City 1 Blackpool 0

IT MAY have lacked the drama of certain previous encounters with Blackpool but City provided further proof that they have turned a corner at Valley Parade last night.

The 1-0 win was their fourth success in a six-match unbeaten run and puts the Bantams up to ninth and within sight of the play-off places.

James Hanson’s header just before half-time was their fourth goal in a row from Tony McMahon corners and proved enough to settle a match that was never a classic.

May 1996 and the play-offs it certainly wasn’t. It was not pretty but City are certainly proving effective.

It was the first meeting between the teams since March 2007 when Blackpool’s Valley Parade victory pushed City a big step nearer the drop to the bottom tier.

But Blackpool’s turbulent recent past was such that Neil McDonald is their fifth permanent boss since Parkinson declined an approach in the same week that City stunned Aston Villa in the Capital One Cup semi-finals.

Parkinson called McDonald “brave” for taking up the poisoned chalice and Sam Allardyce’s former right-hand man at West Ham could have been excused for thinking there were more glamorous locations than a foggy Valley Parade to celebrate his 50th birthday.

But while Blackpool’s off-field politics continue to rage, he had steadied the ship after a torrid start to the season.

Before Saturday, Blackpool had conceded only three times in eight games and Parkinson had preached the need for patience as City faced the final leg of their triple-header against the sides relegated from the Championship.

He made the switch in central midfield that has become standard in recent weeks, Billy Knott starting at home in place of Gary Liddle.

City created an immediate chance to get the crowd going, James Hanson’s near-post header from a Kyel Reid cross taking a deflection wide.

The hosts were off in positive fashion but there was almost a scare from Blackpool’s first corner when Hanson’s header dropped invitingly at the feet of centre half Clark Robertson. But his shot from ten yards could not find its way through the crowd of players.

Jim McAlister shot straight at Ben Williams from just outside the box before Reid tried to match the fireworks exploding over Midland Road with a lash over the bar.

The on-loan winger nearly helped conjure up something special midway through the half. Turning away from Jarrett Rivers, he played in Devante Cole back to goal in the box.

Cole produced a “Maradona” turn to get a yard on his befuddled marker before letting fly with a rasping drive that Colin Doyle tipped over the bar.

But Blackpool carried a threat when they did venture into Bantam territory.

Mark Cullen found Jack Redshaw for an angled shot from the corner of the box which Stephen Darby diverted wide. Then Cullen, who spent a fruitless four-month loan at City in 2011 as an 18-year-old, tried to help on Rivers’ shot with a cheeky back flick that rolled past the post.

The visitors were forced into an early change when right back Hayden White limped off but they had done their job by defusing City’s momentum as half-time approached.

The crowd’s enthusiasm had dimmed and attention drifted to the light show that continued behind the ground. The action on the pitch had certainly lost its sparkle.

It needed a lift – and City found that with a goal right on the break.

Tony McMahon had not seen a lot of the ball against his former club. But he won a home corner to turn up the volume – and then cranked it right up when his set-piece was thumped into the roof of the net by Hanson’s head.

It was the big man’s fifth goal of the campaign and second in successive games at Valley Parade since regaining his place. The mood was transformed in an instant.

But a single-goal half-time lead is familiar – and not particularly safe – ground for City.

Blackpool came back out with a bit more purpose and an early corner in front of their own fans was greeted with a lusty chorus of “Oyston out”.

Charles Dunne then clobbered a long-range drive into those supporters on the upper deck. City responded and Lee Evans sent a half-volley over the bar at the other end.

But their lead was a narrow one and Rory McArdle had to be alert to snuff out former Leeds man David Norris in the penalty area.

Hanson was proving a real handful for the Blackpool defence although the sight of him being man-handled to the ground by two defenders was not enough to convince the referee it was a foul.

Evans had a big chance to give City some breathing space when Reid picked him out by the penalty spot. But having taken a touch, he tried to place the shot and Aldred managed to slide across and block.

The Welshman then picked up his fifth booking for a foul on Brad Potts, meaning a one-match ban to follow. City will hope Wolves clear him for the FA Cup so he can use that up at Aldershot this weekend.

There was still the occasional nervous moment. Norris screamed a long shot past the post with Williams scrambling to get across and City’s back four had to reshuffle when Reece Burke hobbled out the game.

It meant a home league debut – after three months of waiting - for Nathan Clarke in his place. Clarke was straight on the end of a McMahon corner but Doyle was out to claim his header.

Billy Clarke came on for his first Valley Parade appearance since his injury in the opening home game. He got a rapturous welcome and showed a touch of the old guile with a dink that Doyle held by his post.

CITY: Williams 7, Darby 7, McArdle 7, Burke 7 (N Clarke 69min), Meredith 7, McMahon 6, Evans 6 (Liddle 70min), Knott 7, Reid 6, Cole 6 (B Clarke 78min), Hanson 8. Subs (not used): Marshall, Leigh, James, Cracknell.

BLACKPOOL: Doyle 7, White 6 (Boyce 35min, 6), Aldred 6, Robertson 6, Dunne 6, Rivers 6, Potts 6, Norris 6, McAlister 6 (Cameron 67min), Redshaw 6, Cullen 7. Subs (not used): Cubero, Herron, Paterson, Thomas, Letheren.

REFEREE: Andy Haines (Sunderland)

BOOKINGS: Evans (City)

ATTENDANCE: 17,435

SHOTS ON TARGET: City 3, Blackpool 1

SHOTS OFF TARGET: City 4, Blackpool 8

CORNERS: City 6, Blackpool 6

FOULS COMMITTED: City 6, Blackpool 7