than 40 minutes to go until kick-off now.

Can Blackpool finally gel as a team and get their season going? Can Cardiff, unbeaten in three league games, continue their decent run under the watchful gaze of the man expected to be charged with leading them back into the top flight?

Questions, questions. And the answers are but hours away.

League Two latest

There are also two games in League Two taking place tonight. Leaders Burton Albion host Cambridge United, while Dagenham and Redbridge welcome Exeter City. Both of those are a 19:45 BST kick-off.

You can use the latest scores tab on the right of your screen to keep an eye on how they are going.

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Geoff Gibson, Manchester: As a neutral, what has happened at Blackpool is a travesty. When they came into the Premier League it was like a breath of fresh air. Entertaining matches and Ian Holloway's post match interviews were side splitting!

Making his debut in the Blackpool net tonight then is Ell Parish. He's come into the team because Joe Lewis is on loan from Cardiff and therefore ineligible to play.

Parish, 24, was also on Cardiff's books from 2012 to 2013, but he never played for them. He has played three times for the England U20 team though.

Team news take two

Now the full Blackpool team is up. Donervon Daniels was the mystery man.

Team in full: Parish, McMahon, Rentmeister, Daniels, J.Oriol, Perkins, Lundstram, E.Oriol, Zoko, Delfouneso, Miller.

Substitutes: Milton, Dielna, Cywka, Mellis, Mendy, Zenjov, Ranger.

Team News

Blackpool have also announced their team for tonight through Twitter, but we may have to wait for the full version as their latest effort has only got 10 players.

@blackpoolfc

As if they didn't have enough problems already...

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Benj Allison: Russell Slade may be a masterstroke, but of course, we will have to wait and see.

Team News

The Cardiff team news is in.

Joe Ralls, 20, comes into the side to partner debutant Ravel Morrison in midfield, with Tom Adeyemi dropping to the bench. Norway international Mats Daehli is not in the squad.

Team in full: Marshall, Fabio, S. Morrison, Manga, Brayford, Whittingham, Gunnarsson, Ralls, R. Morrison, Pilkington and Jones.

Subs: Moore, James, Adeyemi, Noone, Le Fondre, Maynard and Macheda.

Get involved

As ever, we're eager to hear your thoughts on all this. Blackpool fans - will you be supporting tonight's walkout? Cardiff fans - do you think Russell Slade will be the right man for the job?

And what about the rest of you out there, would you consider walking out on your club in protest? Or should you always back your team?

I can think of a certain city in the North-East where these issues might be being debated as we speak…

You can tweet us using #bbcfootball, send a text to 81111 (UK only, remembering to include your name), or post a comment on the BBC Sport Facebook or Google+ page.

PA

Walkout 53 has been organised by Blackpool fans in protest against what they perceive to be a refusal to spend on the part of the club's owners. But why 53 I hear you ask? Well, surely you must remember the Matthews Final?

Ole Gunnar Solskjaer stepped down as Cardiff boss in September and Danny Gabbidon and Scott Young were placed in temporary charge. The Bluebirds went after Russell Slade, then manager of Leyton Orient, only to have their approach rejected.

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Slade then resigned his post but legal wrangles have delayed his appointment as manager at Cardiff. He has travelled with the squad today, but only in his role as "consultant" - a role he has been performing for the past few weeks.

Still with us? Oh, and Blackpool fans are planning to walk out after 53 minutes of tonight's match.

In fact, you'd be hard pressed to find two clubs where there has been more drama going on behind the scenes than Blackpool and Cardiff City.

Because if the home side tonight thought they had problems, at least they have a manager...

Good evening and welcome. It's been a real summer of turmoil up at Blackpool.

Two weeks before the start of the Championship season new manager Jose Riga only had eight contracted players to choose from after falling out with chairman Karl Oyston over transfer policy. On the morning of the season opener, having made 12 signings in 12 days, Riga still said he only had nine players registered but the club was able to select a full starting 11, if not a full substitutes' bench.

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How times change. Four years ago to the day, Blackpool fans were travelling back from Liverpool having watched their team win 2-1 at Anfield, in the process moving up to ninth in the Premier League table in what was their first season in the top flight since 1971.

Fast forward to the here and now and the club are rock bottom of the Championship, without a win this season, and fan discontent has reached boiling point.