Teenage hero Joe Brown threw City a survival lifeline with a stoppage-time winner and roared: That was something else.

The 18-year-old from Clayton dramatically nodded home a cross from fellow sub Joe Colbeck to sink Blackpool last night at a tension-filled Valley Parade.

City's first home win of the year moved them up two places to 13th and six points above the drop zone - and lifted the cloud from the 4-1 hammering by Oldham.

Brown, who replaced Ben Muirhead at half-time, had scored twice in the LDV Vans Trophy earlier in the season but knew the magnitude of his first league goal against another side battling the drop.

"The mood in the dressing room was fantastic because winning meant so much to us," he said. "It doesn't get any better than scoring in the 92nd minute.

"It took me a bit to get into the game because I wasn't really expecting to get on at all. But I felt pretty confident and kept making runs and luckily I was there in the right place at the right time.

"It's a big weight off my shoulders to score in the league. I got those LDV goals which were good but I wanted to make that next step.

"I fazed out a little bit and dropped back down to the youth team to get some confidence. I scored two on Saturday so I felt really good and it's paid off."

Brown was full of praise for winger Colbeck's hand in the goal - a partnership that has been forged in the youth side.

He added: "Joe has set up so many of my goals. I always know when he's setting off on his runs to make it into the box as quick as I can.

"That's what the first team have been wanting, a winger to get down there and put the ball in the middle."

Colin Todd had demanded a strong response from his team after Saturday and was delighted to bank the first home success for seven games.

The City boss, who reckons another six points will guarantee safety, admitted: "Nobody shirked their responsibility. I've got no complaints from the 14 people who've been out there."