5 May 2012

Blackpool edge ahead in Championship playoff semi-final

9:35 am on 5 May 2012

Blackpool will take a slender lead into the second leg of their Championship football playoff semi-final after beating Birmingham City 1-0 with an own goal.

The luckless Curtis Davies deflected a low shot from Tom Ince past his goalkeeper Colin Doyle a minute before half-time to give the hosts the lead ahead of the return leg next Thursday.

West Ham United, who like Blackpool and Birmingham went down from the Premier League last season, hold a 2-0 lead against Cardiff City after their semi-final first leg on Friday.