Blackpool 2 // Manchester City 3
Blackpool Harewood 78', Taylor-Fletcher 90+3'
Manchester City Tevez 67', 79', Silva 90'
Man of the match Carlos Tevez (Manchester City)
BLACKPOOL // James Milner warned the best is yet to come from Manchester City after helping his team dig deep to overcome a spirited Blackpool side at Bloomfield Road yesterday.
Carlos Tevez scored twice as City climbed to second place in the Premier League with a 3-2 win, a result which extends their unbeaten run to five games.
City were pushed by the Seasiders, who found the target through Marlon Harewood and Gary Taylor-Fletcher, but David Silva's sublime third for City proved the difference between the two sides.
"They put us under a lot pressure, which we knew they would. They've got a good home support behind them and they're a good team that play it around really well," Milner told Sky Sports.
"We managed to ride the storm, score three good goals, and hung on at the end. The best is to come but it's the sign of a good team when they can win and not play the best football.
"Hopefully we can keep improving as a team, keep moving forward and hopefully you'll see the best of us soon."
Tevez's match-winning display maintained his remarkable scoring record. The City captain has now scored 28 goals in his last 31 league games.
City only got going as a team in the second half but Tevez made his intentions clear as early as the fourth minute when he dragged his shot across the face of the area.
Blackpool were not short of confidence after beating Liverpool 2-1 away last week and Taylor-Fletcher found himself in space 20 yards out only to direct his effort nearer the corner flag than the goal.
Blackpool, however, should have taken the lead after the break in the 54th minute when Luke Varney scampered away down the wing and chipped the ball into the path of DJ Campbell. The striker got an excellent first touch but with only goalkeeper Joe Hart to beat dragged his effort wide of the post.
There was another scare for City shortly afterwards with Taylor-Fletcher finding the net following a through ball from Charlie Adam but he was adjudged to be offside.
The Blackpool supporters were furious at the decision - but this was a decent spell by Ian Holloway's side.
And Hart came to City's rescue in the 63rd minute, tipping over a 20-yard thunderbolt from Adam after Campbell had laid the ball into his path. Blackpool were made to pay in the 67th minute though with Tevez opening the scoring. He got in front of Craig Cathcart as substitute Silva played the ball in and forced it home.
Blackpool however hit back and equalised in the 78th minute with substitute Harewood guiding a header beyond Hart following a free kick by Adam. The home side's celebrations lasted only a minute with Tevez regaining the lead for City. He stole the ball off Ian Evatt and rifled in a shot that took a deflection off Cathcart.
Tevez then saw another effort come back off the bar before Silva added a delightful third in the 90th minute. Taylor-Fletcher then got a second for Blackpool in stoppage time. Gareth Barry, City's England international, reserved special praise for two-goal hero Tevez.
"He's carried on from last season," said Barry. "He's a world-class striker. Last season he got 20-odd goals and I'm sure he can do that again. If he does we'll be right up there come the end of the season."